Private Cotopaxi National Park Horseback Ride Hike For Beginners

Kathy was absolutely incredible during the horseback riding and Cotopaxi National Park tour! She went above and beyond to make sure I felt comfortable, safe, and excited from start to finish. Here is why I highly recommend booking with her: • Perfect Pacing: She paced my horseback ride and the hike up Cotopaxi perfectly, keeping a close eye on my stamina and helping me adjust to the high altitude. • Incredibly Knowledgeable: Kathy shared fascinating insights about the volcano, the local ecosystem, and the surrounding Andean landscape. • Warm & Friendly: Her high energy, patience, and genuinely friendly personality made the entire day feel like exploring with a local friend. If you are planning a trip to Cotopaxi, do yourself a favor and request Kathy as your guide. She truly made this an unforgettable, world-class experience

Title: Amazing Cotopaxi Experience with Kathy! I had an incredible day exploring Cotopaxi with my guide, Kathy! The tour was a perfect combination of horseback riding through beautiful landscapes and hiking up to the refuge at 4,864 meters. The horseback riding was absolutely wonderful, with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The hike was much more challenging than I expected, especially at such a high altitude. It even started snowing halfway up! Kathy was incredibly patient, supportive, and encouraging throughout the hike, constantly cheering me on and helping me make it all the way to the refuge. She was also friendly, knowledgeable, and helped me capture some great photos along the way. It was definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my Ecuador trip. Highly recommend this tour, especially with Kathy as your guide!

We took a full day private trip to Cotopaxi from Quito as a group of 4. Our guide Patricio was punctual, and very knowledgeable. It did start to rain so we were unable to do the hike. The horseback riding however was exhilarating. Patricio was able to suggest a wonderful restaurant for lunch. In all an absolutely delightful day out in the Andes. Strongly recommended!!

We had an incredible experience exploring Cotopaxi National Park on our private tour! The day included horseback riding through the beautiful Andean landscape and a scenic hike around the lagoon, both of which were unforgettable highlights of our trip to Ecuador. Our guide, Kathy, was absolutely fantastic! She was knowledgeable, friendly, attentive, and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and enjoying every moment. She made the entire experience feel personalized and relaxed, allowing us to truly appreciate the breathtaking scenery. This was one of the highlights of our honeymoon, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. We highly recommend this tour, especially with Kathy!

Weather hampered our tour, which is why a rating of 4 was checked instead of a 5. However, our tour guide, Kathy, helped us navigate the quickly changing weather and altered plans on the fly to make the most of our experience. This is our second tour with Ecuador a Color, and I wholeheartedly recommend them!

The overall experience was nothing short of amazing! We started with a horseback ride in the skirts of Cotopaxi. The views and the vast mountains surrounding us made the ride magical. The horses were exceptionally well trained and even my son who was riding for the first time ever, found it easy and enjoyable. On to the hike, there are a few things to consider: 1. Make sure you have acclimatised (a great prep hike is the Teleferiqo one in Quito or the Laguna Cuicocha loop) 2. Make sure you have at least one day rest between any previous hike and this one 3. Keep in mind what season you are in - in the dry season there is an exceptional amount of dust and the wind can be quite overwhelming 4. Bring the appropriate gear - a buff is a must during dry season and I’d go with cheap sunglasses as they may get scratched (one pair of designer ones later, I have reached this conclusion). The hike is challenging. We are a family of four and work out very regularly but the altitude combined with the wind we’re trying even for us. Our guide Pato, who by the way has encyclopaedic knowledge of the region, it’s flora and fauna, was essential to us making it to the top. I was ready to give up but he encouraged me bit by bit and break by break to the top. The hike took us 1.5hrs, it’s 1.5km long. On the way back he gave my daughter his walking poles so she could stabilise. She is a tiny person and the wind was literally blowing her to the ground. Having said all that, the views are gorgeous, and the sense of achievement is strong. At the top, there is a cafe, where you can get a hot drink and the way down is much faster. The lunch afterwards was delicious and felt well earned. We went to feed the animals, which was a highlight for my daughter and felt incredibly special. Pato was excellent through and through and made our experience incredibly memorable. I would recommend 100% but would probably avoid June-August to ensure the wind and dust are kept to a minimum.

My friends and I had a wonderful time. It was their first time in Ecuador. They enjoyed themselves so much, they are planning to return soon. Great job to Footprint Journeys they were amazing through everything.

Wonderful experience learning about Quito, the volcanoes, and the flora and fauna of the region. Carolina was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable, and a great photographer. The horse riding was relaxing and the hike was challenging but rewarding. Highly recommend!

This experience EXCEEDED expectations! We had Pato as our guide and I truly can’t imagine a more exceptional experience. Pato is highly knowledgeable, not just about Cotopaxi and the history of Quito, but also about local flora and fauna, agriculture and infrastructure, local businesses, healthcare, and everything else that we asked about. And we asked a LOT of questions. He gave us great advice for the rest of our trip in both Ecuador and Peru. He went out of his way to make this experience unique, culturally relevant, and not what you would typically think of as a “tourist” guide. We felt more like we were being shown around by a friend! We love Pato and will definitely be back to visit him. If you can, request him when you book, you will not regret it!

I had an amazing experience with Carolina as my guide. From the very beginning of the trip Carolina made the experience informative, enjoyable, and memorable. On the drive to the National Park, Carolina shared interesting facts about the volcanoes and their eruption histories, including information about the local geography, wildlife, and agriculture. I learned a lot before arriving at the park. Before arriving at the Cotopaxi volcano, we stopped at a lodge where I was provided a horse, helmet, and poncho for an approximately one-hour horseback ride. Several Ecuadorian cowboys guided our group through the route. The Cotopaxi Volcano could be seen prominently on the horizon. After the horseback ride, we drove to the base of Cotopaxi volcano for the hike toward the observatory. Carolina accompanied me during the climb and made sure I was properly attired. I had forgotten sunscreen and gloves, and she kindly loaned me gloves and provided sunscreen for my face and exposed skin. At the entrance to the park, there was also a small local shop run by an elderly woman where I was able to buy a cap and sunglasses. The shop also sold ponchos, scarves, and shirts. Throughout the entire trip, Carolina was kind enough to take photos and videos of me during the activities, which I really appreciated as a solo traveler. Since no one else had booked the excursion that day, I essentially had a private tour, which made the experience even more special. The hike itself was very challenging for me due to the cold temperatures, wind, altitude, and hypoxic air. I would definitely recommend that future visitors be in reasonably good physical condition if attempting the climb. I personally only managed about 15–20% of the hike. It was still an unforgettable experience. After leaving Cotopaxi, we visited a nearby lagoon where we walked around and saw wild horses grazing and drinking water along the shoreline. Carolina continued sharing information about the local ecosystem and plant life, and her knowledge of the area was impressive. On the drive back to Quito, we stopped at a restaurant that had llamas, chickens, and other birds behind the property. Carolina even arranged for some carrot sticks from the kitchen so I could feed the animals, and she recorded the experience for me. This was a lot of fun. Overall, this was an outstanding experience. Carolina was professional, knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely passionate about making the experience memorable for her guests. You can tell she truly cares about what she does. I highly recommend her to anyone interested in visiting Cotopaxi National Park or exploring the Quito area.

Carolina was an outstanding guide for my Cotopaxi National Park tour from Quito. During the drive, she shared fascinating information about the volcanoes, wildlife, agriculture, and local history. She accompanied me on the Cotopaxi hike, kindly loaned me gloves and sunscreen, and took photos/videos throughout the trip, which I especially appreciated as a solo traveler. We also enjoyed horseback riding with Cotopaxi in the background, visited a beautiful lagoon, and stopped at a restaurant where I fed llamas. Carolina was knowledgeable, friendly, patient, and genuinely passionate about creating a memorable experience. Highly recommended!

Had fun riding horses, the activity didn’t feel rushed. We hiked the volcano which was a rewarding challenge (they had easier alternatives available too). Our guide Carolina was very knowledgeable.

I booked this trip as a solo female traveler and had the best time! My guide was Ismael, an experienced mountaineer in Ecuador. Since it was just us, he was the one driving, too. Ismael was immediately welcoming, fun, and trustworthy. I spent the drive learning from Ismael about Ecuador, as well as the volcanos/nature/mountaineering there. He was so knowledgeable, but also personable- It felt like driving around with a friend! I was probably even yapping a little too much, sorry Ismael! He was always reminding me that because it is a private tour everything is at my own pace-He waited at the hotel for me to finish breakfast, he pulled over whenever I wanted a picture of something, and I was never ever rushed or reminded of the time at any of the stops. He also took lots of photos of me during the tour and shared them with me after. I was worried about the elevation in Cotopaxi because I came from sea level 2 days prior, but I trusted that if I started feeling sick, I would be in good hands with Ismael. During the hike, Ismael was very encouraging, but also reminded me that if I pushed too hard we could go back down, no pressure. Ismael reminded me that: for high elevation hikes, as long as you let your heart rate and breathing calm down before continuing uphill, anyone can finish a hike like this, even if that means taking a TON of breaks, which I did. listen to your own body, not your idea of how fast you /should/ be going. Coincidentally also a good life lesson Be sure to reapply sunscreen often. The sun at high elevations the equator is no joke. It is very windy and cold at Cotopaxi, so bring something with a hood that can stay on in high winds. If I could do it again, I would braid my hair and wear a beanie, too. You immediately start feeling the elevation after 10k feet. I felt a little light headed and a bit headache-y but it was very manageable! I came from sea level 2 days prior, so I drank a ton of water and electrolytes, and avoided alcohol the day before.

I had a fantastic tour of Cotopaxi National Park with two great guides! One drove us and the other was the English-speaking guide that hiked with me and told me all kinds of information about the park. I’m glad I booked a tour because I would not want to drive my rental car on those roads (all gravel and some big potholes). The horseback riding was very calm and beautiful scenery! Wow. The hike was challenging (took 45 minutes), but was really enjoyable. The guides, the scenery and the lunch at the end really made for a perfect day. Cotopaxi National Park is STUNNING. Really like this company. Friendly from booking and all the way through the entire tour. Marcial and Eduardo were the best. 100% recommend this company

Ismael is an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable, super friendly, and definitely knows how to guide up at high altitudes. The horseback riding was very fun. Calm horses and fun guide.

We did a private tour to Cotopaxi and had an amazing experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable and shared a lot about the area and its history, which made the trip even more meaningful. She respected our time, kept the day running smoothly, and was very easy to get along with. The price of the tour felt just right and comparable to similar tours we looked at. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a well-organized and memorable trip to Cotopaxi.

Highly recommended activity. We had an excellent guide and amazing time. The horseback riding was a highlight of the trip. Hike was challenging but the guide was patient and excellent about it. So much fun.

Me and my partner had an unforgettable day in Cotopaxi and surroundings. Carolina was an amazing guide, very knowledgeable and caring and our driver Wilson took us back and forth safely and comfortably. We spent a splendorous day and enjoyed the incredible landscapes. Will do it again!

We had an amazing experience with our guide, Gustavo, on our Cotopaxi tour. He is incredibly passionate and deeply knowledgeable about Ecuador — from its history and culture all the way to its biology and geology. Throughout the trip, he shared fascinating insights about the flora and fauna, turning the entire experience into a memorable and enriching learning journey. Even though we had only a short stay in Quito, Gustavo went out of his way to show us around as we drove through the city, giving us a wonderful introduction to local life. His warmth, enthusiasm and genuine care made the tour truly special. We enjoyed the day thoroughly and would gladly recommend him to any friend visiting Ecuador.

I can’t recommend this day trip to Cotopaxi enough—it was spectacular! We were picked up by our guide, Pato, at our hotel in Old Quito around 7:30 am. We then drove for a little over two hours to the northern entrance of Cotopaxi National Park—the rural scenery along the way was lovely—and on to a lodge in the park that offers horseback riding. The horseback-riding part of the trip proved to be an unexpected highlight. Riding through the paramo surrounded by volcanos on all sides was stunning; we even had an opportunity to gallop for a bit (which was admittedly nerve-racking being a horseback-riding novice!). We then drove further into the park, parked the car, and hiked up to the highest lodge/reserve on Cotopaxi, which sits at 15,953 feet. The hike was breathtaking, literally, and the first part was made more challenging by biting wind and cold light rain. But the journey was very much worth it—the views from the top were incredible! The refreshments in the lodge were also a nice treat. We were even greeted on our drive out of the park with a cloud-free view of Cotopaxi in all its glory. We finished our trip with a delicious lunch at a local restaurant outside of the park before returning to Quito around 5:00 pm. Pato was an excellent guide—knowledgeable, accommodating, and a great photographer. Definitely take this tour if you want a memorable experience in Ecuador!

Had such an incredible time on this tour! Definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Ecuador. Ismael was an amazing guide the entire day and so informative. Loved the positivity and motivation especially during the hike up the volcano!! Learned and saw so much. The hike up the volcano is definitely no joke. It is difficult, but I never felt rushed and was able to acclimate to the elevation at my pace. The horseback riding gave picture perfect views! Lunch was delicious and conversation all day was effortless. Thank you Ismael for a wonderful day!

We booked this tour the day before when we landed in Quito. Easy to book and good communication. There was just the two of us on our tour and our tour guide was fantastic! The tour company was called Ecuador a Color. Arrived on time and had so much information to tell us on the drive to and back from Cotopaxi. The horseback riding was great and had excellent views with lots of opportunities for photos. We only did the hike around the lagoon which was a good choice because we did not factor in altitude acclimation as we had only been in Ecuador for one day by this point and I found even the flat walk around the lake caused me to feel the elevation. But our guide was patient and let us take lots of breaks. He was very knowledgeable about the surrounding fauna and waterfowl which was really cool. My only suggestion would be to give yourself a few days in Ecuador to adjust to the elevation if you aren’t used to it before doing this tour.

Had an amazing trip to Cotopaxi. Was well taken care of by the tour guide Pamela. The horse are well trained and easy to ride without much experience. Cotopaxi national park is very breathtaking.

The tour was amazing. The guide, Pato was great, very nice and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed the horse riding, and the scenery was awesome. We hiked up to the refugio of Cotopaxi in cold wind and rain, but we were prepared for bad weather and it was really worth it, The view up there is amazing! Can highly recommend the trip!

Pato was an amazing guide! Everything from correspondence before to dropping us off at our hotel. The horseback riding was fun. The hike up Cotopaxi was grueling...and so windy it almost blew me over a few times. Thankfully, Pato had an extra windbreaker jacket he lent me. At times, it felt like the volcanic rock was sand blasting my face. Haha! He told me it would be like that for about 3-5 minutes and he was right. After that, we tucked into a little valley and slowly hiked up. I wanted to quit half way when it started to get windy again and he said the Refuge was right there...and pointed. So I continued...and I'm glad I did!! What an awesome feeling getting to the top. Pato knows everything about Ecuador. He does tons of private tours (not just this one) so just ask, and I'm sure he can even do it. I was surprised he even did day trips to Banos! This is definitely a great tour and I would highly recommend Pato (it's his company)!!!!

It extremely fun but the hike is somewhat strenuous. The horseback ride will be the best thing you’ve ever done. Ismael was the best tour guide we have ever had. My wife and I were absolutely blown away by how kind and accommodating he was. He made multiple stops on the way for us to buy things we needed/show us cool stuff. It was amazing. He is the absolute best.

We had the pleasure of doing 2 tours with Ecuador A Color, both with Pato as our guide. He sure knows everything about Quito and Ecuador! The pick up and drop off at our hotel was included and greatly appreciated. And as an added bonus Pato’s picture taking skills are great, now we have more memories of our 2 days. - Horseback riding was a lot of fun and we were given clear instructions and always felt safe. The Cotopaxi national park area we rode in was so beautiful with a view of Cotopaxi the entire time. The time spent here helped us adjust to the altitude. - Hiking to the Cotopaxi refuge was a goal of our trip and it sure was challenging. We’re so glad we booked a private guide since we’re seniors in our 70’s, and if it weren’t for the encouragement and patience of Pato I would not have made it, but I did! I almost forgot to mention that he provided hiking poles which really helped. It was a really awesome experience! - After our hike we were treated to a great Ecuadorian meal at Rondador. So, while it costs more than a group tour, if you want a great personalized guide with lots of patience, I can highly recommend going with Ecuador A Color.

This was the highlight of our Ecuador trip. Pato put a lot of effort into designing the perfect day trip in Cotopaxi National Park. You'll get a one-of-a-kind experience exploring Ecuador's highlands, pushing yourself to try new and unforgettable activities. I can't recommend Pato & this excursion enough!

We are a family of 2 adults and one 5 year old (infant ticket) and we had one of the best vacation experiences ever on this tour. Kathy, our awesome tour guide, picked us up at our hotel in Quito with her truck and was our private guide for the day. First the easy part, which was the horseback riding. My son got to ride on my horse, and we rode for one of the fastest hour ever around the foot of the volcano. Then we went to the hike which-- the weather and son's wardrobe malfunctions were not in our favor. We got unlucky to have a very hard headwind and cold rain in addition to the very steep hike. Regardless, Kathy was the utmost of patient with us and we eventually made it to the Rivas shelter. Unfortunately we did not have time to enjoy the lagoon because our hike took so long, but she did take us to the gift shops to get my son his hard earned souvenir. Despite the challenge, this was his favorite day and we loved Kathy so much we hired her for another tour the next day. Five stars!

This was the best tour we did in Quito! Pato was so friendly and knowledgeable! He made the day fun for our entire family, including 2 young kids. He even carried our 5 year old part of the hike so we could make it to the top of our hike. He made sure we were safe and comfortable the entire tour. This tour is definitely a must do while in Quito!

This was the best tour we did in Quito! Pato was so friendly and knowledgeable! He made the day fun for our entire family, including 2 young kids. He even carried our 5 year old part of the hike so we could make it to the top of our hike. He made sure we were safe and comfortable the entire tour. This tour is definitely a must do while in Quito!

Luis went above and beyond to ensure this was a once in a lifetime experience. Despite the park being closed in the morning due to an avalanche, he arranged for an alternative horseback riding experience while the park was still closed.

For our honeymoon we decided to visit Ecuador and we are so glad we did! We decided to do the horseback ride and hike to the base camp of Cotopaxi. Ismael was such a great guide. He was so knowledgeable and informative about the wildlife, plants, history and culture of the area, and best of all, where all the best food is located and what we should try! He was also so friendly and easy to talk to. He truly enjoys what he does. The horseback ride was beautiful and so peaceful, and we even saw a few owls. The hike to the base camp was a bit more intense. Ismael was so good about taking frequent breaks when we needed to and even got some great pictures for us! I do recommend hiking boots, waterproof gear, and altitude sickness supplements (I used the candy) as the altitude did start to get to me a bit. The base camp has lovely refreshments and the hot chocolate is just what you need after a hard and cold hike. 10/10 recommend this trip and 5000/10 recommend Ismael as your guide.

This was an amazing trip!! Kathy is such a knowledgable and fun host -- I traveled solo and really enjoyed spending time with her learning more about Ecuador and the sites we visited. Horseback riding was beautiful. The hike up Cotopaxi was challenging, but so rewarding! 10/10 experience!

Our hacienda was short on English speaking guides due to the holidays, so we went hunting on Viator for options. When we saw the tour description and number of five star reviews, we were sold. Communication with the operator was easy via Viator and WhatsApp. Our guide, Kathy, picked us up on time from our hacienda near Cotopaxi, and a fabulous day ensued. Unfortunately, we encountered a slight hiccup in the morning as Kathy got word that our horse riding guide go into an accident and couldn’t make the tour. She was quick to think on her feet though and decided to do the Cotopaxi hike first while another equestrian guide could be lined up for the afternoon. She was extremely apologetic and made sure we were ok with that switch. We were honestly still a little hesitant about doing the more challenging hike, but she was super encouraging and supportive. It really paid off. She took things at our pace and made sure we felt ok every step of the way up. The misty vistas were absolutely magical. And when we reached the Refugio, she even spotted us cash for our drinks when we realized we had forgotten our wallets. For the horseback riding portion after the hike, she coordinated with the new equestrian guide and made sure we understood all the technical details of riding the horses. She wouldn’t be joining us for the ride itself but she made sure we felt like we were in good hands before riding off into the most beautiful landscapes at the foot of Cotopaxi. We’d rendezvous with her after the ride at Tambopaxi Lodge, where we’d have a hearty sit down lunch together with more amazing views of the landscape. All throughout our time with her, she answered all our questions and seemed to be a bottomless well of knowledge about Ecuador’s natural world, culture, and politics. It’s rare to get such a well rounded guide who also is a lovely person to spend a day with. Highly recommended.

This is a 100% must do tour! Patricio was fantastic! The entire day was excellent! Could not be more thrilled with this experience!

Thanks to Katy we've had the best experience. She is the best, very kind and patient, and let us take pictures everywhere. Kathy knows everything about the volcano's, animals and ofcourse Quito and Ecuador. It's a beautiful drive from Quito to Cotopaxi. The sport for horse riding is breathtaking. The hike to the 'top' of Cotopaxi was great. As was the lunchspot afterwards and a little surprise. Thank you Kathy for a great experience and day! (And the second tour to Antisana as well...)

Kathy was an excellent and attentive guide, catering to our choices. She is very knowledgable and personable.

Best Ever “Extra Day” trip! If you’re looking for something special to do, Cotopaxi National Park is a must see! With Awesome guides for both horseback riding and 16k foot hiking, you won’t be disappointed!

I contacted Patricio from back home several weeks before my intent to summut Cotipaxi. He was always very helpful and responsive with whatever question I had. When I arrived to Quito he even came to see me at my hotel to ensure all my doubts are clarified. For me it was the first time climbing so high and using crampons. Before the big day I could stay over at my guide’s mountain house, together with his family and all the animals around. I loved the experience and his home is also perfect for acclimatization! Not even speaking about the delicious food and fruitshakes of his wife! The hike was tough but every minute worthed. I have never seen the stars at night from so close! And the sunrise on the summit was breath taking! Juan has more than 20 years of experience as a volcano guide so there was no doubt he would want to turn back due to the difficult technical conditions that we were facing. I know that many others weren’t so lucky and decided to turn back on the half way! Make sure you bring sweets with you, you will need it!

My friend and I had the most amazing day on this tour. Kathy was our main guide and we could not have loved her more. She was so knowledgeable about her country and her love of Mother Nature was inspiring. Johnny was our guide for the horseback ride and he was also amazing. He was patient with us but encouraged us to be brave and try out a new speed on our beautiful horses. I can’t thank both of them enough for the most incredible day 😊

Wow! Wow! Wow! This was one of the Wow! Wow! Wow! This was one of the coolest experiences of my life! My 13 year old son and I first met our guide Patricio (Pato) when he picked us up at our hotel. Immediately we could tell he was going to be a fun person to be around. My son especially appreciated Patricio’s English skills. We arrived at the Cotopaxi National Park gate that is much less common. We hardly saw any other people. There we met Johnny, our horse-riding expert. Johnny’s horses were tame and well mannered. We dressed in warm ponchos and chaps and then went on the coolest horseback ride! You just can’t imagine what it’s like to look at Cotopaxi from 12,500ft and see it rise up in front of you another 7,000 feet! It was breath taking! Johnny is the real deal when it comes to an expert horseman. I loved hearing about the work and skills of the horsemen that live and work in that area. After about an hour or so of riding (which is the perfect amount of time in the saddle for folks that don’t do it all the time), we loaded back into Patricio’s car and drove another 30 minutes up to the parking area for the hike to the Jose Rivas Refuge. We then started hiking. Pato led us at the perfect pace given we were starting out at 14,500 feet. He knows how to lead people and help them given the altitude. It was the natural high of natural highs! Such a cool experience to share this with my son. It’s the kind of thing I hope he remembers about me long after I’m gone!! This is the kind of experience that you will never forget. It’s unlike any thing you have ever done! You will not regret this. When finished, I honestly felt that I got way more value than I paid! experiences of my life! My 13 year old son and I first met our guide Patricio (Pato) when he picked us up at our hotel. Immediately we could tell he was going to be a fun person to be around. My son especially appreciated Patricio’s English skills. We arrived at the Cotopaxi National Park gate that is much less common. We hardly saw any other people. There we met Johnny, our horse-riding expert. Johnny’s horses were tame and well mannered. We dressed in warm ponchos and chaps and then went on the coolest horseback ride! You just can’t imagine what it’s like to look at Cotopaxi from 12,500ft and see it rise up in front of you another 7,000 feet! It was breath taking! Johnny is the real deal when it comes to an expert horseman. I loved hearing about the work and skills of the horsemen that live and work in that area. After about an hour or so of riding (which is the perfect amount of time in the saddle for folks that don’t do it all the time), we loaded back into Patricio’s car and drove another 30 minutes up to the parking area for the hike to the Jose Rivas Refuge. We then started hiking. Pato led us at the perfect pace given we were starting out at 14,500 feet. He knows how to lead people and help them given the altitude. It was the natural high of natural highs! Such a cool experience to share this with my son. It’s the kind of thing I hope he remembers about me long after I’m gone!! This is the kind of experience that you will never forget. It’s unlike any thing you have ever done! You will not regret this. When finished, I honestly felt that I got way more value than I paid! Oh and one more thing . . . We weren’t prepared with coats. Pato brought two extras for us! Such a good guide!

The horseback ride and the stunning scenery of the Cotopaxi national Park was a highlight and our guide, Johnny and our two trusty steeds made for the perfect day. The Lagoon hike and our driver and day guide Galindo Made for an educational and custom private tour that we would highly recommend.

Kathy was likely the best tour guide we have ever encountered. She was a wealth of knowledge of Ecuador and was incredibly kind. She had us laughing and smiling nearly the entire trip. She happily answered countless questions about the culture and history of Ecuador and provided interesting additional information as well. But where she really shined in my opinion was on the hike to base camp at Cotopaxi. She handled my labored breathing in an excellent manor and was very patient. Especially for someone that has summited many of the volcanoes in Ecuador and could do it at ease. She gave the encouragement for me to continue on in a perfect manner giving time for rests. It is my belief she truly does whatever she can to make sure the folks on her tour are genuinely happy. She will go to any length in order to do so. Kathy was such a kind and wonderful person. My favorite activity of the day was the horseback riding led by Johnny at Cotopaxi National Park (arranged by Kathy). He was an amazing guide, good communicator, very friendly, and let us do some fun things with the horses. He seemed to be a true Cowboy and we very much enjoyed his guiding. The scenery on the horseback ride is absolutely breathtaking. I felt so relaxed and at peace during our ride. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I loved every minute of it. We loved our tour with Kathy so much (largely due to her great personality and knowledge, but also due to the activities she had planned) that we intend to return to Ecuador someday and will definitely seek her services again. Kathy, and this tour get our highest recommendation. The sights are top notch and you couldn’t ask for a better guide!

My favorite tour in Quito! Ismael was a great guide, and all around a great guy. The horseback ride, and scenery was absolutely breathtaking! The ride is easy enough for a beginner, but very nice if you're experienced as well! Now to the hike. Do yourself a few favors, 1. Acclimate to Ecuador's elevation for a few days, 2. Bring all the items on the suggested supply list. You may not need them all, but the weather can change quickly, and 3. Be honest with your physical ability. I am not an experienced hiker, but am in good shape, and I took the more challenging of the routes to basecamp and made it just over an hour. Ismael was patient when I needed to rest, patient when I wanted to take photos, and all around just made sure I had a safe, fun experience! Highly recommend!

I chose this tour for my last day in Ecuador and it definitely did not disappoint! I love to stay active on vacation and this definitely fit the bill. My tour guide Ismael picked me up at the hotel and we began our drive to Cotopaxi National Park….he was kind to share lots of national and local history and stories on the way. We were able to stop and do a bit of shopping on the way also. The park is just stunning and I thoroughly enjoyed the horseback riding-I even got to wear chaps and a traditional poncho! We were also able to get some galloping in during the ride. After the ride we drove to the start point on the volcano….Ismael provided hiking poles which definitely helped…that altitude is no joke (just under 16K feet to the base camp lodge), but we went slowly with as many rest stops as I needed. It was also a great way to just stop and enjoy the beautiful views all around as it was such a clear day-40mph winds so be prepared! After we came back down we stopped for a delicious lunch and a chance to feed some very hungry llamas. The drive back was filled with pleasant conversation and more history. I would certainly recommend this outing -5 stars!

Amazing views! Horseback riding was relaxing and great for pictures, the hike up was amazing definitely pace yourself all around a great trip

This was such an utterly perfect experience. Ismael, my guide, was at the hotel early to pick me up and he was so knowledgeable about the fauna and the animals andthe history of Ecuador. The trip was absolutely fascinating from the moment we left Quito to drive to the national park. I wanted to go solo so I could run with the horses and that’s exactly what I got to do! It was glorious just being able to run through the fields toward the snow-capped mountain. After that, we climbed up to the base camp at Cotopaxi and it was absolutely exquisite. Ismael also introduced me to, the local potato soup and corn, which was delicious! I learned so much and it was a perfectly wonderful day. I could not recommend this trip more!

We had a an amazing time in Cotapaxi with our guide Kathy. We started the day at 7.30 and drove there making a couple of stops for snacks and pics along the way. We were a family with two children (6, 11). Unfortunately altitude sickness got the better of the 11 year old and it was too much for the six year old to make it all the way to base camp. We made it half way up thanks to Kathy who even carried the 6 yr old for part of it. Make sure to come prepared with hats, gloves ect. As the wind can be extreme. After the climb we made our way to the afternoon activity horseback riding. This was an incredible experience with amazing scenery. We stopped for a late lunch on the way back home at a local restaurant which was great! We all really enjoyed the lunch. If you have the time it’s a trip worth taking just make sure you have adjusted to the altitude before setting off as apparently 60% don’t make it to base camp.