Cotopaxi - A Place Like No Other

After some city life in Quito, I was heading to Cotopaxi National Park, home to the famous Cotopaxi volcano. The hostel there is supposed to be the best in the world - and yes, it is definitely up there. What made the hostel so amazing? The views, feeding llamas, unlimited supply of fresh-baked banana bread, hammocks, cute dogs, no internet, jacuzzi, ponchos, etc.

Upon arriving, I quickly made a group of friends, and after lunch, we headed out for a stroll to a nearby waterfall. In the evening, we played cards and just sat around sharing stories.

For our second day, we climbed up Pasochoa, a little hill, but still at an elevation of >4600m. While not a difficult hike, the altitude makes this a bit challenging. The views got better the higher we walked with more snow-capped volcanoes appearing in the background. The trip was around 5h return and once we got back, we enjoyed the incredible view of Cotopaxi, ate banana bread, fed llamas and soaked up the sun.

On Day 3, four of us decided to go horseback riding. It started with riding the horses at a walking pace, getting to know the animal, enjoying the surroundings and stopping for some light snacks. Then the fun began. We crossed a little creek and in front of us unfolded the huge plains of the Andes. That meant one thing, the key thing why we decided to go horseback riding: Galloping.

So, we lined up the horses and then were off to the races. A feeling of true freedom overcame us speeding over the wide plains, feeling the wind in our faces and leaving all worries behind. And to top it off, when we slowed down, we passed a herd of 40-50 wild horses, grazing happily, looking at us 'strangers' and simply living their free lives. What an activity that was! Wow. It was simply incredible.

On the last day, it was time for a little physical challenge as we decided to climb up Cotopaxi up to where the glacier starts above >5000m. Since we started at 4700m already, it wasn't overly difficult, but still with a great feeling of accomplishment when we arrived up there. And again, the views were just fantastic. That wasn't all, though. We opted to bike down Cotopaxi volcano. I constantly had to use the brakes, but it was such great fun and a perfect way to end my time in the Cotopaxi National Park.

Places like Cotopaxi and the Secret Garden Hostel are the reason why I travel. They exude good vibes, a great sense of adventure, invite amazing people to explore together and are full of energy. It is certainly a place I want to return to one day, as to summit Cotopaxi would definitely be something I want to do.Read more