A great moor with volcanic views, natural habitat of condors, deer and other animals conform the Cotopaxi National Park, founded in 1979. It is a tempting route for chancy "andinistas" that don't hesitate challenging the weather and the height in their desire of reaching the peak of the Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world.
Waters coming from gelid glaciers sculpted the bases of an old volcano to form the cone of the powerful Cotopaxi that was considered by the native quechuas as a place during to be revered during centuries.

History tells that in 1534, in the middle of a combat with the Spaniards, the Cotopaxi (Cone of Moon in Spanish), erupted and caused terror among the spaniards, while the natives began to worship the furious volcano.
Since the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, the Cotopaxi has erupted many times. The biggest tragedy happened in 1877, when the glaciers that came of the volcano, erased of the map the city of Latacunga.

The first one to climb the Cotopaxi, following the oriental route of the mountain, was the German Wilhelm Reiss in 1872. The most used route is the north one and it was the one used a decade later by the British Edward Whymper. However, the routes are constantly varying according to the fall of snow.

Next to the National park of Cotopaxi (with an extension of 33,393 has), there is a beautiful pine forest that is part of the National Area of Recreation El Boliche. The coniferous were sowed by Lucio Andrade Marn in 1928, to test if these trees could adapt to the ecosystems of height.

The pines constitute the main forest trees of this recreation area and they occupy 50 percent of it. Some years ago, they were affected by a mushroom that coloured brown their trunks and branches, at the same time that it harmed the other species.

The main attractions of this park whose temperature average at day time is 7 centigrade and during the nights descends below 0 degrees, are:

The Cotopaxi volcano:whose summit becomes a challenge for the andinistas. When arriving at the mountain refuge Jos Ribas (4,800 m.a.s.l.) -located in the nor-oriental side- you can admire the Valley of Limpiopungo and its volcanic panorama showing the rakes of ancient eruptions. To ascend to the peak, you must use adequate equipment and be accompanied by a guide.

The Rumiahui volcano:
reaches about 4,757 m of altitude and is located next to the Cotopaxi and the Sincholagua Volcanoes. Occasionally, it is possible to watch condors in their rocks.

The Lagoon of Limpiopungo:Excellent point to take pictures, surrounded by the Cotopaxi, Sincholagua and Rumiahui. In this area, there are deers, rabbits, llamas and other mammals species.

Lagoon of Santo Domingo:supplied by a spring and adorned with vestiges of stone walls of the Inca days. Mirador and planicie of Sunfana: At the base of the mirador, the visitor will be able to admire the green pine forests on a vast plain.

Pita River:sport fishing of trouts with adequate authorization of INEFAN is allowed. It is an 8 m wide river, but it is rather shallow.

In the same area there are pre-Columbian ruins of platforms and stone enclosures Apparently built by old worshipers of the snowy volcano.