THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
A long day from Quito that pairs the glaciated cone of Cotopaxi with the turquoise crater of Quilotoa. Expect high-altitude hikes, cultural stopovers, and sweeping Andean scenery with vehicle transfers and a local guide.
A long day from Quito that pairs the glaciated cone of Cotopaxi with the turquoise crater of Quilotoa. Expect high-altitude hikes, cultural stopovers, and sweeping Andean scenery with vehicle transfers and a local guide.
Book with BM TOURS SA
Book directly with BM TOURS SA for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
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Operated by BM TOURS SA · Quito, Pichincha
You step out of the van into the thin, cold air and the volcanoes loom like old guards: Cotopaxi’s cone still wears a cap of glacier, Quilotoa’s crater pool glows a hard, improbable turquoise. The road from Quito unwinds across high páramo—grassy ridgelines, wind-bent lupines and the occasional grazing llamas—until the national park opens and the world narrows to rock and sky.
moderate.
10–11 hours.
Suitable for generally fit travelers comfortable walking short, uneven trails at altitude; expect standing and short hikes up to a few kilometers.
The tour runs about 10–11 hours with an early morning pickup in Quito, visits to Cotopaxi National Park including Limpiopungo, a stop in indigenous communities, and time at Quilotoa crater before returning to Quito.
No technical experience is required, but you should be prepared for altitude up to ~4,800–5,000 m for viewpoints and refuges; acclimatization and conservative pacing are advised.
Yes—this tour typically includes transportation and national park admissions; confirm specifics with the operator at booking.
Short rim walks are common; descending to the lake is possible but steep and can add time—check weather and fitness before attempting the descent.
Cotopaxi was central to early Ecuadorian conservation and has been a focal point of Andean culture and mythology; Quilotoa formed after a catastrophic eruption and caldera collapse centuries ago.
Stick to marked trails to protect fragile páramo vegetation; high-elevation soils and peat recover slowly, so avoid shortcuts and pack out trash.
BM TOURS SA operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Book with BM TOURS SA
Book directly with BM TOURS SA for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
Reserve Now