Cotopaxi International Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended…

Cotopaxi airport, about 4 km from the centre of Latacunga, suspended regular scheduled flights in 2017: today it's used mainly by military aviation, cargo and private or charter flights, the latter often linked to groups of climbers setting off for Cotopaxi or the area's other volcanoes. For those arriving on a private or charter flight anyway, the choice is between staying in the historic centre of Latacunga, a few minutes from the runway, or heading towards Lasso, closer to Cotopaxi national park.

Historic centre of Latacunga

City centre · About 4 km from the airport, 10 minutes by car or taxi.

Best for: Travelers arriving or departing on a private flight who want to stay minutes from the runway, with the widest choice of restaurants and services in the province.

Pros

The largest concentration of hotels, restaurants and services in Cotopaxi province
A convenient starting point for Quilotoa and the Ilinizas too, not just for Cotopaxi

Cons

From the centre to Cotopaxi national park it's still about an hour's drive
Outside the season the town empties out early in the evening, with little nightlife

Recommended hotels in this area

Hostal Café Tiana: A restored historic building in Latacunga's pedestrian centre, with a shared kitchen and free luggage storage for those heading off to Cotopaxi or Quilotoa; a full breakfast is included in the price.
Hotel Rodelu: Three-star hotel in the centre of Latacunga with an in-house restaurant (La Casa de Juan) and a terrace with views of Cotopaxi on clear days; paid airport shuttle.
Hostal Sendero de Volcanes: A budget hostel about 1.25 km from the centre of Latacunga, designed for climbers and hikers setting off for Cotopaxi and the Ilinizas; terrace, garden and gear storage.

See more hotels in this area →

Lasso and the haciendas at the foot of Cotopaxi

Nearby town · About 20 km from Latacunga airport, 25-30 minutes by car along the Panamericana; the entrance to Cotopaxi park is then another 30-40 minutes away.

Best for: Travelers who want to sleep closer to Cotopaxi national park, in a historic hacienda rather than in town.

Pros

Cuts down the journey to the park compared with starting from the centre of Latacunga
A seventeenth-century hacienda with rooms and gardens that are a worthwhile stop in their own right

Cons

Very few services nearby beyond the hacienda itself: dinner means staying put
Without your own car, the transfer requires a taxi arranged in advance

Recommended hotels in this area

Hacienda La Cienega: A seventeenth-century hacienda at the foot of Cotopaxi, a hotel since 1982: Alexander von Humboldt stayed here too in 1802; welcome cocktail, rooms with period furnishings and some with a fireplace.

See more hotels in this area →