When it comes to memorable travel experiences in Latin America, climbing the nearly perfect conical shaped Cotopaxi Volcano really stands out. Around 60km from Quito, the volcano is centre-piece of Cotopaxi National Park, a paradise for adventure and nature lovers, and also the highest active volcano in the world.
It is a beautiful volcano and the sort you imagine when thinking volcanoes. But also a high one and a pretty tough one to climb! Although not technical, crampons and ice axes are required and from the refuge, which is used as a base camp, it takes around 6 hours of solid climbing to reach the summit at 5,987 metres.
Cotopaxi was also once worshiped by Ecuador’s ancient civilizations and the summit was considered to be where God resided. As the sun rose all around me, and having climbed for several hours with my path illuminated by a full moon, I felt the mountain gods had been truly kind and left me breathless (literallly!).
