Cotopaxi Volcano Private Tour

Juan Pablo arrived on time, his SUV was clean and spacious, and he welcomed me warmly and professionally. After reviewing and consenting to the day’s itinerary, we drove about 1 hr 15 min south to change to a 4x4 and local driver. The next 30-45 min were bumpy: unpaved but wide road with plenty of potholes and mudslides from water runoff. Francisco handled it very well and did not rush it. We parked at about 15,000 ft altitude, and then Juan Pablo and I hiked the last ~1,000 ft altitude on reasonable switchbacks to the shelter, or station, at 16,000 ft, and had a hot chocolate ($2.50, and totally worth it), stamps for the passport, and toilets (bring your own paper!) that I flushed with a bucket of melted snow. Ahh, the memories ;) Then the relatively easy hike back to the 4x4. On the drive back the clouds parted and the summit in all its glory shimmered in the sun. Amazing.

Juan Pablo was the perfect guide for our private Cotopaxi Tour. He knows the area very well and always took care of us in the best way possible. Perfect trip!

Juan Pablo was excellent! 5 stars indeed. He knew about my elevation issues so he was totally aware that I had to take it slow. He made sure I had the appropriate clothes to wear for Cotopaxi due to the sudden weather change. He made sure I take the best photos by stopping in various spots. Photo opportunities can change due to the random weather so he made sure. I was quite lucky to see a good view. After the hike, he made sure I had some good food and organic coffee! I hope to see him again.

I cannot express what a wonderful two days Juan Pablo created for us. His knowledge and experience of Cotopaxi ensured we saw all parts of the park at the best possible times. He was very accommodating to our interests and his passion for the mountain reflected in the experience. I would highly recommended Juan Pablo for any tour!

Our tour to Cotopaxi with Juan Pablo was amazing! The hike was the perfect length and didn't take too long. It was snowing when we started so it was a good idea to have warm clothes, hats, and mittens. Juan Pablo was very encouraging and good at keeping a pace that let us adjust to the altitude and stopping whenever we needed to! When we got to the refuge, it cleared up and we got to see the top of the volcano which was absolutely incredible! It was a great day! Highly recommended!