More than a decade of Excellence on TripAdvisor! Dive into the adventure of a lifetime with CarpeDM Adventures as you ascend one of the world's towering titans - an active volcano soaring to a staggering 5,897 meters! And for those seeking seamless journeys, we've got you covered. Ready to embark? Reach out to us on WhatsApp at +593.98.534.1575 and let the adventure begin!
• 7.20 am Just outside our CarpeDM Operations / Go F.A.R Office
• 7.30 am Hilton Colon Hotel
• 07:45 Transfer to the Cotopaxi National Park - stop off to pick up snacks / breakfast on the way.
• 09:30 Enter Cotopaxi National Park
• 10:00 Mariscal Sucre Interpretation Centre: The guide will give an explanation of the area, volcanoes, vegetation, animals.
• 10:30 4600m car park, begin the hike up to the Basecamp
• 12:30 Reach refuge at 4.864m.
• 13:00 Reach Glacier 5,000m. depends on conditions
• 14:00 Arrive at Limpiopungo lake.
• 15:00 Eat lunch - Included at traditional local Restaurant
• 16:00 Return to Quito
Tour Options
Cotopaxi Quest Day Tour!
Itinerary
15 min
Since this is a private tour you can confirm with us if you prefer an additional short hike instead of the downhill bike ride.
Itinerary
• 7:30 Meet at meeting point CarpeDM Office (Jose Antepara E4-38 and Los Ríos, Old Town sector)
• 07:45 Transfer to the Cotopaxi National Park
• 09:30 Enter Cotopaxi National Park
• 10:00 The guide will give explanation of the area, volcanoes, vegetation, animals etc.
• 10:30 4600m car park, begin hike up to the refuge
• 12:30 Reach refuge at 4.864m. return to parking lot
• 13:00 Equipment Check – Begin Bike ride back to the Limpiapungo lake (short 3 - 5 km ride)
• 14:00 Arrive at Limpiapungo lake.
• 15:00 Eat lunch (included)
• 16:00 Return to Quito
Cotopaxi National Park
180 min
Behold the majestic Cotopaxi, a vision of perfection with its impeccably symmetrical cone draped in a lavish cloak of snow and ice. A crowning jewel of Ecuador, this volcano beckons travelers from across the globe, making it the nation's most adored and ascended peak. Nestled amidst the ethereal paramo plateau of the Cotopaxi National Park, witness wild horses roaming freely, their silhouettes dancing against the vast plains. They converge by the serene Limpiopungo lagoon, a mirror reflecting the pristine white summits of the neighboring Volcan Rumiñahui. This haven is not just a sight, but a symphony of nature, where waterfowl and avian wonders serenade the soul.
1. Mariscal Sucre Interpretation Centre - get your passport stamped :)
2. Basecamp 4864 m Jose Rivas Refuge
3. Laguna Limpiopungo - followed by a hearty lunch that is included.
Laguna de Limpiopungo
30 min
Limpiopungo Lagoon is a beautiful lake formed by water from the glaciers. Located in Cotopaxi, Ecuador. Limpiopungo is like a mirror that reflects the Cotopaxi
What's included
Included
What’s Included:
Transport
Lunch
Guide
Not included
What’s Not Included:
Additional Snacks / Beverages
TIPS
Breakfast
Traveller Ratings
5.0
127 reviews
5
123
4
4
3
0
2
0
1
0
Important Information
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
What to bring:
Warm clothing
Waterproof jacket
Gloves, scarf, hat
Hiking boots or trekking shoes
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Extra snacks and water
Face masks
Hand sanitizer
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Cotopaxi Volcano Quest! take?
Cotopaxi Volcano Quest! lasts about 8 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does Cotopaxi Volcano Quest! cost?
Prices start at $89 per person for this Quito experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Cotopaxi Volcano Quest! for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is 7:30am to 7.45am Entrance from Juan Leon Mera. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Cotopaxi Volcano Quest! offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 10 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Cotopaxi Volcano Quest! worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 127 verified reviews; it is run by CarpeDM Adventures.
Reviews(127)
L
LordNorminator
September 20, 2026
Would book again
Professionally run, great communication, excellent way to experience Cotopaxi. Would book with this agency again!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We’re delighted to hear that you found the experience professional, well organised, and that our communication helped make your day on Cotopaxi smooth and enjoyable. Cotopaxi is such an incredible place to experience, and we’re very happy that you enjoyed exploring it with us.
Most of all, thank you for saying you would book with us again! That truly means a lot to our team.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Ecuador for another CarpeDM adventure!
D
dvanderploeg1
September 19, 2026
great fun day
Everything well organised and a great fun day with great people
Operator response
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear that everything was well organised and that you had such a fun day with a great group of people. It’s wonderful to know that the experience came together so well and that you enjoyed the atmosphere along the way.
Thank you for choosing CarpeDM Adventures and for taking the time to share your experience with us. We hope to welcome you back for another great day in Ecuador!
K
khB1748GB
September 17, 2026
Wonderful
Wonderful experience. The guide Phillipe and driver Frank were amazing. They were aware of how everyone was doing. Highly recommend!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We’re delighted to hear that you had such a great experience with Phillipe and Frank. It’s especially lovely to hear that they were attentive to how everyone was doing throughout the day. Making sure our guests feel comfortable, supported, and well looked after is a very important part of what we do.
We’ll be sure to share your kind words with both Phillipe and Frank. Thank you for choosing CarpeDM Adventures and for recommending us. We hope to welcome you back for another Ecuadorian adventure in the future!
L
liamdL1037BW
September 8, 2026
Enduring Cotopaxi!
The Cotopaxi volcano quest can only be described in 3 words: Intense, challenging, and rewarding. We climbed to the initial lodge at 4900 meters and decided to go ahead up to the glaciers at 5250m. It's definitely one of those things that requires a lot of physical endurance and motivation.
The fee for admission, $65, was definitely well worth. The trip included transport from one of 2 hotels all the way to Cotopaxi, lunch, view of the lagoon, a guide up the mountain, a tour of the museum, and dropoff at secret garden—its about a day trip!
Our guide, Medardo, a local, always made sure that nobody was left behind, he had a friendly demeanor, and was always energetic. I would most definitely recommend him for anyone wanting to scale Cotopaxi!
Operator response
Thank you so much for sharing such a detailed review of your Cotopaxi experience!
We’re delighted to hear that you found the Cotopaxi Volcano Quest intense, challenging, and ultimately so rewarding. Reaching the refuge at around 4,900 metres and then continuing up towards the glaciers at 5,250 metres is a serious achievement, and it certainly takes both physical endurance and determination. We’re glad you decided to take on the extra challenge and make the most of your day on the mountain.
We’re also happy to hear that you felt the experience offered great value, from the transportation and mountain experience to the lagoon, museum visit, lunch, and drop-off afterwards.
Most importantly, we’re thrilled that Medardo helped make the experience such a positive one. His local knowledge, energy, and friendly attitude are exactly what we want from our guides, and making sure nobody is left behind is especially important on a challenging high-altitude day like Cotopaxi. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with him.
Thank you for choosing CarpeDM Adventures and for recommending Medardo. We hope you leave Ecuador with many more rewarding adventures and memories!
V
Venture678060
September 5, 2026
So glad I went with these guys!
Amazing, beautiful time with Alejandro climbing up Cotopaxi! He gave us tons of information about the surrounding volcanoes, he patiently stayed with me as I struggled up the mountain, he gave us local artisanal chocolate!! Lunch was the best I had eaten so far on my travels in Ecuador, no joke, that soup and appetizer were unbelievable. And the SURPRISE we got after lunch was sooo fun. CarpeDM really takes care of their guests, ten out of ten!
Operator response
Thank you so much for such a wonderful review!
We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you had such an amazing time exploring Cotopaxi with Alejandro. It sounds like you really embraced the adventure, and we’re especially happy that Alejandro was able to stay by your side, encourage you along the way, and share his knowledge about the incredible volcanoes and landscapes surrounding Cotopaxi.
We love that the local artisanal chocolate was a hit too! And hearing that our lunch was the best you’ve had so far in Ecuador — especially the soup and appetizer — is a huge compliment to our team. We’re also glad the surprise after lunch added an extra bit of fun to your day!
Taking care of our guests and making sure they feel supported, comfortable, and able to enjoy the experience is incredibly important to us, so your “ten out of ten” means a lot.
We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Alejandro and the rest of the team. Thank you for choosing CarpeDM Adventures, and we hope you have many more fantastic adventures during your travels in Ecuador!
R
raisnm2026
August 31, 2026
Cotopaxi
Guide was amazing and the volcano quest was better than I imagined it, lunch was great and once again an amazing guide and an amazing day!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We’re delighted to hear that your Cotopaxi experience was even better than you imagined. Visiting this incredible volcano is certainly a memorable experience, and we’re so glad you enjoyed the adventure, the scenery, and the lunch along the way.
We’re especially happy that your guide helped make the day so special. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with them — they’ll be thrilled to know their enthusiasm and knowledge contributed to such a great experience.
Thank you for choosing CarpeDM Adventures and for your kind recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another amazing adventure in Ecuador soon!
9
993missw
August 19, 2026
Excellent Cotapaxi tour
Had a wonderful experience on the one day Cotapaxi tour and this was one of the best priced tour companies available. Went in a small group of 3 which was perfect. We stopped for photos in front of the mountain before doing a short (but steep) hike up to the refuge for hot chocolate, with the option to hike up further. The bike ride is on a mountain bike down uncorrugated roads. Lunch was great and the tour company also gave us a souvenir at the end of our trip. Our guide Alejandro was a great operator. He was funny and full of great information about the history of the volcano, animals and flora and Ecuador in general, and made sure we had enough time to enjoy the experience as well as getting us home on time.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your fantastic and detailed review!
We’re delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful day exploring Cotopaxi with us, and that the small group made the experience even more enjoyable. We believe smaller groups allow our guides to give guests more personal attention while still sharing the adventure with others.
It’s great to know you enjoyed the hike to the refuge, the mountain bike descent, the lunch, and the little souvenir at the end of the day. We’re also pleased that Alejandro’s knowledge, humor, and enthusiasm added so much to your experience. His passion for sharing the history of Cotopaxi, Ecuador’s wildlife and flora, and the wider culture of the country is something we really value.
We’re especially glad that you felt you had enough time to enjoy the different experiences while still getting back to Quito on schedule. Finding that balance is an important part of creating a great day tour.
Thank you for choosing CarpeDM Adventures and for recommending us. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Ecuador soon!
8
847adriennea
August 19, 2026
Great guide for a great hike
I did this Cotopaxi hike solo and Alejandro was a terrific guide. He was thoughtful and attentive and I loved getting to talk with him about all things Ecuador. I definitely recommend him as a guide, and the company itself!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We’re delighted to hear that you had such a memorable Cotopaxi experience with Alejandro. It’s wonderful to know that his thoughtful and attentive approach helped make your hike enjoyable, and that you appreciated the opportunity to chat with him about Ecuador along the way.
We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Alejandro. He’ll be very happy to know that his company and knowledge added something special to your adventure.
Thank you for recommending both Alejandro and CarpeDM Adventures. We truly appreciate you choosing us and hope to welcome you back for another Ecuadorian adventure in the future!
F
fallont2024
August 5, 2026
Cotopaxi 🗻
We enjoyed this day a lot with our guide Lincoln and we loved our visit to Cotopaxi National Park. Highly recommended!
Operator response
¡Muchísimas gracias por compartir su experiencia y por la recomendación!
Nos alegra mucho saber que disfrutaron de su día en el Parque Nacional Cotopaxi y que la visita fue una experiencia especial para ustedes. Lincoln estará muy contenta de saber que disfrutaron del recorrido y de su compañía como guía.
¡Gracias por elegir CarpeDM Adventures! Esperamos poder recibirlos nuevamente para descubrir juntos muchos más lugares increíbles de Ecuador.
8
853ayding
July 30, 2026
You must do this!
Lincoln was a great guide, speaks fluent English, explained everything clearly, slowly and we had an amazing day. He even paid my coffee in the morning as I had no change. Lincoln is the best!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We're absolutely delighted to hear that you had such an amazing day with Lincoln. He'll be thrilled to know that his knowledge, clear explanations, and friendly personality helped make your experience so memorable.
That small gesture with the coffee is a perfect example of the kindness and genuine care that Lincoln shows our guests, and we're so pleased it made a positive impression on you.
Thank you for your enthusiastic recommendation and for choosing CarpeDM Adventures. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in Ecuador soon!
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