Ecuador Road Trip | Cotopaxi

On day 10 of my 25 day road trip we drove to National Park Cotopaxi. Unfortunately as we began the hike to the refuge from 14000 ft. to 15000 ft and then on to the glacier, I had my first problem with altitude since arriving in Ecuador. My head began to pound and I started having tunnel vision, so we came back down. I’ll have to try and tackle that one again the next time I’m in Ecuador!

As close as I got to the glacier at Cotopaxi

I’m glad my guide David suggested we start back down as soon as I started feeling bad – I’m not sure I could have made it much longer.

My guide, David

Coca Tea – great for altitude sickness, but didn’t work this time.

A wolf hanging out along the side of the road as we drove through Cotopaxi National Park

I spent that night in another beautiful historic location – Hacienda La Cienega. The main building is over 300 years old, but kept immaculately clean. The staff here were awesome – I’ve never been waited on so much. One waiter in particular was very concerned that I was traveling alone. We had a long conversation with my broken Spanish and his broken English, but he never did understand why I was there alone.

Beautiful fresh roses were such a common site in Ecuador!

There was a beautiful chapel in the courtyard. The grounds were kept as immaculate as the buildings.

View from my room