Here are a few shots of our trip to Cotopaxi National Park today. We had hoped for a summer day with clear views of the volcano, but unfortunately didn’t get it. The winds were gusty at the refuge, with sleet and rain coming and going every 5 minutes.
 
However, the drive up was spectacular and it was not too cold down on the paramo (mountain grasslands). We took the route going through the town of Machachi to head for the North entrance, instead of the usual way in from the Panamerican Highway. It’s a 20 km drive on cobblestone roads to the North entrance, and from there at least another 30 minutes to the first climber’s refuge at 4,000 m.