Holidays in Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi National Park

The Symbol of Ecuador

Holidays in the Cotopaxi National Park

The Cotopaxi National Park is one of the most beautiful, yet surprisingly accessible National Parks in the whole of South America, with an amazing variety of landscapes, wildlife, and activities, all just a few hours' drive from Quito and we think everybody should inclued Cotopaxi on their holidays in Ecuador.

The Park takes its name from the beautiful, snow-capped Cotopaxi volcano which lies right in the heart of the park, and which is iconic for most Ecuadoreans. Its shape is a perfect cone and its 6000m-high peak is visible from as far away as Quito on a clear day. The National Park isn't just about mountains, however - it includes everything from semi-arid parama scrubland to lush river-fed meadows, and the varied geography makes it a haven for many different animals. It's not unusual to see giant Andean condors in the skies above, or to enjoy a picnic lunch with hummingbirds fluttering around you.

It's perfectly possible to take a day tour to Cotopaxi from Quito, but if time allows we'd really recommend a longer trip, staying for at least one night at one of the historic haciendas in the area. As well as allowing you the chance to see more of the sights in the area (such as the amazing Quilotoa crater lake) it's a great way to enjoy a piece of Ecuador's history - usually with a delicious traditional meal to boot...

Cotopaxi Tours & Holidays

  • Andean Explorer

    • Length: 12 days
    • From: £2095pp
    • Highlights: Quito, Cotopaxi National Park, Devil's Nose, Cuenca

    Journey south from Quito through the spectacular scenery of the Cotopaxi National Park, including the infamous Devil's Nose railway ...

    Book this trip now
  • Galapagos Explorer

    • Length: 12 days
    • From: £3450pp
    • Highlights: Galapagos Islands, Quito, Cotopaxi

    Visit Quito and the Cotopaxi National Park before heading out across the Pacific for a superb island-hopping tour of the Galapagos Islands ...

    Book this trip now
  • Andes to Amazon

    • Length: 12 days
    • From: £2395pp
    • Highlights: Cloud Forest, Cotopaxi, Amazon Jungle

    This fantastic Ecuador holiday first concentrates on exploring the beauty of Ecuador's majestic Andes mountains, before taking you down from the peaks to explore the heart of the amazing Amazon rainforest ...

    Book this trip now
  • Full Monty

    • Length: 20 days
    • From: £3395pp
    • Highlights: Otovalo, Cotopaxi, Cuenca, Amazon, Beaches

    This full-length Ecuador holiday gives you the chance to see the whole of Ecuador, from the snow-capped peaks of the Andes to the steamy Amazon jungle, before ending up with some time on Ecuador's superb beaches ...

    Book this trip now
  • Incas & Iguanas

    • Length: 14 days
    • From: £3895pp
    • Highlights: Cusco, Machu Picchu, Santa Cruz, Isabela

    Two weeks combining Peru and Machu Picchu with an island-hopping holiday to the Galapagos Islands ...

    Book this trip now

Trekking in Cotopaxi

Again, if you have more time available then a great way to see more of the National Park is to look at some of our trekking options in Cotopaxi. Because of the varied nature of the terrain there is a huge variety of treks available, from gentle strolls to full-on expeditions. You can either camp, or take advantage of the haciendas available to do a series of day-treks.

One of the real joys of trekking in Cotopaxi is how accessible and approachable everything is, and even inexperienced trekkers can have a go at 5000m peaks like Illinizas and Corazon, which isn't a bad achievement to take home with you.

Undoubtedly tougher, but still achievable by novices, is the possibility to climb Cotopaxi itself. At almost 6000m, this is a serious mountain but it's a non-technical ascent and so long as you are properly acclimatised there's no reason you shouldn't be able to get a monster mountain under your belt...

Share on FacebookShare on PinterestShare on twitter Back to top