Mudflows dominate ragged valleys. Lava flows tumble visibly down the slopes. Snow shimmers all around the summit. Cotopaxi is the world’s highest snow-capped volcano, soaring almost 6000 metres above Ecuador’s plains.
This volcano has erupted more than 50 times in the last 300 years. It’s often closed to the public, due to all the eruptions. When it’s open you can hike on this volcano and there are various trails to try.
Reaching the summit requires mountaineering skills but you can hike up to the snowline and a landscape inhabited by condors. Just to set foot on the lower slopes, beneath the shimmering summit, is a magnificent moment.
