The Pasochoa Summit Trek is often named as one of the best day hikes in Ecuador. We left from Cotopaxi Secret Garden at 8 am and spent five or six hours hiking roundtrip. At the summit we reached 4,220 meters or about 13,800 feet. Since it’s a longer hike with significant elevation, it’s recommended to do a shorter hike, like Cotopaxi base camp or even horseback riding at Cotopaxi on your first day. It’s easier to acclimate this way. Overall, I felt fine throughout. Stay hydrated and bring Advil just in case. There were a few people on our hike that decided to turn back about an hour into our ascent because they weren’t feeling well.

Beginning from Secret Garden Cotopaxi

We met in the garage at 8 am to swap our sneakers and hiking boots for rain boots and collect our snacks. The night before was very wet. Our guide Danny suggested we wear the rain boots for the full hike rather than just the beginning bit. After the waterfall hiking in rain boots to the waterfall the day before, I was confident the boots would be comfortable enough to make the five hour journey.

When everyone was ready, we headed just behind the Secret Garden Cotopaxi and started walking. This was a welcome surprise. I’d expected us to drive there. Being able to walk out the door and start walking was so much better. First, we passed a mix of fields and forests followed by a relatively mild ascent through wet and muddy land. Sometimes the mud got to be about knee deep. Besides the mud and the altitude, the hike was easy. After an initial steep portion, the ground beneath me plateaued and we picked up pace for a while. We stopped regularly to take photos, reassess our layers and snack. 

The Pasochoa summit

For the majority of the time we had good weather and moderate temperatures. People were laughing and getting to know each other. But of course, just as we reached the 99% mark, the clouds began to roll in and the sky darkened. We picked up pace and reached the summit just moments before it began to rain. Unable to see more than a few feet beyond ourselves, we sipped some tea, congratulated each other on our achievement, snapped a group phone and started our descent. Of course, it would have been great if we got to see the view from the top, but that’s hiking in rainy season.

The muddy descent

This is where things got fun! The rain started to come down more quickly and everything was wet and slippery. We scrambled down the steep hill, slipping, sliding and sometimes falling in the mud. More often than not much deeper and more comically than anticipated. In good spirits, we all laughed at the hilarious situation we found ourselves in. After the first steep part, we entered a beautiful forest before eventually reaching another similarly muddy, grassy wetland. Honestly, after this point, the whole hike became a blur. I wouldn’t say it was easy, but it got easier and easier as we got more and more comfortable slip and sliding. After a certain landmark, we were invited to go at our own pace and eventually we’d arrive back at Secret Garden Cotopaxi. In desperate need of warm showers and a cup of tea, we eventually made it, safe and sound.

Cost: Included in your stay at Secret Garden Cotopaxi

Read more about Secret Garden Cotopaxi and our awesome hobbit home.