Cotopaxi Volcano National Park Tour with lunch, private

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Price from:
89.00 USD
per person

A special nature lovers' full-day tour to the world's highest active volcano and surrounding National Park. Discover the Andean moorlands or paramo, some unique fauna and flora and enjoy breathtaking landscapes. Lunch at a charming hosteria or hacienda.

Tour Details

Leave Quito in the morning for a scenic drive along the Panamerican Highway to Cotopaxi National Park. This is an ecological sanctuary of 36,000 hectares (88,920 acres) surrounding Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world, specially attractive for nature lovers, with the treeless vegetation of the Andean moorlands or páramo. Bird life includes the Andean gull, ducks, several species of hummingbirds and with some luck, the condor. Look directly up the magnificent Cotopaxi Volcano, rising 6,005 meters (19,700 feet). Lunch surrounded by breathtaking mountain country or at a charming hosteria (country inn) or hacienda nearby before returning to Quito. Entrance fee to Cotopaxi National Park is extra.

Included

• Lunch
• Round trip ground transportation and guide

Not Included

• Entrance fee to the National Park

Travel Facts

• Warm clothing is needed and hat or cap
• Sunblock (SPF 40)
• Good walking shoes
• Camera (wide angle lens)
• Binoculars
• Sunglasses
• Altitude: 2800 to 4000 meters (9800 - 12,120 feet)
• Average Temperature Day: 8° to 20° C (46° to 68° F)

Some Special Highlights

PARAMO 
Paramo: Occurs at elevations above the tree line. Starts at 10,496 up to 13,120 feet (3,200 up to 4,000 meters). Nightly frosts.
Between the temperate Montane valleys and the snows of the highest peaks stretch high-altitude grasslands characterized by chill mists and low, spongy vegetation spotted with sharp grasses and shrubs. High levels of ultraviolet light and wet, often freezing conditions have caused the sturdy layer of páramo vegetation to develop thick waxy leaf skins covered with fine hairs for insulation. Plants lay low on the ground to escape the wind, the temperature variations, and grow leaves in a circle to make sure none shade any of the others.

COTOPAXI VOLCANO
Located in the Andes mountains in central Ecuador, Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano in the world. Cotopaxi which means "neck of the moon", rises from a valley about 2,750 meters (9,000 feet) above sea level to a height of 5,897 meters (19,347 feet) above sea level. The width of its crater from west to east has been estimated at more than 500 meters (1,650 feet) and the width from north to south at about 700meters (2,300 feet). The perfectly formed snow-covered cone of Cotopaxi is 1,341 meters (4,400 feet.) high.

Surrounding Cotopaxi Volcano is the Cotopaxi National Park, an ecological sanctuary of 36,000 hectares (88,920 acres), especially attractive for nature lovers, with the treeless vegetation of the Andean moorlands or paramo. You may see herds of llamas and perhaps deer, rabbits, frogs and lizards. Bird life includes the Andean gull, ducks, several species of hummingbirds and with some luck, the condor.

The first recorded eruption of the volcano was in 1534, at the time of the Spanish conquest, frightening both conquered and conquistadors alike. The last major eruption was in 1877.

Information Price per Person (USD) 3 persons 144.00 2 persons 192.00 1 person 336.00 26 or more 55.00 16 - 25 60.00 10 - 15 78.00 4 - 9 89.00

Discover the magic of the Andean region

The joy of living with the simplicity and relaxed atmosphere of a bygone era. The two Andean cordilleras that run parallel and cross Ecuador from north to south, offer a most varied topography: volcanoes and snow capped mountains, green valleys and impressive Colonial cities like Quito and Cuenca, quaint Indian villages, farmlands, haciendas, lakes and rivers of crystal blue waters.

The capital of Ecuador, Quito, brings the past to life in its museums, monasteries, the carved stone facades and golden altars of its many churches, as well as in the Archaeological Museum that displays centuries of pre-Columbian treasures. Enjoy scenic, Colonial and artistic Quito, then stand with a foot on each hemisphere at the Middle of the World.
The province of Imbabura is located in northern Ecuador, a picturesque land of lakes, majestic sierras and terraced farmlands, home to the Otavalo Indians, industrious and enterprising people, who offer their products at the famous outdoor market, full of ponchos, embroidered blouses, ceramics, wall hangings, native jewelry and authentic Panama hats. Near Otavalo are charming country inns and haciendas to stay overnight, and explore this wonderful area at a more leisurely pace.
Beginning in Quito and going south, is the Avenue of the Volcanoes with unparalleled views of the Andes. Mount Cotopaxi dominates the landscape of a National Park of the same name, where llamas graze and high-elevation bird species fly, including the Andean Condor. Our exclusive Hacienda programs provide an in-depth experience of Andean flavor, with stays at marvelous properties, as guests of the owners. For the more adventurous, the Andes are the perfect setting for trekking, hiking, mountain biking, bird watching and many more outdoor adventures.

The colorful and popular tourist resort town of Baños on the slopes of active Mt. Tungurahua offer breathtaking sights and opportunities for some adventure sports as well as the soothing relaxation of hot springs and thermal baths.  On the south of the Andes is Cuenca, another colonial city rich in art, architecture and a superb handicraft center.  It shares with Quito the honor of being World Cultural Heritage Cities.
Spectacular train rides, on exclusive coaches of  Metropolitan Touring’s Chiva Express, run from the Andean highlands to the Pacific shores, with the thrill of zigzagging the sharp angles of the Devil's Nose.

Private tours offer exclusive arrangements with multilingual guides for both FIT´s or groups. Semiprivate tours are operated on vans with a maximum of nine guests; while our sharing bus tours have a capacity of up to forty guests. Both semiprivate and sharing bus tours are guided with English/Spanish speaking guide only.