Cotopaxi National Park is one of the most famous places in Ecuador. So many travelers include a stop at the Cotopaxi Volcano on their trips, whether that’s a day trip or spending a night in one of the lodges near the base of the volcano. While you could just admire the view of Cotopaxi (if the weather is clear), so many people will hike to Cotopaxi Base Camp. While it’s probably a shorter hike than you are expecting, I wouldn’t call it an easy hike since you’ll be hiking at high elevations.
Here’s what to expect about hiking to Cotopaxi Base Camp
Hiking to Cotopaxi Base Camp
From the parking area, there’s two routes you can take to Cotopaxi Base Camp. There’s the “easy” route and the “hard” route. The weather will dictate which route you take. If it’s incredibly windy, your guide will have you take the hard route as that provides significantly more protection from the wind.
On our trek, the weather was decent enough that we could take the “easy” route to Cotopaxi Base Camp. I wouldn’t necessarily call it easy, but I firmly believe that it’s easier than the “hard” route. We’d then descend the hard route back to the parking area.
From the parking area, it’s 0.8 miles (1.3 kilometers) to Cotopaxi Base Camp on the easy route. It’s called the easy route because it’s a series of switchbacks that work their way up the mountain. On the hard route, it’s just a straight, steep climb through sand up to base camp.
It was slow going on these switchbacks, at least for me. While I’ve done several hikes in South America at elevations that are even higher than Cotopaxi Base Camp, it had been awhile since I’d been quite that high. I quickly realized that I had lost some of that acclimatization and I moved pretty slow up the mountain. It didn’t help that there was a heavy mist and strong winds.
The winds weren’t strong enough to force us to take the hard route, but they definitely added resistance on every other switchback. However, after walking into the strong wind, it was nice to get a slight push down the trail when we turned and followed the next switchback. I’ll take the victories when I can.
After about 40 minutes of switchbacks through the wind, cold mist, and high elevations, we reached the refuge at Cotopaxi Base Camp. If it’s a clear day, you’ll have a great view of the surrounding area. Regardless of the weather, there’s a shelter where you can attempt to warm up before your hike back down. The refuge also sells snacks and hot drinks (for high prices).
Before you know it, it’s time to descend back to the parking area. For this part of the hike, we took the “hard” route. It’s a steep downhill through scree and loose sand. The first bit of the trail requires a little bit of extra concentration, but it eventually turns to loose sand and then you can run down. Despite the cold weather, I was reminded of running down the dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan. It’s a fun way to end the hike and it goes significantly faster than the climb up to Cotopaxi Base Camp.
Back at the bottom of the trail, you’ll inevitably need to take a few minutes to empty your shoes. Everyone in our group had shoes filled with sand and small pebbles. But we made it.
Cotopaxi Base Camp Hike Stats
Your exact stats will vary based on the route you take. We hiked the “easy” route up and took the “hard” route down.
Total Distance: 1.3 miles (0.8 miles up, 0.5 miles down) – 2.1 kilometers (1.3 kilometers up, 0.8 kilometers down)
Starting Elevation: 15,110 feet (4,605 meters)
Highest Point: 15,960 feet (4,865 meters)
Total Elevation Gain: 850 feet (260 meters)
Total Hiking Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Note that for the hiking time, I think this is a good average. In my group, I was the second last to arrive at Cotopaxi Base Camp, but I was the second to arrive back at the van on the descent.
Tips for Your Hike to Cotopaxi Base Camp
Make sure to bring layers. It is cold at Cotopaxi Base Camp. If you have wind and rain, it’s even colder. I’d recommend bringing both a hat and a pair of gloves on your hike. A rain jacket is also a good idea.
Don’t visit Cotopaxi on your first day in Ecuador. You’ll be at high elevations so you’ll want to give yourself enough time to acclimatize. I had spent plenty of time in Bolivia and Peru before visiting Ecuador, but I definitely lost a bit of my acclimatization before reaching Cotopaxi. I was slow, but I still made it to the top. Another woman on my tour wasn’t so lucky and had to turn back pretty early on.
Don’t mess with the altitude. I know you want to make it to the top, but you have to listen to your body. If the altitude is affecting you, let your guides know and head back to the van. It’s a tough decision to make, but safety is always the most important.
Other Activities in Cotopaxi National Park
While hiking to Cotopaxi Base Camp is one of the most popular activities in Cotopaxi National Park, it’s not the only activity. If you’re staying near Cotopaxi National Park, at one of the lodges, they will offer many more activities. Since I didn’t stay there, I don’t have any first hand experience of these activities.
However, many trips to Cotopaxi Base Camp will also include some mountain biking. After completing your hike, you’ll start working your way back toward the entrance of the park. Along the way, you’ll likely be given the opportunity to bike part of the road. It’s mostly downhill, so you won’t have to pedal, but note that the road is not in great shape so it’s a very bumpy ride. It reminded me of a shorter and rougher version of Bolivia’s Death Road.
How to Visit Cotopaxi National Park
There’s a few ways to visit Cotopaxi National Park. One option is to stay near the park. So many backpackers that I talked to all included a stop at the Secret Garden Hostel near Cotopaxi which not only has a great view of the volcano, but also arranges activities for their guests. The only downside to staying at Cotopaxi is arranging the transportation. From what I could find, the only option to get to some of these lodges is to take a taxi.
The other option is to take a day trip to Cotopaxi. I took a day trip from Quito, but I stayed at a hostel in Latacunga that also helped to arrange day trips to Cotopaxi. The downside of a day trip is that you’re a bit more limited in what you can do, plus you have all of the transportation to and from Cotopaxi. It can be a long day, but for some travelers, this is the best way to see Cotopaxi.
Is a Day Trip to Cotopaxi Worth It?
I think a day trip to Cotopaxi is worth it. I took a day trip from Quito and was very happy that I made it to Cotopaxi National Park. While we didn’t have the best weather, I’m still happy I took the day trip.
Booking Your Cotopaxi Day Trip
If you’re taking a day trip to Cotopaxi from either Latacunga or Quito, I highly recommend talking to your accommodation. You can absolutely book a tour online through the popular sites like GetYourGuide and Viator, but I found it was $20 cheaper to book through my hotel (for the exact same tour).
For solo travelers, this money saving is nice, but for those traveling as a couple or even a small group, this money really adds up.
How Long Is a Cotopaxi Day Trip?
If you’ve decided to take a day trip to Cotopaxi, you need to assume it will take the entire day. I was picked up from my hotel in Quito at 7:00 am and we didn’t arrive back in Quito until 5:00 pm. The exact time will depend on whatever traffic you hit in the city.
Should You Stay in Cotopaxi?
It depends on the person. I originally planned to stay near Cotopaxi, but was unsure of where exactly to stay and how I would get there. When I had to shorten my time in Ecuador by four days, it just made more sense to skip the logistics of staying near Cotopaxi and instead take a day trip in.
I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to do it. If you’re short on time, just take a day trip and save the time. If you have more time, work out the logistics and spend a night or two to savor the scenery.
Final Thoughts
Hiking to Cotopaxi Base Camp is tough, but it’s a rewarding hike, just for the ability to say that you’ve made it. There’s no guarantee that you will have good weather, so I recommend hiking for the experience, rather than the view. If you get a good view, fantastic. If you don’t, at least you still made it to Cotopaxi Base Camp.
