Cotopaxi: the Padre Rivas Refuge and, If You Can, the Glacier at 5,050 m

Cotopaxi is an active stratovolcano of 5,897 m, one of the highest in the world, and on a clear day it stands on the skyline from Quito. Its almost symmetrical cone rises out of a highland plain at about 3,800 m, and it belongs to the chain around the Pacific plate known as the Ring of Fire. The Limpiopungo lagoon comes first. The water is clear and cold, ringed by low hills, with Cotopaxi, Sincholagua and Rumiñahui standing round it. Birds work the shallows, and there are herds of llamas, along with rabbits and deer. A short walk in the Limpiopungo valley follows, then the road climbs to the Padre Rivas refuge at 15,800 ft, 4,830 m. From there, depending on your condition, the walk continues to the glacier at 5,050 m. That last stretch depends on you rather than on the schedule. Everything is included. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.