Four Days Biking Adventure in Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Mount Chimborazo and Banos Rio Verde

At 07:00 AM we leave Quito and drive south for 1,5 hours on the Pan-American highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We go through the pine forest and soon arrive at the Visitors Center of the park. After visiting the Center, we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.500 meters/15.000 feet. The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day, we are able to see 8 volcanoes. We then put on helmets, gloves, and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 km will take us down 700 m. on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 m. you actually have to do some pedaling while we head down another 8 km between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by an Inca ruin at 3.700 m. With some luck, we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the jeep and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 m. where we start the last part of the trip among Andean scenery. Soon the bike adventure is over for this time. We then ascend by jeep in a northwest direction into the western Cordillera arriving at Quilotoa to spend the night. The night's retreat is a simple mountain chalet.