August
18
2010
By Lindsay Mackenzie
Ecuador’s Cotopaxi National Park is home to the highest active volcano in the Andes. Having just returned from spending time exploring in its dramatic landscapes, I can say that the best way to experience Cotopaxi is dressed in chaps and a poncho, galloping.
Or, more accurately, you should get catapulted across the plains by a horse that has better things to do than listen to you, while holding on for dear life. However you describe it, it sure is fun.
Though less than a two-hour drive from Quito, the space and serenity of Cotopaxi are a welcome contrast to the congested capital. Ringed by volcanoes and sprinkled with pastel wildflowers, the high-altitude paramo provides a refuge for rare Andean condors and city-weary Quiteños. The region is now gaining an appreciation from in-the-know foreigners as a popular eco-tourism destination and an accessible add-on to a trip to the Galapagos.
Haciendas such as Tierra del Volcán’s El Porvenir provide a cozy base from which to spend a few days exploring. El Porvenir can arrange guided hikes, mountain biking, bird watching, zip-lining and—the highlight for many—horseback riding. Outfitted in chaps and ponchos, guests can go on guided gallops across the picturesque paramo for an afternoon, or for the more adventurous, for a multi-day horseback trek between Tierra del Volcán’s three haciendas.
Whether you spend the day adventuring or relaxing by the fire, you’ll look forward to the incredible home-cooked meals served at the hacienda. Guests warm up with hearty soups at the beginning of every meal. Main courses feature local meats and fresh cheese from the farm or vegetables from the garden. And homemade desserts guarantee that you will waddle out of the dining room satisfied.
Inside El Porvenir, common areas feature bottomless tea and constantly stoked fireplaces, creating an ideal spot to relax. Rooms vary in size and style, but all feel cozy, welcoming and warm. And if you weren’t cozy enough, knowing that El Porvenir’s parent company, Tierra del Volcán is committed to sustainable principles and contributes to the betterment of its surrounding environment and community will help you sleep at night.
Ecuador’s Andes are often an afterthought. First-time visitors to Ecuador often arrive fixed on one goal—to get to the Galapagos. Though an incredible destination, the Galapagos Islands represent only a fraction of the country’s incredible contrasts, from snowy peaks to rain drenched Amazon to sun-kissed coast. Adding a stop in Cotopaxi to your Ecuador itinerary will begin to give you an appreciation for the country’s many assets.
Lindsay Mackenzie is a freelance tour guide and photographer who has travelled to 50 countries all over the world. If you're planning a South American adventure, check out our trip planning website so we can point you in the right direction. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates.