Travel south out of Quito to an area dubbed by the 19th century German explorer Von Humboldt as the "Avenue of the Volcanoes". Cotopaxi National Park is at the heart of this area and is deservedly Ecuador's most-visited mainland national park.
This visually stunning area is home to the gigantic and perfectly symmetrical cone of the Cotopaxi volcano. Standing at an impressive 6,005 metres, the graceful slopes and broad green base dominate the park and provide a stunning backdrop to the Pan-American Highway.
To match its awe-inspiring beauty, Cotopaxi is also one of Ecuador's most destructive volcanoes. However, it has remained fairly quiet since its last burst of activity in 1904 and is now extremely popular with climbers.
The park itself is an ecological sanctuary of 36,000 hectares, and has much unusual flora and flora and intriguing geological formations. The park boasts a varied topography with the altitude governing the vegetation and wildlife able to live there. It hosts a vast variety of birdlife including Andean gulls and several species of hummingbird, and a few hardy mammals.
Lunch at a local hacienda is included and you will be able to mountain bike out of the park from the Cotopaxi refuge.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Ecuador specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Quito City Tour
Visit downtown Quito to relish in this urban jewel and its treasures of art and architecture. Quito’s colonial quarter, the largest and best preserved of South America, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tours below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.
