The Secret Garden Cotopaxi

After 6 months of backpacking, I can surely say this is my favorite hostel. Stunning property with an amazing view. Cozy atmosphere, extremely clean, and great staff. Many different excursions and the staff will help you plan your activities upon arrival. Food was excellent, breakfast, lunch, snack, & dinner/dessert served every day. Hiking guides were fun and friendly. We did the 3N/4D and wish we would have stayed longer! Will definitely be back.

The Secret Garden is an amazing paradise in Cotopaxi Ecuador. It is beautifully laid out so all spaces have the advantage of the most spectacular views of the Cotopaxi volcano and a number of others surrounding the area. The are all kinds of spots to just relax and take in the peace surrounding the place. The meals are really delicious and well prepared and unlimited home made banana bread whenever you desire it. Everyone working here is very attentive to the guests and everything is kept spotlessly clean. There are a number of wonderful and challenging hikes in the area with the most spectacular views. This is a place not to be missed and I wish we could stay a few days!

Incredible experience! You thinking of maybe doing it, maybe not, just do it! Worth it. Okay not so aggressive now this was such a nice experience and we would do it again. We came from Quito and stayed for 2 nights in the birdhouse. If you stay for more than one night your transportation from Quito there is free if not a $5 fee per person (cash only for the driver). You make a quick stop at a gas station for an ATM or restroom. Once you arrive you have lunch and get a mini tour of the place. Our favorite part was feeding the lamas. The views were totally worth it all alone. There are plenty of areas to relax. Food restrictions, no worries they will accommodate to Gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, etc. Leaving on your last day will be at 3pm if you take the suggested transport (paid by cash only) this is separate cost from your paid accommodations. They do accept card (with 3%) for paying for your accommodations. Also there are some included hikes for free but the major big hikes are added cost. Only complaint is the showers are almost "camping style" it was very cold but it did not help we showered at night. Advise take a shower in the day.

Loved the Secret Garden Cotopaxi so much! Stayed in a hobbit home which was super cozy. The views here are unreal, seeing Cotopaxi during sunset is incredible. The staff and volunteers were 10/10. The food was so so good - every meal had a vegetarian option. They fed us so much food we were never hungry. The Llamas are a special touch. This place felt like camp for adults.

My friend and I had an amazing time staying at Secret Garden Cotopaxi! The views were absolutely stunning and the property was so serene. We stayed in one of the mixed dorms and the space was incredibly comfortable and with a private bath. There were comfortable spaces to lounge and mingle all across the property as well that offered scenic views. The food was delicious and the family style meals made it easy to mingle and connect with other guests. We had a great experience and would recommend this hostel for anyone looking to explore Cotopaxi!

5 stars for the property and experiences, 1 star for the sleep. Everything here was incredible, but they let the dogs roam around. This would be fine as they are friendly… however, at night the barking is non stop. Took hours off my sleep time. For activities, I had an amazing time with the Pasachoa trek (#1!!!) and the horseback riding. The Cotopaxi trek to base camp and cycling down was still worthwhile, but if you only have time for 2 activities I’d definitely miss that one. We stayed in the birdhouse and I would strongly recommend those rooms as well. Regardless of this, I’d still recommend doing it because they provide such a great experience. One more feedback - I think it would be worth while to refresh the games. I know this is an added benefit, but most are so worn out where they are unuseable. This would be a very worthwhile ~$100 investment. Thanks for the amazing stay!

Absolutely worth the drive and the stay. Highly recommend to get the Hobbit House and stay 3 nights. We did 2 and I wish I had more time. The food was great and way more and better than I expected. The scenery is incredible and serene. One waterfall hike is included. We also did the Cotopaxi hike which the staff said was the “easiest” but I think they meant it’s just the shortest because it is HARD with the elevation gain. I wish I would’ve done the Pasochia hike which was free. Still absolutely loved my experience.

**A Hidden Gem with a View to Remember!** This hostel is a truly beautiful place in the middle of nearly nowhere — and that’s exactly what makes it so magical. Surrounded by stunning nature, the views are absolutely breathtaking. Every detail in the rooms and common areas shows how much love and dedication went into creating this space. You can really feel it. The food is delicious — huge thanks to everyone in the kitchen! They offer everything: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free… something for every diet. And it's always super clean — big shout-out to the amazing cleaning team! The two managers, along with all the helpers and guides, are incredibly friendly, helpful, and just all-around wonderful people. Thank you all for making our stay so special 🫶 **PS:** This hostel has *the* most stunning toilet view — directly overlooking Cotopaxi! 😁 (Check the first photo!) **Bonus points**: Loads of hammocks to relax in, a peaceful yoga room, and even a whirlpool. Highly recommended — we’ll definitely be back!