Chasing the Perfect Shot of Cotopaxi

​Yesterday, we went hiking in Cotopaxi National Park, one of Ecuador’s most stunning natural reserves and home to Cotopaxi Volcano, one of the world’s highest active volcanoes. The volcano has erupted multiple times throughout history, most recently in 2023, but we were told it’s closely monitored and safe to visit. 

The park stretches across the Andean páramo, a unique high-altitude ecosystem with rolling grasslands, glacial rivers, and two lagoons. Cotopaxi dominates the landscape at 5,897 meters with its almost perfectly symmetrical, snow-capped cone. It’s supposed to be an incredible sight—on clear days—when the white peak stands out sharply against the deep blue sky. And that was the challenge…

I spent the entire hike waiting, moving, and hoping for a clear view of the volcano. But with shifting clouds and incoming rain, it stayed hidden. Ironically, I only managed to get a shot of the full volcano once we were back at our hacienda. 

San Augustín de Callo, Provincia de Cotopaxi, Ecuador