BREAKFAST
Early departure to the south of the city of Quito, this beautiful adventure begins with the passage through the famous "Avenue of the Volcanoes": Pichincha (4,784 m | 15,695 ft), Atacaso (4,463 m | 14,642 ft), Corazón (4,790 m | 15,715 ft), Ilinizas (5,248 m | 17,217 ft), Pasochoa (4,200 m | 13,779 ft), Sincholagua (4.873 m | 15,987ft), Rumiñahui (4.721 m | 15,488 ft), Cotopaxi (5.897 m | 19,347 ft), until we arrive to Cotopaxi National Park. It will take us about 1h45 minutes to be at the entrance of the park, where the most important attraction is precisely one of the highest active volcanoes in the world: Cotopaxi, with a height of 5,897 meters | 19,347 ft.
This magnificent volcano, which name has been translated as "Moon Neck", will watch over us throughout our journey through lunar landscapes and typical high Andean valleys. We will stop at the edge of the Limpiopungo lake where we will make a gentle walk of about 1 hour where we will observe the flora of this typical ecosystem of Ecuador called paramo, easily observe some species of birds, wild horses and hopefully we will see the condor, the paramo fox, deers, which also inhabit this type of ecosystem.
In a 4x4 vehicle we will be able to reach 4500 meters | 14,763 ft of altitude and from there we will be able to make a walk of approximately 1 hour to arrive at
the 4,800 meters | 15,748 ft of altitude where the José Rivas refuge is located.
Cotopaxi is one of the points that can not miss in your itinerary, it is the second most visited national park in Ecuador after the Galapagos Islands. In the afternoon and after having enjoyed these beautiful landscapes and very interesting hikes, we will continue our journey south until we reach Baños which is located at 1800 meters 5,905 ft. Baños is known as the gateway to the Amazon.
ACCOMMODATION
* NOTE: Climbing to the refuge depends on the weather and the physical conditions of the participants.