Private Cotopaxi Volcano Hike From Quito With Lunch & Entry

Competent guide and good car. Very nice experience. I recommend both the tour for its sfenic drive and hike as well as the operatior.

I did a tour/hike of Cotopaxi with guide Andres and driver Jimmy. The scenery was gorgeous! The hike was challenging just due to the altitude but worth it for the views and seeing the Refugio. Guide Andres had so much great information about the history, people, geography and animals in the area. He was friendly and helpful and answered any questions I had about the area. Highly recommend this tour.

This was a fabulous day. Our guide Edison met us promptly and expertly handled all the driving requirements. He was knowledgeable and pointed out many interesting features of Quito and Ecuador. The Cotopaxi experience was marvellous. We got to meet some alpacas, some great Ecuadorian people and experience the park and its amenities fully. The walk round the lake was full of discoveries from hummingbirds to lizards and lots of other things in between. The climb to the refuge on Cotopaxi was challenging but rewarding and the celebratory lunch at a wonderful local restaurant was top drawer! Would recommend this excursion to everyone looking to experience nature just outside of Quito!

Excellent adventure with Andres! He was very enthusiastic and informative and took us up to 16,137 feet!

The tour guide spent more time talking to his driver than us. Also the car (2WD) was not able to make it to the parking area which meant we had to hike up just to get where everyone else parked. By the time we got to the parking lot we didn’t have the energy to hike up the mountain.

We had an incredible experience on the Cotopaxi Volcano tour—definitely one of the highlights of our trip. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, and the entire day was well organized and enjoyable from start to finish. Our guide, Ayrton, was outstanding. He was knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly knew his stats and information inside and out. He explained everything in a way that was easy to understand and added great context throughout the day. On top of that, he was very charismatic and made the experience fun and memorable for everyone. Overall, a fantastic tour with a great guide. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Quito!

First of all let me just say if you are on the fence for a cotopaxi tour go ahead and pull the trigger on this one. Aryton was our guide and made our day by his extreme knowledge of the area, land, and history from Quito to Cotopaxi. Our journey started from getting picked up from our hotel where we found out that we essentially had a private tour! After a quick and complementary water stop we entered Cotopaxi Park and took a stop at the museum to learn more about the history, ecology, and geology of the park. Then it was on the parking lot where we started our fun trek up to the refuge! There was no rush and we made the hike and took some hot chocolate inside the refuge. Then it was time to return to the truck but not before seeing red foxes, wild horses, deer, and 2 caracara birds. We stopped for a loop around the lagoon before heading to our included Ecuadorian lunch (large portion) at a local spot with a backyard zoo! All in all 10/10 experience!

My wife and I had a fantastic private trip to Cotopaxi with our guide Andres and driver Santiago. I climbed Cotopaxi almost 30 years ago and wanted to revisit the Jose Ribas refugio. I wasn't sure if my wife was up to the hike up to the refugio, but Andrés and Santiago were very patient and we all made it. We're both in our mid 60's. The weather was great and the views were truly spectacular. Andres was very knowledgeable about the area and the geology. His English was very good and he brought great energy to the trip. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Cotapaxi and would recommend a small group or private group trip if you want to be assured of a rewarding day out.

My wife and I had a fantastic private trip to Cotopaxi with our guide Andres and driver Santiago. I climbed Cotopaxi almost 30 years ago and wanted to revisit the Jose Ribas refugio. I wasn't sure if my wife was up to the hike up to the refugio, but Andrés and Santiago were very patient and we all made it. We're both in our mid 60's. The weather was great and the views were truly spectacular. Andres was very knowledgeable about the area and the geology. His English was very good and he brought great energy to the trip. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Cotapaxi and would recommend a small group or private group trip if you want to be assured of a rewarding day out.

I had a wonderful experience one on one with Edison, my guide for the day. Very kind, knowledgeable, a person I could have a conversation with. I learned a lot too.

My wife and I had a great time! Pedro picked us up in front of our hotel and we were off. Pedro was extremely very informative. The hike up to base camp was breathtaking, literally. Take it slow and take controlled deep breaths, there’s a lot less oxygen up there. Totally worth it though! On the way back to Quito, we stopped off and had lunch at a local restaurant. It was just the two of us for the tour and in total it was about a 7 hour day. Would highly recommend!

Pedro was a terrific guide! He was very nice, knowledgable, and helpful. We not only got to see the mountain but birds and other wildlife around the lagoon. If you like birds I recommend bringing binoculars.

A trip to Cotopaxi is a must if visiting Ecuador, and this is a perfect day trip from Quito. Diego was a great guide, photographer, and driver (in his extremely clean vehicle). He was so nice and is very knowledgeable about his beautiful country. The trip includes a hike to the Refugio sitting at 15,953 feet, a visit to the Limpiopungo lagoon, an informational stop at the visitor center, and a delicious lunch. Highly recommend this as a separate trip from Quilotoa if you want to complete the hikes. 10/10!

Ayrton was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide! We had a great trip to Cotopaxi National Park, visiting the Limpiopungo Lagoon and hiking to the Jose Rivas refuge. Ayrton picked us up at our hotel in Quito and told us the history of the regions we passed on our way to the park. He also took beautiful photos of us as an added perk. This trip deepened our knowledge and cultural experience of Ecuador. We highly recommend this trip and Ayrton as a guide!

The tour was spectacular and our guide, Alex, was excellent. Along the way, she shared interesting facts about the country and the places we were passing through, and even taught us some expressions in Kichwa. We enjoyed every moment. In Cotopaxi National Park, we visited the Interpretation Center and then went up to the Refuge, where Alex was always attentive to everyone. Later, at Limpiopungo Lagoon, Alex taught us how to dance the Juyayay (a traditional Ecuadorian dance), which was a unique and fun experience. We ended the tour with a delicious lunch before returning to Quito. I recommend this incredible tour for those looking for an unforgettable getaway near Quito.

It was only due to guide Andres that we made the trip to Cotopaxi at all. We went with him and driver Jimmy to Chimborazo the previous day, and mentioned that we were so disappointed not to see Cotopaxi as well. We had booked a tour but canceled it when our tour to the Galapagos changed schedule and would depart early on 19th. We would have to be back in Quito by 4pm. Andres and Jimmy said no problem, so we booked their tour. Wonderful trip to Cotopaxi! So glad Andres made it work! Jimmy was a very skilled driver, both navigating Quito traffic and climbing the gravel road to the parking area at 15,000 ft. We then hiked to about 16 000 ft. We stayed for a while watching as high winds swept over the peak. Andres kept an eye on the time. They got us back to our hotel precisely at 4pm, with enough time to visit the statue of the Virgin Mary on the way back. Wonderful day! Big thanks to Andres and Jimmy!

Our guide, Andres, and his driver met us early at our air b and b and provided a safe and entertaining experience in the cotopaxi national park. Andres’s english is exceptional and we learned so much. We trekked around a lake and then attempted to hike to the refuge on the side of a volcano. Afterwards we enjoyed a delicious lunch at a hostel farmstead. We were back to our apartment with time to relax before our dinner reservation at Urko. This is a wonderful company and we will surely engage them again upon our return.

Great experience to see the park. It was cloudy but still a great experience. Lunch was great also. Pedro Toaquiza was a great guide with a lot of knowledge. He was very patient and helpful with us adjusting to the altitude. Would highly recommend!

A wonderful experience. Ayton the guide was very friendly and helpful at all times. Once up at the Rivas refuge you can see beautiful landscapes and luckily we were able to see white-tailed deer. Without a doubt a unique experience since everything was very well organized, a tour that I definitely recommend to people!!👍🏻

Helpful, attentive, friendly and knowledgeable guide. I was a bit apprehensive at the height and the effect it might have had, but took it slowly and all went well. Beautiful views. Proud of the achievement.

Do it! It was strenuous but Pedro made it a great day. He guided me to base camp and showed me the beauty of Cotopaxi. Great lunch, too

Wonderful guide, we did everything that was on the schedule exactly as planned and as shown in the itinerary. Guide has excellent English and inspired confidence. He is very knowledgeable, too.

Wow, just wow. Truly a fabulous day! Pedro was easy to be with and knowledgeable, answered all our questions and took good care of my daughter and me. Highlights for us were hiking up to the basecamp (which sits a few feet shy of 16,000), seeing 3 Andes Condors fly directly over head, and photographing the Ecuadorian Hillstar Humming Bird at 13,000ft. The whole day was great!

Our tour was amazing! Diego P. was fabulous, very knowledgeable, and was always checking in with us. When the weather looked like rain he asked what we wanted to do and recommended turning around, and happy we did because it started raining shortly after. We learned a lot about Quito and honestly we couldn’t recommend it enough! Thanks Diego for an amazing day!

Pedro was a great tour guide. It was just me so he catered the tour to my needs. He was very patient with me when I needed to take a break or to turn around. He was very thoughtful and knowledgeable about Cotopaxi and Ecuador in general. I had a great time.

We arrived in Quito and looked for tours online when we encountered this Cotopaxi tour. We booked it Saturday night and we were picked up from the JW Marriott right at 8am Sunday morning as advertised. We were greeted by Pedro and he drove us in a very nice vehicle and explained a lot about Quito on our way. He has 12 years of travel guide experience and it showed in providing us an amazing day. He speaks English very well and is an excellent driver through the rocky terrain on the way up to the volcano. I was a bit slower than my husband getting up the mountain with the altitude and Pedro was so kind in encouraging me to take my time and we all made it to base camp to have hot chocolate. He took photos for us to treasure on our cell. We felt lucky to have great weather. Afterwards we headed to the lagoon and then ate a delicious classic Ecuadorian lunch. If you are considering this tour, we recommend supporting this local company.

Pedro was a great guide! He was very knowledgeable about Cotopaxi. We went on a great hike and didn’t have to worry about any of the fees or anything for getting into the park. Our included meal was also very delicious. Super easy pick up and drop off process as well!

Ricky is the best! We had such a nice short trip but saw so much! Definitely better than a large group! He ensured we learned about Quito the local people, had a great lunch and made it up the mountain!!!

We had a wonderful day trip to the Cotopaxi Vulcan! The hike to the refuge was gorgeous and we managed to do it without any problem even though we arrived to Ecuador the day before. Our guide Ricky was very nice and enriched our tour with a lot information about the nature and the culture here in Ecuador.

We had an amazing experience hiking Cotopaxi. Ricky made the trip incredible. He gave us so much insight into Quito, Ecuador and Cotopaxi, and then was so great on the hike. The hike was hard due to elevation, Ricky was super patient with us. The distance/incline weren’t bad, and the view was so so worth it. Lunch was perfect!

What a great day with our driver Willy and our guide Veronica! Willy transported us safely to all the different stops along the tour. He was careful and kind. Veronica was the best! She is so friendly and knowledgeable. She taught us all about the culture, history, biology, and ecology of the region. We stopped for some local treats before heading to Cotopaxi. It was a challenging hike to the shelter, and quite windy, so dress appropriately! But it was so worth it! Incredible views. I am 65, and if I can do it, you can too! We stopped at the lagoon on the way back down, and then for a wonderful lunch at a local restaurant. At Cotoaxi we were thrilled to see an Andean condor (!), and also llamas, fixes and a deer. I highly recommend this tour, along with our driver and guide, Willy and Veronica.

Pedro was a FANTASTIC guide. He was super knowledgeable about the mountain, the animals and plants and the history of the area in general. He speaks English very well and was able to answer all our questions. He was very responsive to our requests (when to stop and rest, when to snack/eat, etc.). I’d highly recommend this trip and Pedro as a guide!!

We had a great day trip with Pedro and Carolina. Both were very professional and friendly and very knowledgeable about the flora, fauna and geography of the areas we visited. The highlight was reaching the base camp at Cotapaxi.

I can't say enough about this tour, and Carolina and Pedro. They picked us up from our hotel on time and we headed to the Cotopaxi. We had plenty of stops along the way for snacks and beverages. They were very patient with us during the hike, as I was suffering from a bit of altitude sickness. Views were unbelievable. Be prepared though, it was a physical challenge for me, and I hike regularly. The lunch choices were excellent. The care they provided to ensure we had a great time was phenomenal. Don't hesitate to book this tour. You won't be sorry.

We had an amazing day. David was an excellent guide. The hike to Refugio Jose Rivas wasn't easy but we were so pleased that we did it, and David showed us the best routes. Wonderful views of Cotopaxi. Highly recommended.

Veronica did a great job as our guide. Unfortunately for us the weather did not cooperate on our day, so be absolutely prepare for cold or rain. We saw the volcano as we hiked but it got socked in with weather as we got to the top of the hike. The bus Ride was quite memorable. We did get to see an Andean Fox and the Caracara in the park. The views from the lagoon were pretty good also.

Our guide was a superb guy! The trail was very difficult to me and my wife, since we have zero experience climbing mountains. Even with all the difficulties related to our (bad) physical condition, the view is awesome and our guide saved us from more than one possible - and potentially terrible - fall. They picked us at the hotel at the right time and returned us safely to the hotel. For all of this, I recommend the Real Dreams Tour.

Awesome experience, did a great job accounting for different hiking and altitude adaptation so we had an amazing day. Pedro was super knowledgeable about the area which really enhanced the experience. Pedro and Franklin really went the extra mile to make sure we had a good experience.

We had a wonderfull day !! We were just 2 with our friendly guide Pedro !! We went to 5000m to the glacier, which was really impressive !! Then we came black through the refuge and down to the parking lot. We had a nice walk near the Lagoon to sée some birds. And even the restaurant was perfect (really good and we get the chance to feed some alpagas : -)

Our guide was very knowledgeable and made the experience very enjoyable. Cotopaxi was beautiful and worth the trip.

Pedro was am amazing tour guide, and I could not have imagined a better one. He was knowledgeable, kind, easy going, and a very pleasant individual to be around for a day. The climb to the base camp was challenging yet very rewarding. We are not in the best shape and not accustomed to a high altitude; consequently, we were a bit slow on the ascent. However, Pedro was patient and encouraging. I highly recommend this tour and Pedro for a tour guide!

We did the Cotopaxi tour and Pedro was a great guide. He is very friendly and personable. He found spots to photograph on the way to Cotopaxi which was great. He gave us time to enjoy and is very knowledgeable about flowers, volcanos and Ecuador. We drove to the end of the park road to see cotopaxi. Then we walked awhile around the lake and saw some birds. We had logistical problems with our luggage from our flight to Ecuador and he was very helpful in talking to the airlines to help solve them. Lunch was included and very good. A very enjoyable experience.

Pedro was a great tour guide and thought of everything! He made sure I had vegetarian options for lunch, and we even fed a llama at the restaurant. The volcano is absolutely stunning, and this tour is so worth it.

We had the most epic and amazing experience with Pedro and Real Dreams Tours!!!! The day couldn’t have been more perfect! We were able to hike up to the glaciers and experience sunshine and snow all in one hike! Could not recommend this tour more!

I had an amazing experience visiting Cotopaxi and hiking up to the lower glacier. Pedro was very helpful along the way and made the hike as easy and enjoyable as it could have been. The lunch was a great experience as well - tasty Ecuadorian food at a scenic spot with alpacas on the property. All around amazing experience and I would recommend booking a trip with Pedro!

Pedro was a great guide who led us through an amazing journey in Cotopaxi and who accommodated all fitness levels. The food was also very good. All in all, it was memorable day.

The experience with Pedro was amazing!! Pedro was friendly, funny, knowledgeable, patient, and made us feel very at ease throughout the hike. The hike was medium difficulty and we were lucky to not run into any rain during the first hike to Refugio and the second hike to see glacier. 100% would recommend!

Real Dreams Tours is amazing. I did the Cotopaxi National Park tour and it was incredible. My tour guide was Pedro and he picked me up at my hotel just before 8 and we were off to Cotopaxi. The hike to base camp was very challenging for me because of the altitude. Pedro is the only reason I was able to make it there—he offered to carry my pack because I was struggling with the weight and he made sure I was taking breaks and pacing myself. The timing of the tour was perfect for the weather and crowds, which shows how experienced this group is. The lunch included was very good after a long days hike. I highly recommend Real Dreams Tours, definitely the highlight of my trip to Quito!

Big thanks to David (guide) and Roberto (driver). They accompanied me to Volcán Cotopaxi. I’m in my sixties with a good but not so great physical condition. It was a cloudy day. When we arrived at the trail head towards the Refugio Jose Rivas, the path was partially covered with snow. It’s at high altitude. I walked very slowly. David was always full of courage and patience with me. With their support I made it, via the straight and short path. Coming down it was snowing, hailing and raining. Because I spent a lot of time on the trail walking and taking pictures, it was late and the visibility was bad. We didn’t have time to go to other part in the Cotopaxi National Park. When we came back to Quito David and Roberto took me to a very small community restaurant run by a lady and her nephew. The people were very nice there,and the food was great yet very affordable. After all I got a chance to touch the life of local people. It’s another highlight for the day. David also planned to take me to a food market in Quito, Mercado de Iñaquito (Mercado La Carolina). Again it was too late and closed. I went there the next day before leaving Quito. That also is a great place if you are interested in local people’s lives. David is a great guide with tons of love for his country. I highly recommend him and this trip.