Cotopaxi National Park and Cotopaxi Volcano
- Igor Fox
- Feb 3
- 5 min read
Well, we've finally reached the last destination in our trip around Ecuador, and this is gonna be our last day and adventure in this joinery!
What a country! Yesterday I was swimming in Amazon with anacondas in a place which is full of life..., and today I'm already at altitude 4600m above the sea level, and only rocks and show around me... And, tourists, of course ))
Okay, a little bit about Cotopaxi Volcano and Cotopaxi National Park.
Cotopaxi is an active, 5,897-meter (19,347 ft) stratovolcano in the Ecuadorian Andes, famous for its nearly symmetrical, snow-capped cone. Located in Cotopaxi National Park near Quito, it is one of the world's highest active volcanoes, with frequent, often destructive, eruptions recorded since the 16th century, including activity in 2022-2023. Cotopaxi is located about 50 km south of Quito.
The main parking lot to Cotopaxi Volcano is located at altitude about 4600m. The base camp is a bit higher - 4864m. And, the next stop - is the top, 5897m above the sea level.
And little bit about the weather here - totally unpredictable and changes all the time. When I got there it was pretty windy and there was snow, and when I was already down in the valley - the clouds cleared up and I could see the top. And, btw, it was cold up there too!
Okay, lets start our climbing!
I started my joinery from the parking lot. A tour minivan broth us there.
I could feel the difference in the air right away, to compare with the jungle )), and even with Quito. For me it was very hard to breath. And, truly, I even wasn't sure, I'll go higher... Anyway, since I'm here - lets give it a try, and, in case it will be super hard to walk up - I always can take some rest, and continue the hike. I took the rain coat, which our guide offered us. It was cold up there. I already put many layers, but, since they all were light, the coat was very handy. Well, I was going to the warm country, and didn't expected to be frozen here )) Plus, there were wet snow and wind, so the coat really helped.
What an amazing country - ocean, white, sandy beaches, Amazon Rainforest, and here - snow, wind only rocks and the Volcano, which can erupt anytime.
So, I stared to walk up. And it was very, very slow walk. My leg muscles just didn't wanted to work. Lack of oxygen started to affect me a lot. Yes, I do some workout, and walk a lot at work (I'm a construction worker) but in this case it didn't help me at all. Not me, not my lungs, all my body wasn't ready for this hike. I was breathing heavily, making short steps, walking slowly, doing some rests. Plus the strong wind and wet snow didn't my hike easier. But, that's okay, I still was going up. On the way I saw people, much older than me, also going to the top. So, everything wasn't so bad ))
And, finally, I've reached the base camp. The altitude 4864m and that is the highest point where I've ever been. Tired, but happy, that I did it! And, yes, to the top it still was a lot... and, I usually prefer to go to the top, but... this time it was the top for me. And, truly, for the first time ever, I didn't want to go higher. I was completely satisfied even from this level of my achievement.
I went inside a little building, which was there. Here you can rest before the hike up..., or down..., to buy some tea, cacao, snacks. I got a cacao. There were lots of sugar in it. Btw, before the hike I had a tea from coco leaves and candy, also from the leaves. They suppose to give me some energy before the hike, but, I don't think they worked ))
But, cacao with sugar definitely helped! After about 20min of rest inside, we started to go back. And, the way down was much easier )) The sugar kicked in, and I started to feel much better and all of a sudden the energy appeared, so the wat down was much faster, than the way up. The clouds cleared just a little bit, and I could see the valley. It was a nice view...
We reached the parking lot. The van started to ride down. And, than lower we were, that more and more plants was growing on this rocky surface. As I said before, even at the parking lot, at altitude 4600, there weren't any plants at all..., and here, just a bit lower - there were more and more life. We even were lucky to to see two foxes on the way... The Beauty and Variety of Mother Nature - it is always amazing and impressive!
The guide offered us to ride a bikes down, about couple of kilometers. At first was hesitating. List time I ride a bike - it was couple of years ago, and it was a straight line on a asphalt... But, you know the saying - since you've learned to ride a bike... )) Okay, I decided to this opportunity. And, good, that I did it! It was so much fun! No wind this time, no snow, btw. That even wasn't snow at all here, at this altitude. We were about 4200 above the sea level. So, I ride down. At first slowly and very careful, but after - a bit faster )) Lots of fun! And, again, the energy appeared in my muscles, in my soul!... I felt like a kid, riding a bike on volcanic surface ))
We reached a lagoon which located in the park. There was a little lake there, surrounded by little mountains. Nice view. I notice little beautiful flowers..., but, still, there were no trees in this area...
And from here I could see Cotopaxi in all its beauty!
Clouds were moving on the top, closing and opening the peak, which was completely covered by snow... 5897 meters..., one of the highest active volcanos in the world..., still alive... and ready to show its power anytime...
My joinery was almost over. We still visited a little museum in the park. There was a big picture from the top of the Volcano there... Definitely, amazing and beautiful view... Who knows, maybe, one day one day I'll come back here, and will see this beauty by my own... But, I doubt about it )) Oceans, Forests, Jungles - yes this is my world, mountains too, but not so high ))...
We returned to Quito. I still had some time until my flight, so went for some short walk in Old Town, where was my hotel. And I got two ice creams! )) And, at the end of the day, yummy ceviche ant one place, and a burger! at The Secret Garden Hostel.. ))
For these 14 days of traveling I fell in love in this country. The Old City of Quito, frozen in time with all its architecture..., Quilotoa Lake, hidden in another caldera..., Banos, with its extreme activities..., Galapagos!... Amazon Rainforest!... and, Volcanos..., Cotopaxi..., ECUADOR!!!
Well, this joinery is over, but the joinery with a name Life Continue!... So, See You in a new Adventures! ...
All the Best and Take Care!
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