Cotopaxi & Baños Full Day Tour: Volcano, Waterfalls, Swing

Hike a volcano lagoon, ride a cable car over a waterfall, and swing in the clouds: all in one day from Quito.

A full-day tour from Quito combines Cotopaxi National Park and the mountain town of Baños, with a bilingual guide leading you through five distinct stops. You hike at Limpiopungo Lagoon (where Cotopaxi volcano appears weather permitting), cross the Pastaza River by cable car to reach the Bride's Veil Waterfall, tour a traditional sweets factory, visit the Pailón del Diablo waterfall, and end at the Swing at the End of the World: a swing suspended above the valley with views of Volcano Tunguragua. Pickup and drop-off from Quito hotels are included, as are park entry, lunch and an air-conditioned vehicle. The tour runs 10 to 14 hours depending on traffic and conditions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Cotopaxi National Park10m · entry included
2. Limpiopungo Lagoon1h · entry included
3. Bride's Veil Waterfall30m · entry included
4. Swing at the End of the World1h · entry included

Cotopaxi and Baños full day tour

• Pickup from Quito in the morning
• Arrive at Cotopaxi National Park entrance
• Visit Limpiopungo Lagoon and hike
• Drive to Baños city
• Short city tour of Baños
• Visit Agoyan Waterfall and take photos
• Ride cable car at Manto de la Novia waterfall
• Visit traditional sweets factory
• Visit Pailón del Diablo waterfall
• Visit Tree House and swing above clouds
• Return to Quito

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup in Quito and a drive of about an hour and a half to Cotopaxi National Park. Once you register at the entrance, you head to Limpiopungo Lagoon for a short walk around the water. If the weather clears, the 5,897-meter Cotopaxi volcano rises into view across the lake. This is the only moment on the tour where you're on foot in the park itself. The lagoon walk is gentle and the payoff is the volcano framed against the water.

From there, a three-hour drive takes you south to Baños, a town wedged between the Andes and Ecuador's jungle. A short city tour orients you, then you move through a sequence of waterfalls. At the Bride's Veil Waterfall, you board a cable car (called a tarabita locally) to cross the Pastaza River and get close to the falls from the far bank. Afterward, you visit a small factory where workers make traditional guayaba sweets by hand. You can watch the process and buy some if you want. The Pailón del Diablo waterfall comes next, the largest and most photographed in Baños, where you stop for photos and a break.

The final activity is the Swing at the End of the World, a wooden swing hung from a tree house on a cliff edge overlooking the valley. When you swing out, you're suspended above the drop with Volcano Tunguragua and the surrounding mountains in view. It's the last stop before the drive back to Quito, where you arrive in the evening. Lunch is included during the day, and your guide speaks both English and Spanish, so you get the details in your language.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Quito.
• bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• entry to Cotopaxi National Park.
• lunch during the day.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full route.

Options for this experience

2 options

PrivateUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 07:30Lasts 10 hours; includes lunch, jeep and van, with pickup included

Solo TravelUp to 1 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 07:30Includes lunch; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

AgesAdult (8 to 90 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Real Dreams Tour

Is this one for you?Choose the private option if you want to set your own pace at each stop and skip the sweets factory or any waterfall. The shared group tour keeps to a fixed schedule that moves through all five sites. The tour involves cable car rides and swings but no strenuous climbing, so it suits most fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or cardiovascular concerns.

Traveler reviews

4.99★★★★★★★★★★

74 verified traveler reviews

5 ★73

4 ★1

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is the Swing at the End of the World actually like?

The Swing at the End of the World is a wooden swing attached to a tree house on a cliff overlooking the valley near Baños. When you swing out, you're suspended above a steep drop with views of Volcano Tunguragua and the surrounding mountains. It's the final activity of the tour before the return drive to Quito.

Will I actually see Cotopaxi volcano on this tour?

Cotopaxi volcano is visible from Limpiopungo Lagoon if the weather allows: cloud cover and mist are common in the Andes, so sightings are not guaranteed. The lagoon walk itself is worth the stop regardless, and the guide will let you know what conditions look like when you arrive.

How much walking or hiking is involved?

The tour includes a short walk around Limpiopungo Lagoon and stops at several waterfalls for photos and viewing, but there is no strenuous hiking. Most of the day is spent in the vehicle traveling between Cotopaxi National Park and Baños, with brief walks at each waterfall site.

Is lunch included, and what about dietary restrictions?

Lunch is included in the tour price. Specific details about menu options or how to request dietary accommodations should be confirmed when you book, as the operator's standard menu is not detailed in advance.

What's the cable car crossing at the Bride's Veil Waterfall like?

At the Bride's Veil Waterfall, you board a cable car (tarabita) to cross the Pastaza River and reach the far bank where you can view and photograph the waterfall up close. It's a short crossing that gives you a different angle on the falls than you'd get from the near side.

Can I choose between a solo traveler or private tour option?

The tour is available as either a solo traveler option (shared group) or a private tour. You select which one suits you at checkout. Both include the same stops, guide, entry fees and lunch, with the main difference being whether you travel with other guests or as a private group.