Private Cotopaxi National Park Horseback Ride hike for Beginners

Wonderful experience learning about Quito, the volcanoes, and the flora and fauna of the region. Carolina was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable, and a great photographer. The horse riding was relaxing and the hike was challenging but rewarding. Highly recommend!

This experience EXCEEDED expectations! We had Pato as our guide and I truly can’t imagine a more exceptional experience. Pato is highly knowledgeable, not just about Cotopaxi and the history of Quito, but also about local flora and fauna, agriculture and infrastructure, local businesses, healthcare, and everything else that we asked about. And we asked a LOT of questions. He gave us great advice for the rest of our trip in both Ecuador and Peru. He went out of his way to make this experience unique, culturally relevant, and not what you would typically think of as a “tourist” guide. We felt more like we were being shown around by a friend! We love Pato and will definitely be back to visit him. If you can, request him when you book, you will not regret it!

I had an amazing experience with Carolina as my guide. From the very beginning of the trip Carolina made the experience informative, enjoyable, and memorable. On the drive to the National Park, Carolina shared interesting facts about the volcanoes and their eruption histories, including information about the local geography, wildlife, and agriculture. I learned a lot before arriving at the park. Before arriving at the Cotopaxi volcano, we stopped at a lodge where I was provided a horse, helmet, and poncho for an approximately one-hour horseback ride. Several Ecuadorian cowboys guided our group through the route. The Cotopaxi Volcano could be seen prominently on the horizon. After the horseback ride, we drove to the base of Cotopaxi volcano for the hike toward the observatory. Carolina accompanied me during the climb and made sure I was properly attired. I had forgotten sunscreen and gloves, and she kindly loaned me gloves and provided sunscreen for my face and exposed skin. At the entrance to the park, there was also a small local shop run by an elderly woman where I was able to buy a cap and sunglasses. The shop also sold ponchos, scarves, and shirts. Throughout the entire trip, Carolina was kind enough to take photos and videos of me during the activities, which I really appreciated as a solo traveler. Since no one else had booked the excursion that day, I essentially had a private tour, which made the experience even more special. The hike itself was very challenging for me due to the cold temperatures, wind, altitude, and hypoxic air. I would definitely recommend that future visitors be in reasonably good physical condition if attempting the climb. I personally only managed about 15–20% of the hike. It was still an unforgettable experience. After leaving Cotopaxi, we visited a nearby lagoon where we walked around and saw wild horses grazing and drinking water along the shoreline. Carolina continued sharing information about the local ecosystem and plant life, and her knowledge of the area was impressive. On the drive back to Quito, we stopped at a restaurant that had llamas, chickens, and other birds behind the property. Carolina even arranged for some carrot sticks from the kitchen so I could feed the animals, and she recorded the experience for me. This was a lot of fun. Overall, this was an outstanding experience. Carolina was professional, knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely passionate about making the experience memorable for her guests. You can tell she truly cares about what she does. I highly recommend her to anyone interested in visiting Cotopaxi National Park or exploring the Quito area.

Carolina was an outstanding guide for my Cotopaxi National Park tour from Quito. During the drive, she shared fascinating information about the volcanoes, wildlife, agriculture, and local history. She accompanied me on the Cotopaxi hike, kindly loaned me gloves and sunscreen, and took photos/videos throughout the trip, which I especially appreciated as a solo traveler. We also enjoyed horseback riding with Cotopaxi in the background, visited a beautiful lagoon, and stopped at a restaurant where I fed llamas. Carolina was knowledgeable, friendly, patient, and genuinely passionate about creating a memorable experience. Highly recommended!

Had fun riding horses, the activity didn’t feel rushed. We hiked the volcano which was a rewarding challenge (they had easier alternatives available too). Our guide Carolina was very knowledgeable.

I booked this trip as a solo female traveler and had the best time! My guide was Ismael, an experienced mountaineer in Ecuador. Since it was just us, he was the one driving, too. Ismael was immediately welcoming, fun, and trustworthy. I spent the drive learning from Ismael about Ecuador, as well as the volcanos/nature/mountaineering there. He was so knowledgeable, but also personable- It felt like driving around with a friend! I was probably even yapping a little too much, sorry Ismael! He was always reminding me that because it is a private tour everything is at my own pace-He waited at the hotel for me to finish breakfast, he pulled over whenever I wanted a picture of something, and I was never ever rushed or reminded of the time at any of the stops. He also took lots of photos of me during the tour and shared them with me after. I was worried about the elevation in Cotopaxi because I came from sea level 2 days prior, but I trusted that if I started feeling sick, I would be in good hands with Ismael. During the hike, Ismael was very encouraging, but also reminded me that if I pushed too hard we could go back down, no pressure. Ismael reminded me that: for high elevation hikes, as long as you let your heart rate and breathing calm down before continuing uphill, anyone can finish a hike like this, even if that means taking a TON of breaks, which I did. listen to your own body, not your idea of how fast you /should/ be going. Coincidentally also a good life lesson Be sure to reapply sunscreen often. The sun at high elevations the equator is no joke. It is very windy and cold at Cotopaxi, so bring something with a hood that can stay on in high winds. If I could do it again, I would braid my hair and wear a beanie, too. You immediately start feeling the elevation after 10k feet. I felt a little light headed and a bit headache-y but it was very manageable! I came from sea level 2 days prior, so I drank a ton of water and electrolytes, and avoided alcohol the day before.

I had a fantastic tour of Cotopaxi National Park with two great guides! One drove us and the other was the English-speaking guide that hiked with me and told me all kinds of information about the park. I’m glad I booked a tour because I would not want to drive my rental car on those roads (all gravel and some big potholes). The horseback riding was very calm and beautiful scenery! Wow. The hike was challenging (took 45 minutes), but was really enjoyable. The guides, the scenery and the lunch at the end really made for a perfect day. Cotopaxi National Park is STUNNING. Really like this company. Friendly from booking and all the way through the entire tour. Marcial and Eduardo were the best. 100% recommend this company

Ismael is an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable, super friendly, and definitely knows how to guide up at high altitudes. The horseback riding was very fun. Calm horses and fun guide.

We did a private tour to Cotopaxi and had an amazing experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable and shared a lot about the area and its history, which made the trip even more meaningful. She respected our time, kept the day running smoothly, and was very easy to get along with. The price of the tour felt just right and comparable to similar tours we looked at. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a well-organized and memorable trip to Cotopaxi.

Highly recommended activity. We had an excellent guide and amazing time. The horseback riding was a highlight of the trip. Hike was challenging but the guide was patient and excellent about it. So much fun.