Chilling in Cotopaxi

From Secret Garden hostel in Quito they run a bus to their hostel in Cotopaxi - it sounded very conviensnt so that's what I decided to do with my last week before volunteering.

The ride takes about 2 hours - half on the cobbled road to Cotopaxi and the bumpy drive to the hostel.

The hostel was a collection of red painted buildings which reminded some of my travelmates of Sweden, especially with the mountains to the back.

The hostel was very cosy with wood fired stoves in the dorms and even a jacuzzi! Although it wasn't cheap at $35 + tax (why they can't include the tax in the prices I'll never know!), it included all food. We got a decent breakfast, free tea and coffee all day, lunch, cake, 5 o'clock snack and dinner including dessert. So with all that you had to do some hikes!

When we arrived we got lunch and chilled out to digest before heading on the free hike to the nearby waterfall. Whilst this was a gentle hike to get used to the altitude (3,500m) it was still 'interesting'. We wore wellies and were glad to - the hike took us through mud and we had to wade the river at the end!

After stuffing ourselves silly and indulging in some box wine (that being the only warming option to drink) we needed to do some exercise the next day. So Alanah, Dora and I decided to climb to the Cotopaxi glacier. Sumitting Cotopaxi wasn't an option - too expensive, exhausting and it required ice climbing! So we settled for hiking to the glacier.

We got a glimpse of the top of Cotopaxi on the jeep ride over - but it was mainly cloudy.

Glimpse of Cotopaxi from the Secret Garden.

More views from the garden - you can see it all on a clear day!

View from the national park gate - it's up there somewhere!

Better views from the jeep on the way up to start the hike.

Secret Garden was at 3,500m, we drove to 4,500m to start the hike and half way (at the refuge) we were at 4,864m. The glacier starts (or ends depending on your point of view!) at 5,000m, so this felt like a proper high altitude trek!

I was really proud to make it to that altitude without dizziness and nausea after having those when up a 14,000 ft mountain outside of Denver last August. I still had shortness of breath when walking up - but any exercise at this altitude produces this!

We made it to the glacier and got our photos before running back down! Yes I said running - the path was almost sandy so running down was like running down a dune or in fresh snow - it gives way making you look a little like a moon walker! This was way better on my knees than walking back down.

We then headed back to the hostel for lunch and a well deserved dip in the jacuzzi to warm up!

Selfie with gammy eye in jacuzzi - pretty sweet though!

After staying 2 nights we moved on to see Quilotoa lake...