Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Tour
Description
Visit in one day two wonderful places on your trip to Ecuador. Cotopaxi Quilotoa tour sites that like the Galapagos Islands, Also have a volcanic origin. Do not skip the opportunity to discover these two beautiful places in one day. In our Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Full Day Tour departing from Quito. Where you can contemplate the beauty of the active volcano Cotopaxi. Thus, the diversity of flora and fauna of the Cotopaxi National Park. And the impressive volcanoes that make up the “Avenue of the Volcanoes”. Also the viewpoint of the Quilotoa Lagoon. Below, we present everything you will find along our tour:
Cotopaxi National Park
The elevation of the Cotopaxi National Park begins at 3.200 to 5.897 meters. It is the second highest and most active volcano in Ecuador, after the Chimborazo volcano, the Cotopaxi Volcano. It’s localized between the provinces of Pichincha and Cotopaxi. Additionally, it is a very popular choice among mountaineering and hiking lovers. As well as those who enjoy being surrounded by nature and beautiful landscapes.
Quilotoa Lake
The Quilotoa Volcano is located west of the Cotopaxi National Park, within the Ilinizas Ecological Reserve in the Cotopaxi Province, 170 km southwest of Quito. The origin of the Quilotoa lagoon is a volcanic 6 km diameter that forms a caldera 2.9 km in diameter and 640 m deep whereas an alkaline lagoon lies that measures 3.6 km in diameter and has a depth of 240 m. The most spectacular thing is to be able to observe the emerald green Quilotoa lagoon and in seasons of turquoise color
Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Tour
If you have limited time in Quito and you’d like to do the Cotopaxi tour and Quilotoa tour?. here we present to you the best option to combine the two wonderful locations in the south of Quito city. At the end of the Cotopaxi Quilotoa tour, you will be exhausted, but you will be happy to had made it.
Yes, it is true visiting the Cotopaxi National Park requires a full day visit, enjoying with time of the landscape and walking to the base camp or to the glacial hopefully of the volcano. Thus, spending full time in the Quilotoa for the kayaks in the lake lagoon making the Quilotoa loop, or camping in the area will be the best in a program of 3 or more days.
Included
- Confortable Transportation
- Tour Guide
- Cotopaxi National Park fee
- Quilotoa Lagoon fee
- Lunch
Highlights
- Visit the Cotopaxi Volcano and its wonderful landscape.
- Trekking in the Limpiopungo Lagoon in Cotopaxi National Park.
- Visit the Quilotoa Lake.
- Trekking to the bottom of the Quilotoa Lake.
ITINERARY
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Cotopaxi National Park
60 km south from the city of Quito and 35 km northeast of Latacunga. Cotopaxi National Park is located in the province of Cotopaxi. In the Cotopaxi National Park is the Cotopaxi volcano. And its formation is due to volcanic strata formed over thousands of years. Dating back to the Pleistocene epoch. Cotopaxi is a young volcano and the most popular of all volcanoes in Ecuador. And it has a climate that ranges from 4 °C (39.2°F) to 15 °C (59°F). -
Flora and Fauna of the Cotopaxi National Park
Among the Andean flora and fauna that predominates in Cotopaxi National Park. There is the chuquiragua, “the flower of the Andean climber”. So called because it is at 4000 m above sea level. Also, there are grasslands, puma maqui, romerillo, quishuar, grasses, mosses and lichens. Also along the route you can find other animals. For example: cows, wild horses, hummingbirds, quilicos and curiquingues. If you are lucky you will have the opportunity to cross paths with foxes and deer. Also with marsupial mice, Andean foxes and moor wolves. Even a colossal Andean condor found in Cotopaxi National Park.
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Active Cotopaxi volcano
Cotopaxi is in the area called “Avenue of the Volcanoes”. Its name come from the German Alexander Von Humboldt in 1802. The volcano stands out among all the landscape of the National Park. So, it has glaciers and perpetual snow starting at 5000 meters (16404.2 ft.). Also, to the north you can observe a huge black rock wall, called Yana – Sacha. Besides, the hike takes 30 minutes from the Rivas refuge you can reach the snow-capped peak. -
Andes mountains on the way to Quilotoa Lagoon
The paramo andino on the way to Quilotoa lake -
Quilotoa Lagoon
The Quilotoa Lagoon is two and a half hours from Cotopaxi National Park. Located in the province of Cotopaxi. Within the Ecological Reserve Los Ilinizas, is the Quilotoa Lagoon. It is an inactive volcano of 6 km in diameter, formed by a caldera of 2.9 km in diameter and 640 m (2,099 ft) deep. Here, rests an alkaline lagoon measuring 3.6 km in diameter and 240 m (787.4 ft) deep. The color of the Quilotoa lagoon is emerald green, resembling a mirror. -
Trekking to the bottom of Quilotoa crater lake
Upon arrival we will head towards the edge of the Quilotoa crater lake, from this point we will have an excellent point to take pictures of some of Quilotoa Lagoon. Also, from where we will have time to be able to go down to the bottom of the Quilota lagoon, upon arrival there is the option of kayaking in the Quilotoa lake, then the return trek to the edge. -
Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Tour Rates
$ 229 price per 1 person, in small group.
$ 199 price from 2 or more people in small group.
$ 269 price per 1 person in Private
$ 249 price from 2 or more people in Private
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The best photos of our guests.
Testimonials
Our Reviews About This Tour
Wonderful day Tour
My husband and I had the pleasure of doing this tour when we were in Quito two weeks ago. Our tour guide, Pedro was wonderful! This tour is a full day tour with a lot of driving. But it was really worth it. Pedro was very informative and very accommodating
We loved seeing Cotopaxi and Quilotoa
Pedro made the tour extremely interesting and informative. We learned so much about the beautiful country of Ecuador. I highly recommend doing this tour. You won’t be disappointed.
Disfrutando la grandeza del Cotopaxi y la belleza del Quilotoa
Estuvo increíble el recorrido, la ruta justo definida para admirar los paisajes y también conocer el estilo de vida en las montañas.
Pedro es un guía espectacular, te va compartiendo durante el camino muchos datos intetrsantes, te va dando sugerencias/opciones sobre el recorrido justo para ajustar tiempos a lo que más te guste y es muy amable.
Great tour, awesome guide!
I scheduled this tour with my husband for our last full day in Ecuador. We were completely exhausted from all our previous activities but didn’t want to miss out on seeing Cotopaxi and Quilotoa. We also didn’t have the energy to do any more intense hikes. This private tour worked out perfectly for us. Our tour guide Pedro picked us up in his spacious, clean, and comfortable car for the long drive. He spoke English very well and is very knowledgeable about Ecuadorian culture and history. Because our tour group was just my husband and I, we chose our own pace and opted out of any hiking. We were able to see the highlights of the two locations, both of which were stunning.
