Cotopaxi Volcano Tour from Quito: Hike to Basecamp & Glacier

Hike two routes up Ecuador's most active volcano in one day

A full-day guided tour from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park combines two hikes: one to Jose Rivas basecamp on the Cotopaxi Volcano and another to the glacial zone at 5,000 meters. The tour includes park entry, lunch, private transportation from Quito, and a bilingual guide who leads the route and explains the geology and ecology of the Avenue of the Volcanoes. Moderate fitness is needed for the high-altitude hiking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Cotopaxi National Park4h · entry included
2. Cotopaxi Volcano2h · entry included
3. Limpiopungo Lagoon1h · entry included

Explore Cotopaxi National Park and Volcano

• Travel from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park
• Explore Cotopaxi National Park landscapes
• Hike to Jose Rivas basecamp
• Hike to Cotopaxi glacier at 5000 meters
• Visit Limpiopungo Lake and hike trail
• Return to Quito

The experience

You start in Quito and drive into Cotopaxi National Park, entering the Avenue of the Volcanoes: a high-altitude corridor where multiple peaks line the horizon. The park sits in the paramo grasslands and cloud forests of the Ecuadorian Andes, and the day centers on Cotopaxi Volcano itself, a snow-capped cone that rises to 5,897 meters. Your guide leads you on foot to Jose Rivas basecamp first, a lower hike that gets you close to the volcano's slopes and gives you a sense of its scale before the steeper push higher.

The second hike takes you toward the glacial zone at 5,000 meters, where the air thins and the snow-covered peak dominates the view. This is the more demanding stretch of the day (the altitude and the terrain require steady effort), but it is also where you stand closest to the active volcano and see the full sweep of the park's ecosystems below. Lunch is included and timed into the day so you refuel before or after the hikes, depending on the group's pace and the guide's route choice.

You also visit Limpiopungo Lagoon, a high-altitude lake where a loop trail circles the water and reflects the volcano on calm days. This walk is gentler than the basecamp and glacier hikes, roughly an hour, and offers a different angle on the landscape. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours total, including drive time, hikes and lunch. Transportation from Quito is included, and your guide speaks both English and Spanish, so language is not a barrier to understanding the geology, flora and fauna the guide points out along the way.

What’s included

• Lunch.
• private transportation from Quito.
• Cotopaxi National Park entrance fee.
• bilingual tour guide in English and Spanish.
• pickup and drop-off in Quito.

Options for this experience

3 options

Shared TourGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00Shared tour, lunch not included, pickup included; requires a minimum of 4 passengers

Small GroupGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00Pickup is included

Private TourGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00Lasts 7 hours, includes lunch and a jeep; 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 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 88 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by Quito Trips

Is this one for you?Choose the private or small-group option if you want the guide's full attention on the route and the flexibility to move at your own pace during the hikes. The shared tour works if you prefer to split costs and don't mind a larger group on the trail.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

How high do we hike on this Cotopaxi tour?

The tour includes two hikes: one to Jose Rivas basecamp on the volcano's lower slopes, and a second to the glacial zone at 5,000 meters. The second hike is the more strenuous of the two and requires moderate fitness and acclimatization to high altitude.

What is Limpiopungo Lagoon and how long is the walk there?

Limpiopungo Lagoon is a high-altitude lake inside Cotopaxi National Park where a loop trail circles the water. The walk takes roughly one hour and is gentler terrain than the volcano hikes, making it accessible to most fitness levels.

Does the tour include lunch and how is it timed?

Yes, lunch is included in the tour price. The guide times it into the day around the hikes, so you eat before or after the climbs depending on the group's pace and the route the guide chooses.

Is transportation from Quito included in the price?

Yes, private transportation from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park and back is included, along with park entry and a bilingual guide who leads the entire route.

What is the minimum age to join this tour?

The minimum age is 12 years old. Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness because of the high altitude and the hiking involved.