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Ecuador: Cotopaxi Volcano Trek

South America
9 Days
Level 4 – Advanced
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Overview

This 9-day Cotopaxi Volcano trek with Tierra del Volcán is an immersive high-altitude journey through Ecuador’s Andean highlands, blending cultural discovery with progressive acclimatization and scenic trekking. Beginning in Quito with a guided exploration of its historic colonial center and the equatorial “Middle of the World,” the itinerary gradually builds through hikes on Pasochoa Volcano and across the páramo landscapes of Cotopaxi National Park. Over several days, trekkers traverse remote valleys, Inca trails, and high mountain passes, staying in a mix of traditional haciendas and camps while gaining altitude and taking in views of surrounding snowcapped peaks. The journey culminates with a challenging ascent to the Refugio José Ribas at 4,800 meters, offering a close-up experience of the iconic Cotopaxi Volcano before returning to Quito.

Highlights

  • Stand at the base of Cotopaxi — one of the world’s highest active volcanoes — and trek up to its iconic high-altitude refuge at 4,800m for unforgettable close-up views.
  • Explore Cotopaxi National Park's vast páramo landscapes, glacial valleys, and ancient Inca routes within one of Ecuador’s most breathtaking and wildlife-rich protected areas.
  • Hike through Pasochoa Volcano Reserve, with sweeping panoramic views of surrounding snowcapped peaks.
  • Traverse the lush scenery of Chirimachai Canyon, where Andean and jungle ecosystems meet.
  • Trek through working ranchlands where local chagras (Andean cowboys) still manage the land, offering an authentic glimpse into traditional livelihoods in the Ecuadorian highlands.

Itinerary

  1. Day 1
  2. Day 2
  3. Day 3
  4. Day 4
  5. Day 5
  6. Day 6
  7. Day 7
  8. Day 8
  9. Day 9
  • Arrival to Quito

    We will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel in Quito.

  • Quito City Tour

    After breakfast, visit the Cathedral in downtown Quito. Built in the 16th century, this church has been part of the city since its founding and to this day preserves most of the ancient traditions of the colonial era. You will also visit the Compañia church, which is the best example of baroque architecture in South America. With its amazing gold-leaf altar, this church is one of the most magnificent buildings of Quito’s Colonial Quarter. No visit to Quito is complete without a visit to the Panecillo Hill, the perfect viewpoint of the whole colonial city. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, followed by a visit to the place that gives Ecuador its name — the equatorial line, also known in Spanish as la mitad del mundo or middle of the world, where we can learn and play on learn the interactive museum of the effects of gravity on each hemisphere.

    Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
    Overnight: Quito

  • Pasochoa Trek

    A driver and bilingual guide will pick you up early in the morning from your hotel in Quito. Take a quick stop at El Porvenir for a hot canelazo, then continue to the Pasochoa Reserve, across the Paramo Plains. Our hike will begin in Hacienda Santa Rita Private Reserve, at an altitude of 3,300 meters (10826 ft), from which we will begin climbing Pasochoa Volcano. The route crosses patches of native Andean forest and open “páramos,” a type of moorland. Trek through fields covered with high straw and enjoy the magnificent view of the neighboring mountains covered with snow, such as Antisana, Cayambe, Cotopaxi and Sincholagua. Enjoy a packed lunch in the middle of the day. Hiking time is about 7 hours total round trip. Hiking difficulty is low.

    Meals: Breakfast and Packed Lunch
    Overnight: Hacienda El Porvenir

  • Cotopaxi National Park Trek

    After a delicious breakfast, we start out on our walk towards Cotopaxi National Park, the entrance of which is just 4 kilometers from the farmhouse. Today’s walk is quite flat, which helps with our acclimatization process. Visit the Pucará del Salitre, an old Inca fortress. Following the Incañán (Inca path) eastwards, we reach our camp, where we get a fabulous view of Cotopaxi Volcano. The walk takes about 6 hours on flat terrain and has an average altitude of 3,700m. During the walk, we will enjoy a packed lunch. We will have covered 19.2km. (12 miles) by the end of the day.

    Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
    Overnight: Camping (camp tents)

  • Hacienda El Tambo Trek

    Enjoy breakfast in the morning. Today’s walk takes us to Hacienda El Tambo, on the eastern flanks of the Andes. We cross hills and valleys, guarded over by Quilindaña, a peak hard to see from the Central Andean Valley, which looks very much like the Matterhorn seen from the Italian side. The average altitude that we walk at today is 3,800m, although we get as high as 4,200m on one mountain pass. In the afternoon, you'll arrive to the farmhouse, an old mountain refuge built on Inca stones.

    Today our walk lasts approximately 7 hours. The terrain is mainly flat but there are a few steep hills. By the end of this day, we will have covered 32km. (20 miles).

    Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
    Overnight: Hacienda El Tambo

  • Chirimachai Trek

    After breakfast, set out for a walk on a circuit around Hacienda El Tambo, crossing the Chirimachai Canyon to reach the camp. At Chirimachai, the climate from the eastern jungle rises to meet that of the Central Andean Valley. There is a great supply of natural water, straight from the glaciers of Cotopaxi. The scenery is truly unbeatable. On the walk, we will be accompanied by local chagras on their horses, since we pass land where there are fighting bulls.

    This stretch takes about 6 or 7 hours and is at an average altitude of 3,850m. The camp is located at 4,000m. In the course of the day, we will walk a total of 22.4km. (14 miles).

    Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
    Overnight: Camping (camp tents)

  • Cotopaxi National Park Trek

    We start out early in the morning, heading westward. Reach a very accessible, flat path, and enjoy panoramic views over glacial valleys. After a seven-hour walk, we reach our camp at 3,800m. The average altitude of the walk on Day 5 is 3,850m, assuring us that we are now acclimatized for our final challenge, getting up to Cotopaxi Refuge at 4,800m (15,744 ft). Today we will have walked 26.4 km (16.5 miles).

    Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
    Overnight: Tambopaxi Hotel

  • Refugio José Ribas (Climbing Hut)

    After breakfast, we get ready early for the final approach, reaching 4,800m after 5 days of physical preparation. The walk takes us 5 or 6 hours today, culminating at the climbing hut (Refugio José Ribas), where we can feel the sheer power of the immense volcano at close quarters.

    A vehicle will be waiting to take us back to Hacienda El Porvenir, where we will be served a well-earned, tasty lunch to round off this great trek before setting off back to Quito. Today’s walk is basically a long steep climb. The average altitude is 4,200m, with an ascent of 1,067m. from the camp to the refuge. The walk covers 8.48 km (5.3 miles).

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
    Overnight: Quito

  • Departure Day

    In the morning after breakfast, your driver will take you to Quito’s International Airport.

Accommodations

Please note: lodging is subject to change based on seasonality and availability.

  • Hacienda El Porvenir

    Set on the slopes of Rumiñahui Volcano at 3,600 meters, Hacienda El Porvenir is a scenic, working ranch just outside Cotopaxi National Park. Surrounded by volcanoes—including Cotopaxi—this historic hacienda offers a comfortable and authentic introduction to Andean life, with locally sourced food, traditional architecture, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

  • Hacienda El Tambo

    Set on the slopes of Quilindaña Volcano, Hacienda El Tambo is a remote and historic mountain refuge within the Condor Bioreserve. Once an Inca tambo (inn) for travelers to the Amazon, it has been rebuilt using original stone and remains deeply connected to its past. Surrounded by protected wilderness and dramatic Andean scenery, the hacienda offers a rare opportunity to stay in a truly off-the-grid setting while exploring one of Ecuador’s most pristine landscapes.

  • Tambopaxi Hotel

    Set in the heart of Cotopaxi National Park, Tambopaxi Hotel offers a comfortable high-altitude retreat with front-row views of Cotopaxi Volcano. Surrounded by sweeping páramo landscapes and glacial valleys, the lodge provides a warm and welcoming base to rest and recharge while immersed in one of the Andes’ most iconic and dramatic settings.

  • Cotopaxi Mountain Campsites

    During your trek, you’ll spend your nights immersed in one of the most dramatic volcanic landscapes in the Andes, with overnight stays in a mix of mountain huts, traditional haciendas, and remote campsites.

Your Questions Answered

What to know about Cotopaxi

Where is the Cotopaxi Volcano located?

The Cotopaxi Volcano is located in the Andes Mountains of central Ecuador, within Cotopaxi National Park. It sits about 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Quito.

When is the best time of the year for this trek?

The best time of the year for this trek from June to September.

Is this a guided experience?

Yes, this experience is led by a certified guide.

What is included?

Standard Elevate pricing includes accommodations, transportation, meals, guides, and evacuation insurance.

Is there a minimum number of people required?

A minimum number of 6 people is required for this trek.

How will I know what to pack and bring?

We’ll make sure you feel fully prepared before your trip. Ahead of departure, you’ll receive detailed packings lists, country guides, and access to pre-trip information sessions so you know exactly what to bring and what to expect.

What level of fitness is required?

This trek is categorized as a Level 4: Advanced Trek. Expect long days on steep, uneven terrain with significant elevation gain - ideal for travelers in good shape seeking a more demanding hike.