Cotopaxi National Park

On the border of the province of Pichincha, there is the Cotopaxi National Park, an ecological reserve that combines the landscape of the Andean páramo, volcanic soil and the lagoon that emerge from the snow-capped mountains. Its main attraction is the volcano that bears its name which in Spanish means 'moon neck' given because of the conical shape of the crater. The elevation of the volcano is of 5,897 meters above sea level and is the second highest in the country. Visitors can discover different species of plants and animals like: wolves, rabbits, condors, and among others that live in that territory. Visit The Interpretation Center: All information about the Cotopaxi National Park is available at the Interpretation Center, or better known as the Park Museum. The Center has showrooms, a souvenir shop and a coffee shop. It is located inside Mariscal Sucre Station (or Control Caspi entrance). Walk To The José Rivas Refuge (4864 Masl): Since the 70s, this refuge has been a welcoming place for professional mountaineers and amateurs coming to visit the Cotopaxi Volcano. Its name is in honor of the priest José Ribas who built it with the Mountaineering Club of San Gabriel High School. This place is located on the slopes of the volcano and an hour's walk from the parking lot.

Laguna Quilotoa

Visit to the viewpoints of Shalala and Quilotoa: The beginning of the lagoon of Quilotoa is Shalala viewpoint, a space built in 2014, with sustainable materials, that allows to contemplate the beauty of nature from 3900 meters above sea level. This is a project of the community, which was supported by the Ministry of Tourism. Its design was a winner of the second place of the 2015 Work of the Year Award. Hike and visit to the Quilotoa Lagoon: The crater of the dormant volcano forms a bowl that collects the azure waters of the lagoon. Its color is due to the accumulation of sulfur. According to legend, this was the scene of the battle between the Quilotoa gods who lived on the surface and Toachi, who was under the lake, because that aroused envy the ability of the first to reflect the color of the sky. This natural attraction is 15 kilometers away from the town of Zumbahua and is characterized by the icy winds that run the place. Visit to the artisan workshop in the community Of Tigua: Color is the protagonist of the stories that narrate the crafts of Tigua, works that are manufactured by the community of the same name. These paintings bear geometric and figurative forms, typical of the pre-Columbian and colonial times respectively. The traces expose the passage of time, which is an important element of the Andean worldview. Most are masks made of pine wood and paintings created on sheep skin, which tell experiences of everyday life.

Tigua

Visit Tigua town and meet the most important artis of the Naif paintings

Canon del Rio Toachi

Have the best views of the Toachi Canion