DESTINATIONS IN ECUADOR - HIGHLAND / COTOPAXI

important information - the Cotopaxi - nature reserve

About 37 miles south of Quito, the volcano Cotopaxi (19,349 ft.) forms the core of the Cotopaxi National Park. Since 1975, the 127,413 Square Mile area and unique páramo-landscape is officially protected.

Journey:
The Panamericana leads via a pass, about 9.5 miles behind El Chaupi, shortly after this, a road directs to the national park. At the entrance you have to pay US$ 10. The easiest approach to the park is with an organised tour.

Travel season:
In the Ecuadorian highlands, the whole year round it is humid and cold whereas between December and April most rainfalls occur. Recommendable are therefore the months from June to December which are dominated by the sun and there are occasional rainfalls in the afternoon.

Accomodation:

our recommendation:

Hostería Cuello de Luna

Hacienda El Porvenir

Hosteriá San Mateo

 

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With its 19,348 ft., the Cotopaxi is the highest freestanding active volcano worldwide. Although he is "asleep" right now, fumaroles indicate his activity. Vulcanologists observe and analyse every change in behaviour critically. The last outbreak was in 1904 but recordings about all his activities go back to the year 1534.

In Quechua language the word 'Cotopaxi" means something like "gentle nape of the moon'.

The frist time that people climbed up to the top of the mountain was on November, 28th 1872. Their names were Wilhelm Reiß, a german geologist and Angel M. Escobar, a Columbian. Nowadways, the Cotopaxi almost belongs to the must-have-schedule of every Ecuador trip.

Read more about global warming that does have an effect on Cotopaxi as well, in our Newsletter (October 2005).

Refugio José Rivas:
This refuge at a height of 15,748 ft.is about 983 ft. higher situated as the parking site. From here, most of the trips start.

Ascent of the top:
This very special tour starts night-time, between midnight and 1am since this is the time when ice and snow are solid enough and are not thawing by the sun. In the course of warming, the ascent becomes impossible. In general, it takes about 4 to 7 hours to climb up to the peak; between 2 and 3 hours fot the descent. An ample acclimatization prior to the event is as important as a good physical condition.

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Not only for rushers to the peak is the Cotopax a very attractive destination, also rather unpracticed wanderers - that do not wish to climb as high as to the peak - may experience unforgettable days in the Cotopaxi national park.

At the entrance of the park, a little museum informs about the park itself, camping possibilities and the páramo-scenery.

The páramo-countryside of the andine highlands of Latin America is unique in this world. The páramo is a humid and rather cold veld zone between a height of 11,482 and 15,422 ft.. Often, blizzards and hailstorms appear as well as a sudden drop of temperature. The vegetation is characterized by heathland like formations such as tussocks, eyrie grass, bushes and cushion plants that invite to walks through the park. With a lot of luck, you may see one of the few condors as well.

In the park there are no food supply facilities; therefore everything must be brought on your own. Useful maps are released by the Instituto Geografico Militar.

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