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The roads are a bit pitted and cratered as we head south around the outskirts of Quito and onto the Pan-American Highway. We have a brief stop to overlook the city, but then plough on to Cotopaxi National Park. Cotopaxi being the highest, officially active, volcano in the world. On arrival we go straight to the Tambopaxi Refuge for lunch, but not before a few stops to see Cotopaxi peeping out from the clouds.
At the refuge the cloud clears a bit more and the summit is revealed. The summit is at 5897m, but doesn't look very high. Possibly because we are stood at about 4000m.
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Over lunch we take a team photo.
Val, Gerardo (driver), Mery (Guide), Andrew
We spend the rest of the day travelling around the park - first a walk around a lake, hoping to see a condor flying about, but only a few little birds were in evidence. Whilst walking about I took a few pictures of the flora at 12500ft.
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Further along we were able to see fissures and lava routes which are evident throughout the park.
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We spent as long as possible here before moving on to the evening accommodation at the Hacienda de Cienga. An original traditional Hacienda with a totally authentic touch. Coal fires, oil heaters (no central heating) in the rooms, creaking floors, iffy plumbing etc...
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