The driver will pick you up at the hotel in the morning. The National Park is an hour’s drive from Quito. On cloudless days you can admire the mountain from afar. After a short stop at the Mariscal Sucre information point, where you get some explanation about the region and the volcano, we continue to an altitude of 4500 m. From here we go to the refuge, which is 365 meters higher. It is a very steep walk that takes us at least an hour given the high altitude. Then we descend to the Limpiopungo lake at the foot of the volcano. This lake is fed by a volcano glacier; you often see wild horses grazing here and Andean foxes hunt. Then we return to the hotel by car.
Difficulty: light-moderate.
Bring along: protection against the sun and rain, water, sporty footwear, camera and warm clothes.