Lodging, Camping, Trail Riding & Hiking
in Cotopaxi National Park

When: Anytime

Length: one or more days

Number of guests: We have two dormitory huts: the main one houses 27 beds in four rooms and the other 8 beds spread between three rooms. There is plenty of tent-camping space.

Fee: It varies, but here are some average fees in US dollars:

• A night in a dormitory hut (albergue), $15 + 12% tax per person
• A night camping, $5+ 12% tax per person
• Eating in restaurant, a meal about $9.50+12%, breakfast $4.50+12%
• Local guide, $30/ day
• Mountain guide $60/ day, but depends on program.
• Hike with horse & with guide, 4-5 hours, $40 /person, minimum 2 people
• Hike with llamas & guide, $25/ person, minimum 2 people
• We have trips of 1, 2 & 3 days consisting of hikes with llamas, horses, on foot consisting of visits to Cotopaxi Refuge and other places, costing $70-90/day, everything included.

WHERE WE ARE:
The majestic mountain range of the Andes, which rise up from the Pacific coast, are a product of the constant activity between the marine and continental plates, which impact the continent of America. Here, one of the most beautiful active volcanoes on the planet has been created: Cotopaxi stands at 5,897m above sea level, encompassed by remarkable biodiversity just 70 kilometres, from the equator line.

Two hours from Ecuador's capital city of Quito, Cotopaxi National Park is accessible amid valleys and volcanoes. The park covers 33,393 hectares, straddles three of Ecuador's provinces, and has an altitude ranging between 3,400 and 5,897 metres. In the very heart of this, the largest volcanic region in the whole of Ecuador, lies Tambopaxi (3,720 metres, above sea level), not only at the foot of one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, but also surrounded by tiny, picturesque Andean villages within the Amazon's superior basin.

HOW TO GET HERE:
There are two regular routes into Cotopaxi National Park. The first leaves Quito to the South, either on the Pan-American Highway or through the valley of Sangolqui. After about an hour, you arrive at Machachi. From this town`s main park, you head towards El Pedregal. It's a pretty, 20km journey over 2nd and 3rd class roads marked with signposts leading to Tambopaxi.

If you leave Quito by bus, you need to take either the Mejia or the Brito bus company, which go as far as Machachi, (or any other bus which leaves Quito to the south and can drop you at the entrance to Machachi). From there, you may hire a truck to take you to Tambopaxi, or catch another bus, this time with the Dolorosa bus company, which leaves Machachi two times daily for the tiny village of El Pedregal. From there it`s 9km to Tambopaxi

The second route from Quito begins in the same way as the first but does not take you into Machachi itself. Instead, you continue southwards on the Pan-American Highway for about 30 minutes. Just before you get to the village of Lasso, there is a sign on the left hand side showing the entrance to the Cotopaxi National Park. From here, it's about 26 km to Tambopaxi. Despite being somewhat longer, the road surface on this route is a little better.

If you leave Quito by bus, you could ask the conductor to drop you at the entrance to Cotopaxi National Park, just before Lasso (in Spanish: "en la entrada al Parque Nacional Cotopaxi, por favor). From there, hire a truck or taxi up to the National Park entrance gate and on to Tambopaxi. Another option would be to get off in Lasso itself and hire the truck there for the same trip.

Please Note: Whichever way you chose to travel, it is best to arrive at Cotopaxi National Park before 3pm and even better if you have made a reservation at Tambopaxi beforehand. There is one entrance fee to the Park, You should ask for a receipt or ticket and check that the correct date is stamped on it. For each of the above transport hire options, you need to agree the price with the driver before starting the journey. Expect to pay somewhere between $15 and $25 US dollars per vehicle. Transport for your return trip may be arranged at Tambopaxi itself.

LODGING:
The concept is similar to a mountain hut. The construction style recreates the traditional customs of building paramo houses in order to minimise any negative impact on the view or environment. The use of rustic, indigenous materials, as well as a good insulation system, allow you to enjoy a warm, comfortable atmosphere while you rest under a soft, fluffy eiderdown. Tambopaxi's tidy and clean facilities guarantee you a very high quality of service.

CAMPING:
Situated north of the vast Limpiopungo within Cotopaxi National Park, Tambopaxi has a completely flat, designated camping site of approximately 2000 square metres. Campers are treated to a spectacular, uninterrupted view of the mountains and the same excellent facilities as the huts themselves. The campsite is equipped with hygienic yet environmentally sound bathroom facilities, which ensure the outdoor experience is enjoyable for family and friends alike! Our llamas sometimes pop into the campsite, which simply adds to the authentic Andean atmosphere of the paramo!

ACTIVITIES:
One of Tambopaxi's main objectives is to encourage recreational activities within the setting of the paramo ecosystem. Our exclusive position enables both local and foreign tourists to enjoy short and easy strolls, all day hikes or even longer treks. These walks will help to prepare your body for higher climbs, making Tambopaxi an ideal place to acclimatise for mountain tours. You may also choose to organise a walk with llamas or a horseback ride, by contacting members of the El Pedregal or Loreto community.

There are also driveable tracks leading up from the picturesque village of Machachi or from Sangolqui, crossing beautiful valleys and plains, stretching almost as far as the snow line on Cotopaxi, down which many tourists descend on mountain bike. In fact, this area offers an extensive network of trails for mountain bike enthusiasts to explore. Those who prefer to actually climb mountains may use Tambopaxi as a starting point for acclimitisation tours or ascents of Ruminahui (4,712m), Sincholagua (4893m), and Cotopaxi (5,897m).