Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi is a volcano in Ecuador, rising to 5,896 m, the 2nd highest in Ecuador, part of the Andes.
Where it is
Cotopaxi lies in Ecuador.
Key facts
How it ranks
Nearest peaks
| Peak | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Cotopaxi | 5,315 m | 1.4 km |
| Rumiñahui | 4,721 m | 12 km |
| Cerro Quilindaña | 4,625 m | 17 km |
| Cerro Sincholagua | 4,899 m | 17 km |
| Cerro Sincholagua | 4,779 m | 18 km |
| Pasochoa | 4,200 m | 28 km |
Nearest cities
The closest places in our city dataset to Cotopaxi.
| City | Country | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machachi | Ecuador | 25,742 | 24 km |
| Latacunga | Ecuador | 205,624 | 35 km |
| Pujilí | Ecuador | 16,168 | 42 km |
| Quito | Ecuador | 2,781,641 | 51 km |
| Ambato | Ecuador | 387,309 | 66 km |
About this mountain
In the Andes of Ecuador, this volcano rises to 5,896 m and ranks second in elevation within the country. Its topographic prominence of 2,404 m—the height above the lowest saddle connecting it to higher ground—reflects its dominance over surrounding peaks. The nearest higher ground lies 97 km away. The first recorded ascent was in 1872.
Written from the figures on this page by an AI model, then checked against them automatically. No sources beyond the data shown here were used.
Tallest in the country
| # | Peak | Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chimborazo | 6,267 m |
| 2 | Cotopaxi | 5,896 m |
| 3 | Cayambe | 5,790 m |
| 4 | Antisana | 5,753 m |
| 5 | Altar | 5,319 m |
| 6 | Cotopaxi | 5,315 m |
| 7 | Cerro Altar | 5,273 m |
| 8 | Iliniza | 5,248 m |
| 9 | Sangay | 5,230 m |
| 10 | Lliniza Sur | 5,084 m |
Common questions
- How tall is Cotopaxi?
- Cotopaxi rises to 5,896 m. Surveyed elevation, GeoNames.
- Where is Cotopaxi?
- Cotopaxi is in Ecuador.
- Where does Cotopaxi rank?
- It is the 2nd highest of the 39 peaks we list in Ecuador, and #317 worldwide.
- When was Cotopaxi first climbed?
- The first recorded ascent was in 1872.
- What is the nearest city to Cotopaxi?
- Machachi, Ecuador, about 24 km away.
Explore
Elevation and coordinates from GeoNames; prominence, isolation, range and first-ascent data from Wikidata. GeoNames publishes no date for elevation figures, so none is shown.