Cotopaxi National Park and Inca Ruins Day Trip from Quito

Hike through páramo and forest to reach a volcano, then eat lunch surrounded by Inca walls

A private day trip from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park combines hiking through high-altitude ecosystems around Ecuador's second-most-visited national park with a visit to San Agustin de Callo, a colonial hacienda built over Inca structures where you eat lunch inside an Inca temple. A certified bilingual guide leads the day, hotel pickup is included, and you return by mid-afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cotopaxi National Park and Inca Ruins Tour

• Start at 8:00 a.m. from hotel
• Explore Cotopaxi Volcano and surroundings
• Observe wildlife in Cotopaxi National Park
• Visit San Agustin de Callo hacienda
• Enjoy traditional lunch at Inca temple
• Return to hotel by 4:30 p.m.

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Quito hotel at 8:00 a.m. and heads toward Cotopaxi Volcano, which rises to 5,897 meters. By around 9:30 a.m. you're hiking through the 33,300-hectare national park, moving through changing ecosystems as elevation increases. Pristine forests, páramo grassland, mountain lakes, and wild horses. The guide points out the fauna that lives in the reserve: condors, pumas, spectacled bears, Andean foxes, llamas, and endemic species like the carunculated caracara. The park is the second most visited in Ecuador, and the day's hiking lets you see why.

After the morning in the park, you visit San Agustin de Callo, a colonial-era hacienda built directly over Inca stone structures from the 15th century. Lunch happens inside an Inca temple: a room with original Inca walls still standing. You eat surrounded by that history and by friendly llamas that roam the hacienda grounds. The guide explains the site's past while you eat, connecting what you saw in the park to the human settlement that once occupied this region.

The return to your Quito hotel happens around 4:30 p.m. Private transportation, the certified bilingual guide, all park fees and taxes, and lunch are included in the booking.

What’s included

• Private transportation with hotel pickup and return.
• certified bilingual tour guide.
• lunch served inside an Inca temple at San Agustin de Callo.
• all national park fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (11 to 90 years) · Child (1 to 10 years)

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ecuador Best Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you speak English or Spanish and want a guide who can explain the park's ecology and the hacienda's history in real time. The private format and bilingual guide mean you move at your own pace and get commentary tailored to what you're seeing, rather than following a fixed group schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 10 years).

What animals might I see while hiking in Cotopaxi National Park?

Cotopaxi National Park is home to condors, pumas, spectacled bears, Andean foxes, wild horses, llamas, and endemic species like the carunculated caracara. You'll also spot páramo hummingbirds and various frog species as you move through different elevations.

Where do I eat lunch on this tour?

Lunch is served inside an Inca temple at San Agustin de Callo, a colonial hacienda built over 15th-century Inca structures. You eat surrounded by original Inca walls and llamas that live on the property.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour picks you up from your Quito hotel at 8:00 a.m. and returns you around 4:30 p.m. You reach Cotopaxi National Park by approximately 9:30 a.m., giving you several hours to hike and explore the park before heading to San Agustin de Callo.

Is the guide bilingual?

Yes, your guide is certified to lead tours in both English and Spanish, so commentary is delivered in whichever language you prefer.

Does the price include transportation and lunch?

Yes, private transportation from your hotel, the certified guide, lunch at San Agustin de Callo, and all national park fees and taxes are included.