Cotopaxi Day Tour from Quito

Snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano under a blue sky Limpiopungo Lagoon with Rumiñahui Volcano behind The José Rivas Refuge on the slopes of Cotopaxi Walking by the Cotopaxi glacier Cotopaxi Volcano above the golden páramo of the national park The boardwalk at Limpiopungo Lagoon in Cotopaxi National Park

Overview

Our Cotopaxi tour from Quito is a full day at the volcano with pickup at your hotel: Limpiopungo Lagoon, the walk up to the José Rivas Refuge and, if conditions allow, the edge of the glacier. Back in Quito by late afternoon.

Itinerary

Pickup at your hotel in Quito

Your guide picks you up at your hotel in Quito early in the morning, when Cotopaxi is usually clearest, for the drive south along the Avenue of the Volcanoes.

Starts and ends: your hotel in Quito
Driving time: about 2 hours each way

Into Cotopaxi National Park

Past Machachi, the road climbs through pine forest and the open páramo into Cotopaxi National Park, with the volcano growing in front of you.

Limpiopungo Lagoon

An easy walk around Limpiopungo Lagoon, at 3,830 m and at the foot of Rumiñahui Volcano, looking out for wild horses and Andean birds.

The José Rivas Refuge

From the parking lot at about 4,600 m, a steep walk on volcanic sand up to the José Rivas Refuge at 4,864 m, at your pace.

The glacier, if conditions allow

When the weather and the trail allow it, your guide takes you up to the edge of the Cotopaxi glacier. Safety comes first: the guide decides on the day. To go higher, the Cotopaxi summit climb reaches the top at 5,897 m in 2 days.

Back to Quito

Down through the park and back to your hotel in Quito in the late afternoon. Staying a few more days in Quito? See our city tours at Quito Tours.

What's included

Included

  • Pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Quito
  • Private transport
  • Local English-speaking mountain guide
  • Bottled water

Not included

  • Lunch and bicycle (you can add them as extras)
  • Park entry fees, if any
  • Tips

Good to know

Altitude
Quito is at 2,850 m and the refuge at almost 4,900 m. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and ask your doctor first if you have heart or breathing conditions.
What to wear
Warm layers, a windproof jacket, gloves, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. It can be close to freezing at the refuge.
The volcano
Cotopaxi is an active volcano. The park sometimes limits access to the upper areas; if that happens, we adapt the route.

How booking works

  1. Choose your date and group. The price per person drops as your group grows, and you see the total before you send anything.
  2. Check availability. Nothing is booked or charged yet; we confirm your date first.
  3. Pay and enjoy. Once confirmed, we send you a secure payment link by email or WhatsApp.

FAQ

How far is Cotopaxi from Quito?
Cotopaxi National Park is about 2 hours south of Quito by road. That's why we leave early: the mornings are usually the clearest.
Can we walk to the glacier?
When the weather and the trail allow it, yes. Your guide decides on the day, and safety always comes first.
Is there an entrance fee for Cotopaxi National Park?
Entry rules and fees are set by the park and change from time to time. We tell you the current ones when we confirm your tour, and your guide handles the registration at the gate. Bring your passport.
How long is the Cotopaxi tour from Quito?
About 10 hours from pickup at your hotel to drop-off, with the drive there and back, Limpiopungo Lagoon and the walk up to the refuge. You're back in Quito by late afternoon.
When is the best time for a Cotopaxi tour from Quito?
You can go all year. The drier months, June to September and December to January, usually bring the clearest views of the volcano, and the mornings are clearer than the afternoons, which is why we start early.
Do you also start closer to the park?
Yes. If you're staying near the volcano, our Cotopaxi National Park Day Tour starts at our office in Machachi, the closest town to the park.

More tours

The José Rivas Refuge on the slopes of CotopaxiCotopaxi Volcano above the golden páramo of the national parkLimpiopungo Lagoon with Rumiñahui Volcano behindWalking by the Cotopaxi glacierThe boardwalk at Limpiopungo Lagoon in Cotopaxi National ParkSnow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano under a blue sky
Day tour
Cotopaxi National Park Day TourFull dayOur Cotopaxi National Park day tour takes you to Limpiopungo Lagoon, up to the José Rivas Refuge and, if weather and terrain allow, to the glacier of Cotopaxi Volcano. Starts and ends in Machachi.From $75 per personView tour →
The turquoise Quilotoa Lagoon inside its craterSnow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano under a blue skyLimpiopungo Lagoon with Rumiñahui Volcano behindA hiker at a viewpoint on the Quilotoa crater rimThe red and snowy slopes of Cotopaxi Volcano on the Cotopaxi and Quilotoa day trip
Two volcanoes
Cotopaxi and Quilotoa in One DayFull day, about 12 hoursOur Cotopaxi and Quilotoa day trip visits Cotopaxi National Park in the morning and the turquoise Quilotoa crater lake in the afternoon, with a stop in the Andean villages on the way. Starts and ends in Machachi.From $95 per personView tour →
Climbers roped together among the ice towers of the Cotopaxi glacierSunrise above the clouds from the summit of CotopaxiThe snowy summit crater of Cotopaxi VolcanoThe José Rivas Refuge at sunset on the slopes of CotopaxiHikers walking up to the José Rivas Refuge below the Cotopaxi glacierThe shadow of Cotopaxi's summit on the clouds at dawn
Summit 5897 m
Cotopaxi Summit Climb: 2 Days2 days, 1 nightClimb Cotopaxi Volcano to its 5,897 m summit with a certified mountain guide: a night at the José Rivas Refuge, a midnight start on the glacier and sunrise at the crater. For fit hikers who are already acclimatized.From $450 per personView tour →
$180 per person
1 traveler
Check availability