Mountain Biking in Cotopaxi and Chimborazo

We leave Quito early in the morning. After a one and a half hour drive on the Pan-American Highway we reach the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through pine forest and soon reach the Visitors’ center of the park. We visit the Center before continuing the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle. We soon reach the highest point of the tour, 4.500 meters/15.000 feet. The view from this point is stunning as on a clear day we are able to see 8 volcanoes. Afterward we put on helmets, gloves, and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 kilometers will take us down 700 meters on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo landscape. At 3.800 meters you actually have to do some pedaling heading down another 8 kilometers 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 meters where we start the 16 kilometers downhill through pine forest biking on dirt roads. After two extra kilometers on a beautiful single track, the bike adventure is over for this time. We trade mountain bikes for our support vehicle and travel down south along the “Avenue of the Volcanoes” to our night's retreat. Overnight in a mountain refuge in Urbina. (L)