Cotopaxi Volcano
A refuge at 4,864 metres, higher than anything in the Alps, two hours from Quito
Two hours from the capital along the Panamericana E35, a 5,897-metre cone rises alone above the páramo. The walk up from the car park, at roughly 4,500 metres, ends at the José Ribas refuge: 4,864 metres, higher than anything in the Alps. Below, Limpiopungo lagoon holds the reflection of the cone.
What you will see
The José Ribas Refuge
From the car park to the refuge takes between forty-five and ninety minutes, depending on how the body answers.
Limpiopungo
Four flat kilometres at 3,800 metres around the lagoon, with the classic view of the cone and horses running loose.
Downhill Riding and the Night Ascent
The downhill ride fills a morning; the summit is attempted overnight, always with a certified guide.
Wildlife & flora
Tussock páramo, orange chuquiragua and cushion plants: ground for the Andean condor, white-tailed deer, páramo fox, carunculated caracara and the wild horses of the plain. June to September and December to January are clearest, and the open window usually closes by ten in the morning.
What you should know
Cotopaxi went through an eruptive period between October 2022 and July 2023, with minor gas and ash emissions. It now shows fumarolic activity with no eruption under way: the park operates normally and the climb is permitted with a guide. Check the current status with the Instituto Geofísico (igepn.edu.ec) before travelling. Above 4,500 metres altitude sickness is a real risk: we require at least two nights of prior acclimatisation in Quito. Park entry registration runs from 08:00 to 15:00.
