1/16/2020 Today we left for Cotopaxi National Park at 7:30am. We arrived at the park around 9:30 and our guide, Maria, told us a bit about the national park. A portion of the park is private property which is denoted by the pine trees that are present. The national park was created in 1975 and occupies 330,000 hectares. Tourists can hike, climb, horseback ride, camp, and bike. When climbing Cotopaxi, they begin at night when glaciers are less slippery due to the heat of the day. Cotopaxi is the most dangerous volcano with a big eruption expected in the next 5-10 years which could cause major destruction. Cotopaxi national park is different from Cajas because it doesn’t contain as much water and therefore holds different species, amounts, and varieties. Wild horses and cattle can be found that were left by those that once occupied the area. Limpiopungo Lake was formed by a glacier coming down from Cotopaxi. After we left Cotopaxi, we headed back to Quito for lunch. We then flew from Quito to Guayaquil and several hours later boarded our flight to home. This trip has been incredible, and I cannot begin to process and comprehend all the information I’ve learned, wildlife I’ve seen, and culture that I’ve had the honor of experiencing.