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> Ecuador > Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi National Park - Ecuador
An hour and a half South of Quito, along the Avenue of the Volcanoes, lays the dominant image on the Ecuadorian national psyche: the perfectly conical Cotopaxi volcano (altitude 5897m), claiming to be the world's highest active volcano. Even novice climbers can summit the glacier-topped peak with the help of a good guide, glacier climbing equipment and a hardy jacket. The views from the top on a clear day are incredible. Even so, it's a physically demanding climb, (if not technically demanding depending on snowfall and current glacier conditions) so proper acclimatization, good fitness, and training is essential. A week in Quito or any other Andean town with ample walking and summiting of a lesser peak or two should be sufficient.
Walking from the parking lot to the Refugio (base camp) is a popular and (literally) breathtaking activity. It takes an hour or so, and you must dress for cold, windy and possibly snowy weather.
Mountain biking in Cotopaxi is a spectacular once-in-a-lifetime experience. Descend from the refugio parking lot cutting through the thin air at bone chilling speed. Most of the park is (ironically) very flat due to historical eruptions that caused the glacier to melt and form literally flat lake beds around the volcano. This is all good news, since riding uphill at this altitude, youre likely to bust a lung - or two.
There are popular treks that go around the volcano and another, called Trek of the Condor, which starts near Papallacta, passes near Volcan Antisana and finishes at Cotopaxi.
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