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Cotopaxi's shape is the
most beautiful and regular of all the colossal peaks in
the high Andes. It is a perfect cone covered by a thick
blanket of snow which shines so brilliantly at sunset it
seems detached from the azure of the sky.
Alexander von
Humboldt, 1802.
Etymology:
Cotopaxi in the Cayapa language means "Sweet
neck of the Sun" (COTO: neck; PAGTA: sun; SHI:
sweet) or in the Panzaleo language "Throat of
fire".
Cotopaxi, is the centerpiece of the
Cotopaxi National Park, which is located about 55 km
south of Quito and whose symmetrical cone can often be
seen from the capital on a clear day. It has a circular
base of approximately 20 km in diameter, its crater has a
circular size of 800 m S/N, and 600 m E/W. Its cracked
ice and snow cover goes from the top, down to 5,000 m
(16,405 ft). Nowadays the volcanic activity of the
Cotopaxi has been reduced to a constant emision of gases
and steam that can be observed from the summit.
Suggested itinerary:
| Day
1. |
Early
departure from Quito. After driving through the
Ecuadorian highlands we will reach the National
Park where we will be able to observe the famous
Andean Llamas. Lunch break will be at lake
Limpios. From the lake we will drive up to the
parking lot (4,600 m - 15,093 ft). And start to
hike up to the José Ribas Refuge
(4,800 m - 15,749 ft) which will
take approximatly one hour. Dinner will be
served, and a brief explanation about what we
will do the next day will be given by our guides. |
| Day
2. |
Midnight
Breakfast. Following the standard route it will
take us about six hours to reach the summit. On a
clear day we will be able to see the spectacular
crater of Cotopaxi and most of the Ecuadorian
peaks above 5,000 m (16,405 ft). It will take us
about three hours to return to the refuge. In the
afternoon we will be back in Quito. |
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Climbing in Ecuador: Cotopaxi 