Cotopaxi horseback ride and hike from Quito: private tour

Ride the grasslands around Cotopaxi, then walk a highland lagoon where birds and native flowers gather.

A private tour from Quito combines a 2–3 hour horseback ride around Cotopaxi Volcano with a 1 hour hike at Limpiopungo Lagoon, both in Cotopaxi National Park. Your guide picks you up at your hotel, provides helmets and ponchos for the ride, and handles all park entry; the 90-minute drive from Quito passes through Andean villages and mountain landscape. A lunchbox comes partway through the day, and you return to your hotel by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Horseback ride and hike at Cotopaxi

• Pickup from hotel or Airbnb
• Drive 90 minutes to Cotopaxi
• Meet local guide and get helmets, ponchos, horses
• Horseback ride for 2-3 hours around volcano
• Enjoy lunchbox on the way back
• Hike 1 hour around Limpiopungo lagoon
• Return to Quito or stop for lunch
• Dropoff at hotel

The Experience

The drive from Quito takes 90 minutes, climbing into the Andes through small villages and mountain terrain. Once you arrive at Cotopaxi National Park, a local guide meets you with horses, helmets and ponchos. The horseback ride lasts 2–3 hours and follows grassland trails around the volcano's base, where natural springs flow down from the peak into the Andean valley. The terrain is open highland, not technical, and the ride moves at a pace suited to the landscape and the group.

Partway through the ride you stop for a lunchbox. After the horses, you walk to Limpiopungo Lagoon, a flat highland lake about an hour on foot. The lagoon sits in a bird sanctuary; native plants and flowers line the shore, and the walk gives you time to spot local wildlife and take in the high-altitude ecosystem. The hike is straightforward and stays at the same elevation as the lagoon itself.

Your guide speaks English or Spanish (you choose at booking), and the whole day—drive, ride, hike and return—takes around 8 hours. You can end the day back at your hotel, or stop at a local restaurant for a meal before heading back to Quito. Private transportation is included throughout, so you don't arrange pickups or manage getting to the park.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel in Quito.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• 2–3 hour horseback ride with helmet and poncho.
• 1 hour hike around Limpiopungo Lagoon.
• Cotopaxi National Park entrance fee.
• bottle of water.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Llamingo Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to combine horseback riding and hiking in a single day with a private guide who sets the pace—you'll spend 2-3 hours on horseback around Cotopaxi's grasslands, then hike to Limpiopungo lagoon, without splitting your attention between multiple activities or locations.

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Top questions

How long is the horseback ride around Cotopaxi Volcano?

The horseback ride lasts 2–3 hours and follows grassland trails around the volcano's base in Cotopaxi National Park, passing natural springs and open highland terrain.

What is Limpiopungo Lagoon like to hike?

Limpiopungo Lagoon sits in a flat highland area and takes about 1 hour to walk around; it's a bird sanctuary with native plants and flowers, and the terrain is straightforward at the same elevation as the water.

Does the tour include transportation from my hotel?

Yes, private transportation is included—your guide picks you up at your hotel in Quito and returns you there at the end of the day, with the 90-minute drive passing through Andean villages and mountain landscape.

What do I need to bring or wear for the horseback ride?

Helmets and ponchos are provided by your guide; you should wear sturdy shoes or boots suitable for riding and hiking at high altitude, and bring layers since the Andes can be cool even during the day.

Is lunch included in the tour?

A lunchbox is provided during the horseback ride; if you want a full meal afterward, you can stop at a local restaurant on the way back to Quito, though that meal is not included in the tour price.

What language does the guide speak?

Your guide speaks English or Spanish; you select your preferred language when you book.