Cotopaxi, Ecuador

Cotopaxi

Trip Guide & 3D Map

Andes · Difficulty, season, and access — then explore the 3D terrain

Planning snapshot

Cotopaxi is a 19,347 ft summit in the Andes (Ecuador). PeakAtlas rates it snow / glacier (Glacier climb); best season is Dec–Apr. Permit required. Typical staging is Latacunga (20 mi). PeakAtlas lists 3 OpenStreetMap lodging pins near the summit — coverage is often thinner outside well-mapped regions. Use the 3D map and trip checklist before you go.

Elevation
19,347 ft
Prominence
7,884 ft
Difficulty tier
Snow / glacier
Best season
Dec–Apr
Permits
Permit required
Staging
Latacunga · 20 mi
Mapped lodging
3 OSM places
Listed trails
2

As of 2026-07-31 · Figures come from the PeakAtlas3D catalog: surveyed elevations and prominence, curated difficulty tiers, best-season windows, permit notes, staging-town distances, trail lists, and OpenStreetMap lodging near each summit. Not live weather, quotas, or prices.

How hard is Cotopaxi, and what do you need before you go?

Cotopaxi is listed as Glacier climb with a best season of Dec–Apr. Use the difficulty, permit, and staging details below before you commit to a date.

Difficulty
Glacier climb
Best season
Dec–Apr
Access / staging
Latacunga, Cotopaxi

How tall is Cotopaxi, and where is it?

Elevation
19,347 ft
Prominence
7,884 ft
Mountain range
Andes
Difficulty
Glacier climb

What makes Cotopaxi notable?

One of the world’s highest active volcanoes, Ecuador’s icon.

One of the world’s highest active volcanoes, a near-perfect Ecuadorian cone and classic high-Andes climb.

After you check trip readiness for Cotopaxi, explore the summit on PeakAtlas3D’s interactive 3D topographic map in the Andes, Cotopaxi, Ecuador.

Closest places

  • Latacunga — Cotopaxi via E35
  • Mulaló — Provincia de Cotopaxi
  • Boliche — Ecuador

Notable trails & routes

  • Normal Route
  • José Ribas Refuge