Cotopaxi National Park

On our first day of this adventure, we are heading south of Quito to visit Cotopaxi National Park, traveling the famous route of the volcanoes. We use the travel time to absorb the sights of local villages, high Andean scenery, and the unique attire of the indigenous people of this region. Once we arrive in the national park, we will be 3800 meters above sea level (12,460 ft. a.s.l.). Afterward, our journey continues up to Cotopaxi Volcano on a road that twists and turns its way to the parking site of the refuge at 4.650 meters (15,255 ft a. s. l.) of altitude. From here we will hike to the refuge José Rivas at 4800 meters (15,750 ft a. s. l.). Due to the extreme altitude, this seemingly short hike will take an hour. We will ascend to the beginning of the glacier. After the hike, we will take our bikes and ride on the slopes of the volcano on switchback trails all the way to Limpiopungo Lake enjoying amazing views and landscapes formed by the different eruptions of Cotopaxi volcano.

Mindo

Early morning travel over an hour from Quito lies the Mindo Cloud forest, filled with amazing plant and animal life – perfect for a day trip from Quito. For the ornithologists in the bunch, Mindo and its surrounding cloud forest are a birdwatcher's paradise! This cloud forest tour in Mindo is a day of adventure in nature hiking the famous trail of 7 waterfalls along Mindo River and its many small tributaries creating drops of water with stoning formations and unique opportunities of spotting wildlife including toucans, quetzals, tanagers, hummingbirds, parrots, cock of the rock, etc. This is also a perfect day to stand on both sides of the Equator in the middle of the world, and afternoon return to Quito City.