What to do in Cotopaxi

One of the tallest active volcanoes in the world, Cotopaxi watches over the Avenue of Volcanoes like a cloud-grazing guardian. The national park surrounding it is a maze of trails, which can be explored on foot, bike or horseback with a genuine Ecuadorian cowboy. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for wild vicunas, Andean condors in flight and, if you're really lucky, puma. You could even make the trek partway (or all the way) to the summit of Cotopaxi, no mean feat considering its height at 5,897 metres above sea level. For something completely different, visit one of the park's glacial waterfalls or thermal pools for a dip, or take a boat ride on the Turquoise Quilotoa Crater Lake.