Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019.

Todays plan:

“Quito – Isinlivi & Cotopaxi National Park walk

Depart at 08:00 hrs from Blue House, Quito to Cotopaxi National Park, then further to Hostal Llullullama, Isinlivi

Today you will be privately transferred to Isinlivi, making a stop along the way at the Cotopaxi National Park, where you will walk through the paramo to admire the majestic Cotopaxi Volcano.”

Today at 08:00 am I am leaving Quito. Accomodation can only get better. I get my last Blue House breakfast, good luck I have cereals.

At 7:55 am my driver is there with a minibus. No other people on the bus, very little English. I put my luggage in the trunk and we start to go.

Weather is super blue, better than yesterday. Always lucky with the weather. The roads are good. Outside of Quito I have to switch car, because the vehicle needs an inspection. In my opinion it needs a mercy bullet, nothing more.

Better car. On the way we see Cotopaxi and other volcanoes on the horizon.

We arrive at Cotopaxi National Park, pick up my guide (he speaks english) and drive to the National Park interpretation center. I do a pre picture on top of Cotopaxi.

The tracks are described clearly. What to wear, too.

Then I walk up with the guide the biological explanation path. View of the Cotopaxi is fantastic.

Even if its soft uphill, I feel less oxygen.

Then we drive to Laguna limpiopungo at the foot of the Cotopaxi. There are wild horses, we get out of the car and walk an hour around the lake.

Then I walk up to the refugee, turn left and go to the glaciers foot.

It is quite high, running drives my lungs crazy.

I go to the refugee and have a hot chocolate with the guide. Then we go down again.

I get in the car, we drive to the interpretation center. I get Quinoa soup.

Then we drop the guide at the entrance of the national park and drive to isivlini.

We stop at Llullu Llama. I hand my big luggage over to the driver and keep only a daypack for two days hiking on the Cilotoa loop.

My bungalow is amazing. I go for dinner.

I get red llama craft beer.

After dinner I light up a fire in my room. It is freezing cold outside at 3.500 masl.

All is super eco. The toilet has a wooden toilet flush.

Accommodation: Llullu Llama Lodge