At one hour and thirty minutes from Quito, by the Panamerican Highway south, crossing a part of the Andes Mountains and the town of Machachi. Place known for livestock and agriculture at the foothills of Pasochoa and Rumiñahui to the right and to the left the Cerro Corazón with the wonderful Ilinizas we will have our first technical stop at an altitude of 2945m (9662.07 feet) for acclimatization, breakfast and photographs. Our second stop will be at the entrance to Cotopaxi National Park 3200m (10498.69 ft), the people of the surrounding communities will be waiting for us with souvenir sales. Cotopaxi National Park is the second most visited in Ecuador after the Galapagos Islands, its main attraction is the Cotopaxi Volcano with an altitude of 5987m (19347.11 ft), it is the highest active volcano in the world, and thousands of tourists visit it every month because it is one of the main tourist attractions near Quito, the most popular activities are the ascent to the summit, hiking, horseback riding and cycling. Our 1 day tour combines 2 activities, starting with the hike to the Jose Rivas refuge at 4864 (15748.03 feet), its easy to climb to this altitude without technical equipment, without experience is possible because our transportation arrives to the parking lot.

ITINERARY.

1.     Departure from la Mariscal 7:15 am (Reina Victoria and Foch streets corner) / Zular Coffee shopSAN BLAS SQUARE 7:30 am

2.     Entrance Cotopaxi National Park 3200m (10498.69 ft.)

3.     Explanation about the volcano, flora and fauna endemic of the Park.

4.     Photographs in the lower part 3600m (11811.02 ft.).

5.     Arrival Parking lot 4600m (15091.86 ft.)

6.     Explanation about the hike from the parking lot to the José Rivas refuge 4800m (15748.03 ft.).

7.     Return to the parking lot.

8.     Explanation and biking to the Limpiopungo lagoon about 45min.

9.      Go out of the National Park for the same restaurant in the morning for our Lunch.

1. Return to Quito 

· Comfortable warm clothes, windbreaker, gloves, neck and ear protection. 

· Camera.

· Sunscreen.

· Comfortable shoes for walking in mountainous terrain and sand.

1.- Departure from Plaza Foch at 7:15 AM (Reina Victoria and Mariscal Foch) / Departure from Plaza San Blas at 7:30 AM (Francisco de Caldas and Av. Pichincha).

2.- Stop near the entrance to the National Park so that passengers can buy breakfast and supplies for the road.

3.- Entrance to Cotopaxi National Park 3200 m.a.s.l. (10498.69 feet). 

4.- Explanation of the lower part of the National Park endemic flora and fauna. 

5.- Depending on the weather photos in the lower part of the park at 3600m.a.s.l. (11811.02 ft.).

6.- Arrival at 4500m (14765 ft).

7.- Explanation about the hike to Refugio José Rivas 4.864 m.a.s.l. (15960 ft.).

8.- Return to the parking lot.

9.- Explanation for the people who will take the option of descending by bicycle 45 m approx.

10.- Photographs of Limpiopungo lagoon until we load the bicycles.

11 .- Departure from the National Park to the same restaurant in the morning for lunch.

12.- Return to Quito.