I knew I was not fit enough to make the climb to the summit of Cotopaxi, so I decided to take the popular daytrip of hiking from the refuge to the beginning of the glacier line. But my tour guides had a different hike in mind.

I booked my tour through Hotel Cotopaxi, which was affiliated with my hotel, Hotel Central. It was $30 for the ride to Cotopaxi, guided tour, and lunch on the volcano. They asked me if I would be interested in trying a different hike that they claimed was more beautiful than the hike to the glacier. Knowing nothing about the park and with only a weak grasp of Spanish, I agreed to whatever they said.

The altitude was about 4,000m, and at most, we climbed 300 more meters. I was so out of breath throughout the hike that I can't imagine how the hike up to the glacier would have been. As promised, this route was gorgeous, all valleys and paramo. The views of the peak were stunning.

We picnicked near a valley with a clear view of the Cotopaxi peak. It was a really lovely day, pleasant and clear. We weren't high enough for it to get too cold, so I should have left my sweaters at home. I had brought more warm clothing than water, and I definitely regretted it.

A hike in the Cotopaxi park should be part of anyone's Ecuador itinerary. The photos I saw from people who climbed the summit were stunning, and I definitely wish I were able to do that. Hotel Cotopaxi should have multiple options. It would have been interesting to climb to the glacier line, but my alternate hike was really beautiful as well.

Paramo (Andean grasslands)

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