Andes Ecuador · climb
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Reviewed by Blake Penson, Expedition Advisor. Two decades in the mountains, the Seven Summits, two Everest expeditions.
Last reviewed 9 October 2026
Ordered by each guide's verified reviews on Cotopaxi: the star rating, adjusted so one or two reviews, or only old ones, count for less than many recent ones. Ties go to the guide with more reviews on Cotopaxi. ERTI reflects a company's trustworthiness, reputation and ratings across the industry, and more. Out of 5, built from reviews we verify and many other factors. Not a rating for this place. Prices not updated in over a year are marked. These are starting prices, not quotes.
ERTI 3.93 overall
Based in Ecuador
★ 5.0 · 2 reviews on Cotopaxi · Last review: Feb 2026
Price: No recent price listed
ERTI 4.62 overall
Based in United States
★ 5.0 · 1 review on Cotopaxi · Last review: Jul 2024
Price: No recent price listed
ERTI 4.90 overall
Based in United States
★ 5.0 · 1 review on Cotopaxi · Last review: Oct 2022
Price: From $4,995 USD · guide-listed price for this location · last updated Dec 2025
| # | Operator | Stars here | Reviews | Latest review | From price | Safety | Value | Food | Team spirit | Camps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Summit Stoke | 5.0★ | 2 | February 2026 | – | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 2 | Ian Taylor Trekking | 5.0★ | 1 | July 2024 | – | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 3 | Climbing The Seven Summits | 5.0★ | 1 | October 2022 | From $4,995 USD · updated December 2025 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Pro guides who run trips here but have no reviews for Cotopaxi yet.
ERTI 4.93 overall
Based in United States
ERTI 4.82 overall
Based in New Zealand
First ascent in 1872 by Wilhelm Reiss and Angel Escobar. At 5,897m, one of the world's highest active volcanoes. Located near Quito, making it Ecuador's most popular high-altitude climb. Minor eruptions in 2015 temporarily closed the mountain.
Normal Route/North Face (1-2 days): Standard glacier climb, technically straightforward. South Face: Alternative approach. Acclimatization at José Ribas Refuge (4,800m). Typically summit bid starts around midnight.
Weather: Due to its location near the equator, the weather at the base of Cotopaxi is fairly consistent year-round, with average daily temperatures around 13 ºC (55 ºF). Temperatures drop to well-below freezing as you ascend the volcano. The climbing season is also the driest time of year., Best Time to Visit: June to August, December to January, Average Expedition Length 2 days
US Dollar (USD) is Ecuador's official currency. ATMs widely available in Quito and Latacunga. National park entrance fee required. Budget $200-400 for guided climb.
Official: Spanish. Regional: Kichwa (Ecuadorian Quechua) in indigenous communities. English spoken by guides in Quito. Basic Spanish very helpful.
Summit Stoke
Cotopaxi · Rated 5/5 · Reviewed
Enjoyed a very well-organised and seriously extraordinary multi week beginner expedition in June 2025. The guides were so knowledgable, fun, friendly and very professional. Communication with the team from start to finish was so good too, I felt very supported ever since my…
By Katja A.
Summit Stoke
Cotopaxi · Rated 5/5 · Reviewed
I had such a great experience on a beginner’s trip with Summit Stoke! I came with almost no prior experience, and the local guide was absolutely amazing. I felt safe throughout all the climbs and learned so much (!!). The program was also really well put together, with a great…
By Rose
Ian Taylor Trekking
Cotopaxi · Rated 5/5 · Reviewed
I recently summited Cotopaxi with ITT. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The hotels we stayed in were superb, particularly Cotopaxipungo. My guide was highly experienced and a great climbing companion. He made a huge difference in keeping me ready and motivated for each…
By Colin N.
Climbing The Seven Summits
Cotopaxi · Rated 5/5 · Reviewed
Caroline at CTSS was able to coordinate a last minute expedition in Ecuador. This contained both a glacier course, which I needed for an upcoming expedition, as well as a summit of Cotopaxi and nearby mountains. My guide was Edgar, one of the most talented and genuine guides I…
By James K.
Rating: the average star rating of the guide's verified reviews for Cotopaxi, with the number of reviews. Order: by those reviews: the star rating, adjusted so one or two reviews, or only old ones, count for less than many recent ones; ties go to the guide with more reviews on Cotopaxi. Unclaimed: the company has not claimed its ExpedReview profile. Every review is checked by our team before it's published, and guides cannot pay for a better rating.
Technical essentials picked for glaciated mountaineering. Recommended by our expert team.
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The ranking is built from verified client reviews for Cotopaxi, and recent reviews count more.
The ERTI badge beside each name is a company-wide score out of 5, built from reviews we verify and many other factors. It is not a rating for this route.
Last updated 12 February 2026 (newest review or price update for this route).
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As of 16 October 2026, 3 operators have 4 verified client reviews for Cotopaxi on ExpedReview.
Summit Stoke is ranked first, with 5.0★ from 2 reviews (latest February 2026). The ranking is built from verified client reviews for Cotopaxi, and recent reviews count more.
1 operator shows a "from" price: $4,995 USD (Climbing The Seven Summits, updated December 2025). These are starting prices supplied by the operators, not quotes; check the current price with the operator.
Every review is checked by hand by our team before it's published. Critical reviews stay up, and paying ExpedReview never changes the ranking.
The latest verified review for Cotopaxi is from February 2026. 2 of 4 reviews were published in the last 24 months.