B3b:   2Days / 1Night


Day 1    We drive to the turn-off from the Pan-American highway to Cotopaxi National park, where we start our biking experience by ascending up to  the Laguna Limpiopungo at 3800m on a moderately steep gravel road passing the main park gate. That ride takes some 3-4 hours and we take a lunch break at the paramo lake. From there we continue on towards the El Salitre, the pre-Columbian site located in the park and farther on amongst an old Lahare field, strewn with big rocks and other volcanic debris. After a couple hours we turn around and head towards Rio Pita where we spend in the night in a tent camp.


Day 2   Early in the morning we take you up by jeep to the parking area at the Jose Rivas refuge hut at 4600m. First we hike up to the refuge at 4800m to enjoy the great views and to visit the glacier. Then we hike back and  you begin then your rapid biking descent on a steep and winding sandy road towards the flat high plateau of 3800m. You head out of the Park, passing the Northern Park gate towards Machachi, first on a dirt track and then on a cobbled road. After 3 hours you reach the swimming pools at Guitig where we relax assuming the pools to be open. After the break we head back to Quito where we arrive after another 2 hours drive.