If there is a flower that characterizes to this region it is the chuquiragua or flower of the "andinista". This plant grows at more than 3,400 m.a.s.l. Another well-known plant is the alchemila that grows in small remainders of forests on the western south part of the Rumiñahui.

Inside the park, one may find up to four bio-regions, with their respective flora. Between the 3,400 and 4,000 meters the forests of the mountain grow. Trees like Pumamaqui (Oreopanax), Quishar or "the tree of God", Mortiño (the floribundum of Vaccinium) and the Romerillo (the laricifolium of Hypericum).

The plains are covered with native grass. In the areas over 4,400 m.a.s., the vegetation is formed by líquenes and moss.

In what concerns to the fauna, deer, llamas, rabbits and other species inhabit in Cotopaxi. Among the birds -besides the condors- quilicos, Andean gulls, quindes and curiquinques can be watched. A singular case, is that of the hummingbird of hot blood called "Star of the Andes" that has the capacity to vary its corporal temperature, in a range that fluctuates between the 40º and the 15º centigrade.