tours and activities

Option A - Cotopaxi National Park
Tour starts and ends at Hosteria San Mateo - Cotopaxi - Ecuador

We will drive to the Cotopaxi National Park at the bottom of the great Cotopaxi Volcano. (5 min. from the Hosteria San Mateo)

We will walk in the national park to discover the flora and fauna of the area with a good chance of seeing the Andean Condor. And climb the Volcano to the second Refuge - Jose Rivas Refuge (save house).

 

Duration of tour:

• 2hrs or less ( travel by car )
• 2hrs - 4 hrs ( travel by car and walking)
• 4hrs - 6hrs ( walking most of the way - add $20 to prices below)

We will bring with us "lunch boxes", so we can eat there.
(not included in price)

Note: We don't take people to the top of the Cotopaxi.
For that you need special equipment and profesional guides.

** important note:
to go up to the refuge, you need to be in good physical shape.
The altitud will be around 4800meters = 15,747.84 ft.
Consult with your doctor if you are not sure.

 

Option B - Indian Market

Tuesdays:
Latacunga food market

Wednesdays:
Pujili food market & pottery

Thursdays:
Saquisili food, animal, handcraft

Saturdays:
Zumbahua Indian market.
See Quilotoa Tour

Sundays:
Machachi food market,
Pujili food market & pottery

Many communities around the area have many markets where natives can buy food for themselves or for their animals.
They exchange or buy different types of animals or handcrafts for their own use or to resell.

These markets are not the typical tourist destination, were the locals have changed their "native ways" to accommodate tourists needs. This is the real thing.

So pay attention to all the native grains that are for sale, all the fruits and vegetables.

 

Option C - Quilotoa Lagoon
Tour starts and ends at Hosteria San Mateo

Before arriving to the Quilotoa Lagoon, we will pass through the indiginous tribe called "Tigua", which is famous for their skilled painters.

They do multicoloured paintings on sheep skin. Also, on the trip look at the scenery and way natives live.

Pay attention to the houses, made of mud and paramo found materials. And to the huge clives caused by earthquakes.

Quilotoa Lagoon ( Any day)
The Quilotoa is a volcanic crater with an "Salty" green lake. This is an active volcano which is 2km in diameter. It takes about 30-45 minutes to go down the lake.... but you have two ways to climb up... one way is walking for an 1 - 1:30 (depending your health), or you can rent a donkey, and let the donkey do the work.

If this trip is on day were we can stop at an indian market.

Tour - "Farm" San Mateo
(make your reservation in advance)

The "Hosteria San Mateo" is inside the "San Mateo Farm".

Let us shear with you the great experience of the life of a typical Ecuadorian farm very near from the magnificent Cotopaxi Volcano.

TOUR INCLUDS:

• Visit to the horses, where you can feed them carrots and brown sugar loaf
• Then, we will visit our earthworm breeding.
  - This is what help us to have organic “compost”. We will be able to see the clasification and preparaton of the earthworms.
  - The “compost” is all the organic leftover left by the Hosteria and the farm.
  - We are in charge of process it and transform it to an excelent organic fertilizer to use later on our land to help our vegetable garden.
• Then, we will go to the vegetable garden where you will be able to observe how to plant and harvest the vegetable. And maybe prepare them to go to the market for sale.
• Then, we will stop to see the milking of the cows.
• & with the milk colected, we will stop by to feed the calves.
• After all that running around, we will invite you to rest at ours farm house living room. Where you will get a little snack like a “humita”(maíze & cheese) with coffee or hot chocolate.

Bilingual Guide (español/english)
Tour length: 1hr a 1:30hr

Prices:

$5 / adultos
$3 / children

Tour doesn't include:
Beer, Soda, or Wather.
Ecuatorian Taxes: 12% del IVA y 10% de Servicio

Recomendations:

- Ecuador is a country with different type of weather. So, please bring a warm cloths and boots.
- Also, on the trails you will see many trash cans, pelase put your trust there

Tour - Rent a Horse
( make reservation in advance )

Horses
Enjoy de nature inside and around the Hosteria (Bed & Breakfast) & the Hacienda (The Farm) - "San Mateo"

Make reservation with time