Climbing Cotopaxi

Written by Ernest White, February 2013

RECOMMENDATION Keywords:
Cultural Experience, Good Views / Viewpoint, Mountain Biking, Nature & Wildlife, Off-the-Beaten Path, Photography, Sunrise / Sunset, Walking/Hiking, Glacier, Mountain, National Park, Volcano

Information

Comment from Ernest White

Mountain climbing in Ecuador is but one of many adventure activities offered in the northern stretch of the Andes, and climbing Cotopaxi is often featured on the bucket lists of backpackers from around the globe. Overlooking the capital city of Quito at over 19,000 feet (5,900 meters) above sea level, Cotopaxi is Ecuador’s second highest peak and one of the highest active volcanos on the planet.

Situated in Cotopaxi National Park, 30 miles south of Quito, the sleeping monster last erupted in the 1940s. Since then, glacial ice has retaken the peak, rendering the entire landscape an ethereal snowy wonderland and providing a breathtaking setting for the spectacular sunrises at the summit. Several tour operators have developed climbs of varying intensity for groups and individuals. Regardless of how experienced you are as a climber or how many people are in your group, you must be sure to acclimatize yourself to the altitude before beginning the climb. This means arriving in the area at least a week before the climb and taking high-altitude treks on smaller neighboring summits.

Editor’s Note: This recommendation was taken from our Ecuador Things to Do blog. Visit the original post to continue reading the full post and to learn more about things to do in Ecuador.

Photo courtesy of magnusvk via Flickr

Latest Replies

Add review or reply

We don't have any reviews for this recommendation – be the first to review it! Simply click Add Review above and share your opinion.