Cotopaxi Volcano Quest!

My husband and I had a wonderful time with Alejandro of CarpeDM tours. He speaks great English or Spanish, shares a lot of interesting information about the region and volcanos of Ecuador, and provides encouragement and support to assist you to getting to the intended location on the hike at you own pace. We spent just the right amount of time at each Location. We got super lucky with the weather and could see the summit of Cotopaxi once we got to the base hut. The biking down was fun. We saw lots of wildlife along the way, stopped to take photos and stopped at the lagoon and saw more wildlife and birds and Alejandro provided names and information about them. The lunch stop at the end was great local food. Overall a great experience and super fun day.

Felipe was attentive and informative, helpful and considerate. We had a great experience with him as our guide.

I highly recommend this tour! Everything was organized perfectly—from smooth transportation from Quito, to the hike up to the José Rivas refuge, the fantastic bike descent to the Limpiopungo lagoon, and a delicious lunch.  Kudos to the driver for a very safe and comfortable ride, and to the guide for their professionalism, great care on the trail, and wonderful atmosphere. Professional, safe, and unforgettable! Top-notch service from start to finish!

What an incredible experience my group had! The entire booking process, finding the office, and transitioning between travel, hiking, biking, and lunch was so easy. I was able to inquire, reserve date, and make the deposit all in one day. Be sure to download WhatsApp for smooth coordination. I had no issues and every single question of mine was answered! Alejandro’s English, driving skills, and knowledge of Quito/Cotopaxi’s history on was top notch. He is an affable and experienced guide. Even better, he was patient as our group took many breaks to acclimatize. He never left anyone alone and ensured safety. I highly recommend CarpeDM for this tour and Alejandro as the guide!

Good trip although we had great weather. 1.2km hike up to the refuge and then same distance back down again with a couple of other stops included.

I was lucky to see the volcano in full view in the morning on our arrival before the clouds started moving in. The landscapes in Cotopaxi are stunning. My guide was very knowlegable about the mountains, volcanoes, bird & wildlife in general and I appreciated him sharing details of the place. I also enjoyed the visit to the interpretive centre. For future visitors perhaps also consider climbing one of the other volcanoes/ mountains in the area like Antisana.

Professionally run, great communication, excellent way to experience Cotopaxi. Would book with this agency again!

Everything well organised and a great fun day with great people

Wonderful experience. The guide Phillipe and driver Frank were amazing. They were aware of how everyone was doing. Highly recommend!

The Cotopaxi volcano quest can only be described in 3 words: Intense, challenging, and rewarding. We climbed to the initial lodge at 4900 meters and decided to go ahead up to the glaciers at 5250m. It's definitely one of those things that requires a lot of physical endurance and motivation. The fee for admission, $65, was definitely well worth. The trip included transport from one of 2 hotels all the way to Cotopaxi, lunch, view of the lagoon, a guide up the mountain, a tour of the museum, and dropoff at secret garden—its about a day trip! Our guide, Medardo, a local, always made sure that nobody was left behind, he had a friendly demeanor, and was always energetic. I would most definitely recommend him for anyone wanting to scale Cotopaxi!

Amazing, beautiful time with Alejandro climbing up Cotopaxi! He gave us tons of information about the surrounding volcanoes, he patiently stayed with me as I struggled up the mountain, he gave us local artisanal chocolate!! Lunch was the best I had eaten so far on my travels in Ecuador, no joke, that soup and appetizer were unbelievable. And the SURPRISE we got after lunch was sooo fun. CarpeDM really takes care of their guests, ten out of ten!

Guide was amazing and the volcano quest was better than I imagined it, lunch was great and once again an amazing guide and an amazing day!

Had a wonderful experience on the one day Cotapaxi tour and this was one of the best priced tour companies available. Went in a small group of 3 which was perfect. We stopped for photos in front of the mountain before doing a short (but steep) hike up to the refuge for hot chocolate, with the option to hike up further. The bike ride is on a mountain bike down uncorrugated roads. Lunch was great and the tour company also gave us a souvenir at the end of our trip. Our guide Alejandro was a great operator. He was funny and full of great information about the history of the volcano, animals and flora and Ecuador in general, and made sure we had enough time to enjoy the experience as well as getting us home on time.

I did this Cotopaxi hike solo and Alejandro was a terrific guide. He was thoughtful and attentive and I loved getting to talk with him about all things Ecuador. I definitely recommend him as a guide, and the company itself!

Lincoln was a great guide, speaks fluent English, explained everything clearly, slowly and we had an amazing day. He even paid my coffee in the morning as I had no change. Lincoln is the best!

Amazing tour! Our guide was super helpful and had a great day out. Lunch was great quality in a very cute restaurant. 10/10 would recommend!

We had a great day going to the Cotopaxi National Park from Quito. Since we are in our 70s, we were not sure if we could make the hike to the Refugio we decided to book the private tour so if we cant make it, we can turn around. But Alejandro was fabulous. He was patient with us and encouraged us the whole way. He brought hiking poles, rain poncho and stayed with us duringbtge hike. He was fun, pleasant and shared good information during our drive. We finished with a fabulous lunch at a Hacienda! It was a great day as we made it to the Refugio and had fabulous view of tge volcano. Highly recomend Alejandro!!

Felipe was an incredible guide, and we couldn’t be happier with our day. We were at sea level and a bit worried about altitude sickness, but Felipe was very helpful and showed us what to do. He answered all of my curious questions, and took great care of us. So many incredible animals, the powerful energy of Cotopaxi, and the gift of the local culture — you couldn’t ask for a better tour. Until next time… when we summit! ☺️

Grueling weather conditions that our guide offered options for creating safety and even comfort for everyone there! We were all successful in our journey!

Great experience, I highly recommend it. Felipe was a great guide. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. Very flexible and accommodating. He worked to make sure the tour worked for my fitness level and interests.

My husband, 13 yo and I traveled to Cotapaxi with CarpeDM. They were well organized and the trip went great. We met at their office, took their bus to Cotapaxi, did a short hike to the base camp (which was challenging because of the altitude), did a short mountain bike ride down the road to the Laguna and then popped over to the visitor center (where we fed lamas and learned about volcanoes in Ecuador) and then we were off to lunch followed by the bus ride back to Quito. Our guide really enjoys his job and provides lots of great information. He was even available to give me advice on other excursions in Ecuador we’d like to do. If you’re not feeling well at altitude and not up for the full hike, you can wait at the bus, take in the views and maybe see a local fox. Biking is optional. Only 3 of 8 of us did it. The trip was great. Equipment was safe.

My husband and I had a great day trip to Cotopaxi during out trip to Ecuador! Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and took us to some quaint spots along the way that we likely wouldn't have seen on a large tour. We hiked to the basecamp, which we weren't sure about at first, but are so glad we did!! Make sure to bring a lot of layers because the weather can be much different than it is in Quito! I would highly recommend another trip with Carpedm!

We started the hike at 4500m and went to almost 4900m, which took over an hour. It was quite cold; I wished I’d brought hat and gloves, but the tour was a spur of the moment decision. The thin air was making my chest thump, though the guide Felipe often checked in on everyone and encouraged us to take breaks. The views were spectacular and worth every bit of the climb. After we returned to the bus, we drove back down the road and at a point began riding cross country bikes down the dirt road. The guide was very safety oriented and made sure we were completely aware of the dangers. I appreciated that the guide repeatedly said it wasn’t a race, and that ambulance and hospital were very far away. I felt fully informed when we were asked to sign a waiver. We rode down for about half an hour over what someone called washboard road. It was bumpy but really fun. I was very impressed with Felipe; I always felt safe and he was very approachable.

A wonderful day trip! We had a great time with our guide, good conversation, information and finally good weather to see the magnificent Cotopaxi. As far as I can tell it was reasonable price for an adventure you should not miss while you’re in Quito!

I did the Cotopaxi Volcano tour as an add-on option booked through G Adventures, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish. Everything was extremely well organized and professionally managed while still being fun and relaxed. The tour guide was incredibly friendly and kind, providing great background information about the volcano and the different sites we passed along the way. He made sure everyone felt comfortable on the trail, always checking on the group and making sure the slowest person was never left behind. I really appreciated how attentive and supportive he was throughout the hike. The driver was also excellent, and the whole team worked together seamlessly. The tour guide was very mindful of dietary restrictions and made sure lunch met everyone’s needs, which showed great attention to detail. As a nice bonus, we also received t-shirts and chocolate, which was a thoughtful touch. What I appreciated the most was their honesty and professionalism. I accidentally left my phone on the bus after being dropped off, and they coordinated everything so quickly that I had it back within 15 minutes. They were very helpful and nice about my mistake. As a foreign traveler, that was incredibly reassuring and meant a lot that they were so considerate about a lost cell phone being an urgent issue. Overall, this was a fantastic Cotopaxi tour. Professional, organized, friendly, and thoughtful from beginning to end. I would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone visiting Ecuador. One of the best tour operators I’ve ever used across multiple continents and countries. Highly recommend!!!

We had a lovely time. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly with good english. The journey up the mountain was really fun, just the right amount of challenging for us (m&f 37y). We did have an older party member who was older and struggled a little with the downhill, Filipe was very kind and helped her. She later fell off her bike and was badly injured requiring urgent medical care. Filipe was kind and professional. He arranged for us to take our prepaid lunches away so that we didn't miss out while ensuring our team member got speedy care. My only minor complaint for the whole trip was that the bikes had inadequate suspension for the downhill ride and my bum hurts!

Lovely guide. Very informative and accommodating

great tour guide! did a great job explaining well

Philippi was the best tour guide! He showed us lots of scenery and told us lots of stories about local culture and history. He has a great personality for his work! Thank you for such a wonderful day!

Experience the volcano from the bottom up. The hike to base camp is strenuous but the views are worth the effort! The sun was shining the day we went - great photo ops. Good local food for lunch. Knowledgeable, friendly, helpful guide made the experience memorable.

We had a wonderful experience. Felipe was very informative and fun to travel with. We would highly recommend. The volcano was an easy hike for those that are in shape.

My two friends and I had a fantastic day seeing spectacular scenery at Cotopaxi National Park. We had a private tour with Lincoln Guaman, who knows everything about the mountain and will guide you as far up as you want to go. He brought bikes in case we wanted to ride back down the bumpy road to the HQ, which is included on the tour (we didn't). The volcano is absolutely enormous, it reminded me of Mt Fuji. The changes in the landscape as we ascended was dramatic and Lincoln explained what we were seeing all along the way. The tour also included a delicious hot lunch at a restaurant near the entrance. We were all so glad we included this tour - I highly recommend it, and try to get Lincoln Guaman for your guide!

Everything about this tour was amazing! Particularly our guide, Ale. The t-shirt and chocolate at the refugio were nice surprises. The hike to the refugio was very steep and extremely windy, but this added to the adventure! Be sure to bring good boots, warm clothes, a hat, and rain jacket. I was also glad to have trekking poles. I have been on many excursions, and Ale is one of the best guides I've ever had! He was full of information, friendly, and extremely helpful (especially since we booked the Cotopaxi tour at the last minute!) Completely recommend!

The whole day was well organized and communicative. Our guide was very informed and happy to answer all questions! A must see for anyone adventurous!

Sociable and knowledgeable guide explained landmarks, history, nature and the scenery through the day. The hike was great, and very challenging due to the altitude, with our guide patiently encouraging us throughout. Be ready for walking uphill for up to a couple of hours at this extreme altitude very slowly, and be ready for potential cold and rain (perhaps down to single figure Celcius degrees.) The bike ride down was a welcome change. Great achievement. We were lucky with a clear day and had wonderful views throughout, the clouds were kind.

This was a great itinerary, where we got to see really nice views, did a nice hike up to base camp and learned a lot from our knowledgeable guide Lincoln. Highly recommended. It would be easier if you acclimate to the altitude in Quito but we managed it with one day.

Adversity just makes it more memorable. Yes, the road in is long and bumpy. Yes, we were buried in fog for much of the drive and hike. Wind was blowing hard, and the rain and hail stung. That said, we just plodded up the hill, loving the occasional breaks in the clouds and fog. Altitude was not an issue, just take it slow. We defrosted in the Refuge, then bundled up again. On the way down, we scampered down the short cut, and arrived at the car in 15 minutes. Definitely recommend the switchbacks for the ascent, and the steep short cut for the descent. Lincoln was great on the hill, and awesome at spotting wildlife. We saw Cara Cara birds, horses llamas, Andean gulls and an Andean fox. The fox was the wildlife highlight.

The trip to Cotopaxi was amazing. Felipe was a great Guide, he gave us all relevant information needed and shared interesting experiences of his own. We can highly recommend this tour. Thank You!

Felipe and CarpeDM made our 30th anniversary a truly memorable experience! Felipe was a wonderful guide and made sure we were well prepared for the climb to Cotopaxi base camp. He had all the supplies we needed and made sure we were safe at all times. We had a great weather day and it was truly a special place to see. We had a wonderful lunch after the climb and bike ride to the lagoon. They treated us with an anniversary cake and song. After that was a surprise visit to the rose farm. All in all a special day we will treasure. They worked with us to pick us up at the hotel and drop us at the airport. Highly recommend Felipe and CarpeDM.

We had an awesome day hiking to Cotopaxi base camp. Mountain biking down was great. Lunch was excellent. Our guide, Felipe Paez, was a wealth of information and made the day even more enjoyable. Highly recommend them!

We had a fantastic day trip with Alejandro going from Quito to Cotopaxi! He was highly knowledgeable and was able to answer our questions throughout the day. He was patient while I slowly hiked up the volcano and was encouraging as we biked later in the day. We’ve done a number of tours on our travels and this was by far the most experienced a guide has been. Many thanks! Highly recommend!

Had a great time on the Cotopaxi day tour with Felipe. He prepared us well for the day and was very knowledgeable. I recommend this tour for anyone wanting to see the national park.

My boyfriend and I took this trip after hearing other travelers rave about it, and I’m so glad we joined!! We got to stop for all of the snacks and coco tea we needed, and our guide Felipe perfect. He was excellent at guiding everyone through the ascent and translating whenever needed during the trip. We even got lunch and met some local animals along the way. Thank you!!

Great review. Phillipe was a great host. Hike is very manageable and takes it nice and easy whilst everyone is still acclimatising

Our guide, Alejandro was very professional, patient and extremely knowledgeable. We both had a fantastic day! Thankyou so much

I loved our guide, Phillipe. He was friendly and funny and he knew so much. It was easy to follow and really interesting. He was so supportive on the climb up Cotopaxi. I would recommend this tour to anyone

Alejandro was an excellent guide and we were very lucky to have him. The tour was very well organized and it was amazing to see the natural beauty of Ecuador and Cotopaxi.

Alejandro was so so excellent! I had a difficult time getting up the volcano and he wanted for me and cheered me on the while way! The tour was amazing and Alejandro taught us so much about the volcanos and ecuador as a whole. 11/10!

Transport from and back to our hostel was well organised. Breakfast and lunch were included and delicious. Our guide made sure we were well prepared to do the hike at high altitude. All in all a great experience.