A natural jewel of our country Ecuador, the Holy Grail of the expeditionist, tourist temple and faithful guardian of Quito, capital of Ecuador that looks and contemplates at it with its light from the sky or on the dim, shining, illuminated on its skirts as much as possible. It is a snow giant with a soul on fire almost ready to come out… What an exuberant place and how much beauty it radiates at the sight of the beholder. Our chest swells in his presence. At 80 km away from the south of our capital Quito, with its 5,800 meters of altitude, it looks splendid on the way to visit it, whether in sunny days, summer time or clear days as we would say in Quito. What breathtaking landscapes accompany us, what unparalleled beauty is our Cotopaxi. We love it… A safe tourist destination, an obligatory step to practice mountaineering. Its shape and almost perfect cone distinguishes and ennobles it. Always ready to be admired. Definitely, an exuberance of nature. How to explain its presence in the torrid zone, the hottest zone on the planet, and yet, we have snow… Quito and its surroundings, the whole of Ecuador, is a paradise full of contrasts. Great Andean landscapes, extensive mountainous pastures that together sow and feed Quito. Its haciendas, inns, whereabouts receive the visitor and its best window and view, its best moment of admiration, will always be the snow-capped Cotopaxi.
We arrive at the Cotopaxi nature reserve and the sentry box that protects the entrance and keeps a rigorous control to see His Majesty in his temple of biodiversity, allows his staff to qualify our entry and the adventure begins. We are going to give ourselves the opportunity to ride a bike (we take our bike) and enjoy the place… what experiences await us!
It would seem we are on another planet. Its environment, the Andes chain surrounds Cotopaxi and we almost seem like a point in the middle of such greatness. We raise our hands to feel that we are alive.
To cycle, to see all together, all at the same time receiving a pure and cold air that hurts us with joy and breathe, breathe as much as we can to smile, dream until we think that we are in heaven … It is mandatory to go through its interpretation , that without a look or a word, is only responsible for letting us know where we are and understand its existence. What madness. We will arrive in just minutes at the first 4,100 meters and then the ascent, to walk desperately but calmly wanting to climb, reach the snow, look towards the volcano and its crater or look down, how much we have climbed. It would seem we are on another planet.
Its environment, the Andes chain surrounds Cotopaxi and we almost seem like a point in the middle of such greatness. We raise our hands to feel that we are alive. The best word to describe the volcano is still, exuberance, greatness of nature and I wonder: what are we?, what do we do in this house that does not belong to us and we are almost an intruder?… let us lower our heads before so much nobility and think for the good of its existence. We already feel its presence, we are already face to face and we see a kind mirror in the distance, it is called Limpiopungo lagoon and remains firm in water receiving the diversity of the environment… birds and plants surrounding and using it.
Whether or not you have the preparation to make the ascent, perhaps we identify ourselves with the majority, because we will not miss the opportunity, the moment, the desire to feel the volcano and touch it, see it in its immensity that welcomes us with snow, lots of snow. It would seem that even the pandemic had suit the volcano well. We see him recovered, haughty, surprising, dramatic, all the sensations come to our mind. How lucky to have him with us, so close to the city and such a change of places in a short time. That’s Ecuador… Peace and absolute silence surrounds us, pampers us, hugs us until we play and put us on his snow-laden lap. Its horizon and its view from the front or from the side or back will rejoice the spectacle offered by the arms of the Andes, which represent guardians between plains and snowy peaks, protecting and covering His Majesty, the Cotopaxi. We are breathless. Thanks Cotopaxi, thanks snowy pick, thanks volcano for being there for everyone.
Undoubtedly, the thousands of protected hectares and that you feel it at sight, fill your soul and you will want to go and be there and see it again and again and feel its strength and the respect that it imposes. Thank you Cotopaxi, thank you for dignifying us with your presence. We love you.
The people of Quito
Quito City Tour & Travel / Patricia Rivas
