Cotopaxi Hike & Horseback Riding Private Day Tour – Andes Adventure Experience

This Cotopaxi Hike & Horseback Riding Private Day Tour brings you into the heart of Ecuador’s high Andes—where vast páramo landscapes, icy winds, and the towering cone of Cotopaxi create one of the most dramatic settings in South America. Designed as an immersive Andes adventure tour, this experience blends soft mountain hiking with a traditional horseback ride led by local chagras, offering both the thrill of altitude and the peaceful rhythm of life on the páramo. With private guiding and curated stops, it’s the ideal one-day escape into the wilderness south of Quito.

Departure

All year round

Duration

8 hours approx

Group Size

Up to 12 travelers

Travel-Style

small group private experience

Recommended Age

6+ years old

Adventure Pace

Moderate (tooltips: balanced pace, active but not extreme)

Incluye

private transportation, bilingual guides, lunch, entrance fee, and horseback riding gear.

No incluido

airfare, travel insurance, dinners.

Takiri Tip

Bring at least 3 layers of clothing, the páramo can be cold and windy.

FULL DAY – COTOPAXI VOLCANO HIKE, ANDES LUNCH & CHAGRA HORSEBACK RIDE

Your adventure begins around 7:00 am as you leave Quito and travel along the Avenue of the Volcanoes, watching the scenery shift from urban foothills to open grasslands and snow-lined peaks. Entering Cotopaxi National Park, the air becomes crisp, and the wide Andean plains stretch out beneath the shadow of the glacier-covered volcano. The morning hike leads you to the José Rivas Refuge at 4,864 m (15,950 ft), a steady ascent marked by volcanic scree, cold mountain winds, and sweeping panoramic views—an unforgettable encounter with the high Andes.

After the descent, a nearby traditional hacienda welcomes you with a warm Andean lunch featuring local ingredients and mountain comfort dishes. In the afternoon, meet your chagra, the Andean horseman who will guide you across the páramo. The 2-hour horseback ride takes you through vast open fields where wild horses roam, hummingbirds dart between native shrubs, and Cotopaxi’s perfect cone rises in the distance. It’s a calm and immersive way to understand the scale and solitude of this landscape.

As the day winds down, begin the journey back to Quito, reaching your hotel in the late afternoon with the fresh mountain air still lingering.

Our private Cotopaxi tour highlights meaningful encounters with the Andes—local chagras, traditional haciendas, and the vast, open páramo. With private guiding, slow-paced exploration, and responsible travel practices, our local expert tours create immersive moments that connect you to the people and landscapes that define Ecuador’s highlands.

Is this private tour suitable for all ages?

Yes, this private experience is designed to be flexible and enjoyable for travelers of all ages. Because it’s a private tour, we tailor the pace, activities, and level of adventure to your needs, whether you’re traveling with young children or seniors. If you have specific mobility considerations or special requests, just let us know, and we’ll customize the experience accordingly.

Do you offer customized tours?

Yes, all our itineraries can be personalized up to your preferences and budget. Whether you want to upgrade your accommodations, extend your stay, or combine it with tours in Ecuador’s mainland or the Galapagos. You just need to contact us, and we’ll put together a trip for you.