In one of the most inhospitable atmospheres in the Ecuador, the life goes on abundance above 4000 meters high. For our surprise, birds, mammals and several extraordinary vegetable formations fill our view while we contemplate the reflection of the majestic volcano in the limpiopungo lagoon.

High in the sky, a curiquingues group escorts our step while the lagoon charges life with dozens of paramo birds that use this place like place of supply in its long road toward southern lands.

Cotopaxi National Park, located between the provinces of Pichincha and Cotopaxi in Ecuadorian northern Andes.
This extraordinary natural place this located 2 hours from Quito.

It takes an hour from the entrance of the national park up to the slopes of the volcano. From this point, several treks can be done depending on the degree of difficulty. This place is a perfect training and acclimatization zone for the ones who wants to approach higher mountain like Cotopaxi and Cayambe.

The most suitable trekking, the limpiopungo trek starts in the foothill of the volcano. Walking around the lagoon will take us about 40 minutes. In this circuit you can appreciate near 20 species of Andean birds among ducks, finches, curiquingues, plungers, migratory birds, eagles and hawks.

In the afternoon, Andean deer and wolves make us company while we walk for the uneven hillsides that surrounds the lagoon in search of the extraordinary Andean Hummingbird. A small bird that is able to stop their heart in the nights to enter in a hibernation state that allows him to survive the extreme temperatures of the Andean night.

The access until the slopes of the Rumiñahui volcano can also be reached from the same limpiopungo lagoon. According to the distance you want to achieve, this road can take you through different roads between 3 and 4 hours until the high part of the hill. The path is clear and it doesn't require of special gears unless you are planning crowning the mountain. Then you will need a basic climbing gear for the final part of the ascension.

There is another access to the national park departing from Machachi. In this area it can be carried out walks through the forest and the sandbanks of the Rumiñahui and Sincholagua volcanoes. Depending on the distance, you may walk for hours, complete circuits and even ride the area. The area is perfect to camp and to carry out expeditions with horses or mules through the paramos. We recommend you to bring good camping equipment since in the night the temperature lowers less than 3 degrees.

In the same mountain slopes, 2 country properties and hostels offer you horseback ridding and camping tours to the visitors that want to experience the sensation of the farmers from the area when traveling these places in company of these helpful animals.
If your adventure desire is bigger, you can approach the 4900 meters high refuge driving a 4wd car. After a short one but hard walk of 20 minutes among sandbank from the parking lot, we arrive to the refuge where we can enjoy an impressive view of the volcanic history of the Cotopaxi. Rivers of lava expelled by the volcano’s last eruption 1902 are clearly identified from this point. With the appropriate climbing gear you can approach to the glacier next to the refuge or walk 30 minutes up to the edge main glacier.

Camping, trekking, biking and horseback ridding are waiting for you inside Cotopaxi national park.