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COTOPAXI · FULL DAY · FROM QUITO

Cotopaxi Day Tour from Quito.

Above the clouds.

Hike to 4,864 m. Bike through the páramo. One very big day in the Andes.

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FROM US$59

shared tour

DURATION Full Day

Quito to Cotopaxi

HIGH POINT 4,864 m

José Rivas Refuge

FLOW STYLE Active

hike + optional bike

THE EXPERIENCE

This isn't a sightseeing stop.
You're going up the mountain.

Cotopaxi rises to 5,897 metres above Ecuador's Avenue of Volcanoes. But this day isn't about admiring it through a bus window.

We drive into Cotopaxi National Park and climb into the high-altitude páramo before beginning the hike toward the José Rivas Refuge at 4,864 metres.

Then, if you're up for it, trade your hiking boots for a mountain bike and descend through one of Ecuador's most extraordinary Andean landscapes.

THE MOUNTAIN AT A GLANCE

Up slowly. Down differently.

01 4,600 m

The trail begins.

Step into the páramo and start the high-altitude hike.

02 4,864 m

José Rivas Refuge.

Catch your breath. Take in the view. You've earned both.

03 ~5,000 m

A little higher.

When conditions and your body allow, continue beyond the refuge.

04 DOWNHILL

Two wheels. Optional.

Swap hiking for an optional mountain-bike descent.

05 LIMPIOPUNGO

Slow down again.

Return to the open páramo beneath Cotopaxi.

CarpeDM travellers at José Rivas Refuge at 4,864 metres on Cotopaxi
4,864 METRES The refuge.

The legs remember this part.

YOUR DAY

Quito to Cotopaxi.
And back again.

Mountain conditions change. That's part of travelling in the Andes, so exact timings may move with weather, traffic and the pace of the group.

07:20
QUITO

Leave the city behind.

Meet at CarpeDM office in Quito at 7.20am. A second meeting point is available at Hilton Colón at approximately 7:45am.

MORNING
COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK

Enter the páramo.

Learn about Cotopaxi, the surrounding volcanoes and the plants and wildlife that survive at this altitude.

4,600 M
THE CLIMB

Now we walk.

Drive toward the high car park and begin the hike toward José Rivas Refuge at 4,864 metres.

4,864 M
THE REFUGE

Above the clouds.

Rest at the refuge and, when conditions and your acclimatization allow, continue a little higher.

OPTIONAL
THE DESCENT

Trade boots for a bike.

Confident riders can descend by mountain bike through the high-Andean landscape. Prefer not to ride? No problem.

AFTERNOON
LIMPIOPUNGO + LUNCH

Come back down to earth.

Explore the lower páramo landscape before a well-earned lunch.

~18:00
QUITO

Back to the city.

Return to Quito after one very large day in the Andes.

SEE THE MOUNTAIN

Some things are better
at 4,864 metres.

CHOOSE YOUR FLOW

Your mountain. Your pace.

01

Hike

Make the refuge your goal and experience Cotopaxi on foot.

02

Hike + Bike

Add the optional downhill ride if you're comfortable riding on mountain terrain.

03

Take It Slower

Altitude wins arguments. Listen to your body and let the mountain set the pace.

FIND YOUR SLOW FLOW STYLE

How this journey travels.

Not every experience creates impact in the same way. Here's where Cotopaxi sits in the CarpeDM travel framework.

TRAVEL APPROACH
△

Traditional

An iconic Ecuador experience and one very big mountain.

◒

Responsible

Local guides, local livelihoods and travel through a protected landscape.

≈

Slow Flow

Walk steadily. Listen to your body. Your pace matters more than the checklist.

TOUR DNA
👥 Small Group ▰▰▰□□ Active 12+ Age ♧ Nature
IMPACT CONNECTIONS
8 Decent Work
& Economic Growth
15 Life
on Land
CARPEDM FLOW

Travel can entertain, support or regenerate. Knowing the difference is part of travelling better.

CarpeDM travellers mountain biking beneath Cotopaxi volcano
THE WAY DOWN Gravity helps.

The bike is optional. The view isn't.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

We bring the essentials.

  • Bilingual Spanish / English guide
  • Tourist transport from Quito
  • Lunch
  • Bike and helmet for the optional ride
  • Protected-area permits

BRING WITH YOU

The Andes make their own weather.

Warm layers Waterproof jacket Gloves Hat Hiking shoes Water Sun protection Snacks

Breakfast, additional food and drinks, personal expenses and tips are not included.

YOUR GROUP. YOUR COTOPAXI.

One mountain.
Four simple prices.

The per-person price changes with your group size. No mystery at checkout.

COTOPAXI DAY TOUR
Private Your own guide, vehicle and pace
US$179 per person
2 travellers
US$89 per person
3 travellers
US$69 per person
4+ travellers
US$59 per person
Book Cotopaxi
NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

Your mountain.
Your pace.

Travelling with a larger group, looking for a different setup or simply want to talk it through? Send us a message.

Talk to CarpeDM →

TRAVELLER VOICES

Cotopaxi isn't new to us.
We've been coming up here for years.

250+ Cotopaxi traveller reviews

Across our established Cotopaxi experiences on Tripadvisor.

5.0 · 120 reviews · Volcano Quest → 4.9 · 133 reviews · Cotopaxi Day Trip →
CarpeDM travellers celebrating beneath Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador
YEARS ON THE MOUNTAIN Different travellers.
Same reaction.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Good questions.
Especially at 4,864 metres.

How difficult is the Cotopaxi refuge hike?

The distance isn't the main challenge — the altitude is. We take the climb steadily, and reaching the refuge is never more important than listening to your body.

Do I need to acclimatize before Cotopaxi?

Spending time at altitude before the tour can make the experience more comfortable. If you've just arrived in Quito, talk with us about your itinerary before booking.

Do I have to do the mountain-bike descent?

No. Cycling is optional. If you don't feel comfortable riding, you can continue with the vehicle.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Cotopaxi is a high-mountain environment and conditions can change quickly. Your guide may adapt the day's timing or activities when safety or conditions require it.

What altitude will we reach?

The standard hiking objective is José Rivas Refuge at 4,864 metres. When conditions and individual acclimatization allow, there may be an opportunity to continue higher.

Where does the Cotopaxi day tour leave from?

Our standard meeting point is CarpeDM Adventures office in Quito at approximately 07:20, with a Hilton Colón meeting point at approximately 07:45.

Can I book Cotopaxi privately?

Yes. Private departures are available for travellers who prefer their own guide, vehicle and pace.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included in the standard Cotopaxi day tour. Breakfast, snacks and additional drinks are not included.

SLOW FLOW TRAVEL

The summit isn't
the point.

Cotopaxi has a way of reminding you that the mountain doesn't care about your schedule.

Walk steadily. Notice where you are. Listen to your body. Leave enough space in the day for the experience itself.

That's Slow Flow at 4,864 metres.

KEEP EXPLORING

One mountain tends to lead
somewhere else.

Cotopaxi is one version of Ecuador. Here are three completely different ones.

Quilotoa crater lake in the Ecuadorian Andes
ANDEAN LIFE

Quilotoa

Highland communities, an extraordinary crater lake and another side of the Andes.

Explore Quilotoa →
Hummingbird in the Mindo cloud forest of Ecuador
CLOUD FOREST

Mindo

Waterfalls, hummingbirds and chocolate in an entirely different Ecuador.

Explore Mindo →
Otavalo Women in Market
CULTURE · ANDES

Otavalo

Markets, landscapes and indigenous culture along the road north of Quito.

Explore Otavalo →

READY?

One mountain. One day.
Quite a story.

Cotopaxi Day Tour from Quito · Shared departures from US$59.

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