Cotopaxi Volcano Trek from Quito: Glacier & Limpiopungo Lake

Hike to Cotopaxi's Glacier at 5,000m, Then Bike Down to the Lake

You hike from 4,600m to a glacier at 5,000m on Cotopaxi, then bike down to Limpiopungo Lagoon for lunch. Transport, guide, and a traditional meal are included. The day starts at 7:30am and returns you to Quito by late afternoon. Bring warm layers and waterproof gear: altitude and weather change fast.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Cotopaxi National Park3h
2. Limpiopungo Lagoon30m

Cotopaxi National Park hike and lunch

• Meet at CarpeDM Office
• Transfer to Cotopaxi National Park
• Enter Cotopaxi National Park
• Visit Mariscal Sucre Interpretation Centre
• Begin hike from 4600m car park
• Reach refuge at 4864m
• Bike ride to Limpiopungo lake
• Arrive at Limpiopungo lake
• Eat included lunch
• Return to Quito

The experience

The van picks you up at 7:30am from the CarpeDM office in Quito's old town, or from the Hilton Colon if that's easier. You'll stop for breakfast and snacks on the way to Cotopaxi National Park, which takes about two hours. By 9:30am you're inside the park gates, and your guide takes you straight to the Mariscal Sucre Interpretation Centre. They'll stamp your passport here and walk you through what you're about to see: the volcanoes, the paramo vegetation, the wild horses that roam the plateau. It's the kind of detail that makes the landscape make sense instead of just being a view.

At 10:30am you start hiking from the 4,600m car park toward the Jose Rivas Refuge. The air gets thinner as you climb, and by 12:30pm you've reached the refuge at 4,864 meters. From there, if conditions allow, you push up to the glacier at 5,000m. This is where Cotopaxi's snow and ice actually start. The volcano itself towers above you at 5,897 meters, and the symmetry of it is real. You're not imagining that cone shape. After the glacier, you head back down to the car park, where the guide hands you a bike for a short 3 to 5km ride down to Limpiopungo Lagoon. It's a gentle descent, nothing technical, and it gets you to the lake by 2pm.

Lunch is waiting at a traditional local restaurant by the lagoon at 3pm: included in the price, and you'll need it after the morning's altitude. Limpiopungo is a glacier-fed lake that sits like a mirror reflecting Cotopaxi and the neighboring Volcán Rumiñahui. Waterfowl move across the water, and the paramo stretches flat around you. You'll head back to Quito by 4pm, arriving around 5 or 5:30pm depending on traffic. The whole day is structured so you're not rushing any single part, but you're also not sitting around waiting.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or office pickup in Quito, transport to and from Cotopaxi National Park with a stop for breakfast on the way, park entry, a guide who explains the volcanoes and landscape at the Mariscal Sucre Interpretation Centre, the hike to the Jose Rivas Refuge and glacier, a bike ride down to Limpiopungo Lagoon, and lunch at a traditional local restaurant by the lake.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:20

AgesUp to age 75

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

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

Operated by CarpeDM Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to reach high altitude and see Cotopaxi's glacier without arranging transport, park permits, or timing yourself: the fixed schedule and included guide handle all three, leaving you to focus on the climb and the views.

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Top questions

What time does the tour start and where do I meet?

Pickup is at 7:30am from the CarpeDM office (Jose Antepara E4-38, old town) or the Hilton Colon Hotel. You return to Quito around 4pm or 5pm.

How high do we climb?

You hike to the Jose Rivas Refuge at 4,864m, and if conditions permit, up to the glacier at 5,000m. Cotopaxi's summit is 5,897m but is not part of this tour.

Is the hike difficult?

You need moderate physical fitness. The altitude is the main challenge. The hike itself is steady but not technical. Bring time to acclimatize and move slowly.

What's included in the price?

Transport from Quito, a guide, lunch at a traditional restaurant by Limpiopungo Lagoon, and park entry are all included.

What should I bring?

Warm layers, a waterproof jacket, gloves, a hat, hiking boots, sunglasses, sunscreen, and extra water. Weather at altitude changes fast.

Can I bike instead of hike the whole way?

No. You hike up to the refuge and glacier in the morning, then bike down to the lagoon in the afternoon. The bike ride is short and downhill.

Is this tour suitable for pregnant travelers or people with back problems?

No. The altitude, hiking, and physical demands are not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal injuries. Consult your doctor if you have cardiovascular concerns.

How do I book?

Contact CarpeDM Adventures on WhatsApp through the booking platform to confirm your date and any preferences.