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IATAN

Ecuador Treks

Cotopaxi Trek  (6 days/ 5 nights)

On this page: Overview | Itinerary | Pricing

Overview

Six days of non-technical trekking in and around the Cotopaxi National Park.

Itinerary

Day 1.- Pasochoa - Transfer from Quito to Santa Rita Private Reserve to start the hike to Hacienda El Porvenir. The hike from 3.000 m (9,842 ft) to 3.500 m (11,482 ft) takes about 6 hours. The trek follows a road surrounded by native forest and offers you a great view of the valley and some mountains such as Antisana, Pasochoa, Viudita, etc. at  night there will be a briefing about the history, landscapes, flora and fauna of the region.

Day 2.- Cotopaxi National Park - After breakfast we go to a place called “El Pucará del Salitre”, a strategic military fortress from the Inca Empire. This “fort” was used to monitor the “incañanes,” or roads, that led to the Amazon rainforest and to the Latacunga valley. Following this Inca road, we will head to our campsite. We will have the chance to see herds of Alpacas and learn a little bit about them. This hike takes 6 to 7 hours and is relatively flat.

Day 3.- Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña - This day our hiking goes to el Tambo Quilindaña, a pre-colonial Inca refuge on the road towards to the jungle. Many volcanoes surround this magical place: Quilindaña that presides over it, and other mountains like Yanahurco, or black hill, legendary Predicator or majestic Antisana. The hike will take 6.5 hours and it's relatively flat. El Tambo Quilindaña farmhouse is at 3.700 m (12,136 ft)

Day 4.- Chirimachai - The group loops around Hacienda El Tambo Quilindaña going to Chirimachay’s base camp through the paramos of Cotopaxi's . The scenery of this area is unique because of the lava that flowed through here during Cotopaxi’s last eruption. This hike takes about 5 hours. On today’s hike some chagras (Andean cowboys) will ride along with us, and share their culture. Chirimachay base camp is at 4.000 m (13,120 ft)

Day 5.- Cotopaxi National Park - We start our hike in the morning going through a flat and high road towards Limpiopungo Lagoon. This is an excellent day of acclimatization with fantastic views were breathtaking pictures of the Cotopaxi, Rumiñahui and Sincholagua Volcanoes can be taken on a clear day. The hike will take 6 to 7 hours. Camp site at Rumicorral 3800m (12,464 ft).

Day 6.- Cotopaxi refuge - On our final day we hike to the shelter on Cotopaxi at 4.800 m (15,748 ft). The hike takes 4 to 5 hours to reach the refuge and 15 minutes back down to the parking lot were our vehicles will pick us up to take us to Hacienda El Porvenir from where we return to Quito.

Pricing