Nathan's Insights

Monday 09 December 2024
Highlights: Cotopaxi National Park, Hiking around Laguna De Limpiopungo, spotting a condor

On Day 4 of our G Adventure Ecuador tour we had to adjust our itinerary bringing forward our days in Baños due to protests near Tena. This also meant our visit to Cotopaxi National Park was brought forward.

We left Papallacta around 8 am for the 2-hour drive to the Cotopaxi National Park. We picked up a local guide who proved to be very insightful, fun and energetic as she showed us a marvel of Ecuador that she was very proud of.

As we got into the Cotopaxi National Park we got our first good view of the Cotopaxi volcano. At a height of 5,911 metres, it is among the world’s highest volcanoes in the world. Cotopaxi volcano is snow-capped and is still active with the last eruption in 2015. Minor earthquakes occur each month.

We drove to the Laguna de Limpiopungo or Limpiopungo Lagoon from where we would undertake a leisurely 3 km hike at an altitude reaching almost 3,900 metres.

This was a lovely hike as our guide pointed out different plants and their uses and various animals including a condor and a lizard. 

We also got some great views of the Cotopaxi volcano as the weather played nice and clouds moved away at times to provide a magnificent sight. 

At the end of our 1.5 hour hike, we gave thanks for providing us with such nice weather and great views.

We had lunch inside the National Park before heading for Baños which took over 2 hours. Baños is a small town surrounded by tall mountains. We have a waterfall just outside our hotel.

After a briefing on activities for tomorrow, Angeles took us on an orientation walk of the town and we got some dinner. A day full of soul-lifting beautiful sights.