Day Trip to Cotopaxi from Quito

I took this startling picture with an iPhone; you can experience the same and more. Cotopaxi is an active volcano but nothing to be afraid of because the government closes it when dangerous. It is one of the most beautifully shaped volcanos in the world; it's the world's 2nd highest active volcano. This is a day long trip with stops for lunch and dinner if you like. Either or both can be in a beautiful almost 400 year old hacienda with beautiful chapel attached, 400 years ago a week by carriage to Quito, now an hour. You can horseback ride in Cotopaxi park if you wish. I will hike the volcano with you if you want to hike. Pictures shown here were recently taken by me as I led a U. S. State Department embassy official up the side. You can hike in tennis shoes but best bring proper boots as well as warm pants and layered upper body protection, gloves and warm hat; it gets cold and usually windy at height. Pack a small brush to clean sticky dust off your boots.