Hiking Day-Trip to Quilotoa Lagoon from Quito
Overview
Quilotoa loop tour offers a full-day hiking adventure around Quilotoa Lagoon, along with visits to Saquisilí, Zumbahua, and Tigua Villages. This journey includes driving through stunning mountain villages on the Avenue of the Volcanoes.
- 🏞️ Hike in the breathtaking areas surrounding Quilotoa Lagoon.
- 👥 Engage with the local community and farmers for enriching cultural experiences.
- 🌄 Visit picturesque villages such as Saquisilí, Zumbahua, and Tigua.
- 🚐 Travel through unforgettable mountain landscapes on this scenic route.
- 🗺️ Join a group of fellow travelers to share in the beauty of the Andean landscape.
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The experience offers several options. This price includes:
Thursday & Sundays departures are open and you will join a group (12 travellers max). Tour price will be less.
When giving as a gift, your recipient can choose a date at their convenience during a booking process. Otherwise, you can choose one after checkout and voucher redemption.
- Bilingual Guide
- Guided Hike in Quilotoa Lagoon and visit to a local market (market place depends on day of the week)
- Transportation from Quito to Quilotoa and back (hotels within the urban perimeter ONLY)
- Lunch
- Laguna Quilotoa
- Gratuities
- Breakfast or other meals aside form Lunch
- Items/ activities not mentioned on the itinerary
Meeting point
Return details
- Early in the morning, the trip starts by driving 89 km south from Quito through the Panamericana Hwy. aka “The Avenue of the Volcanoes”. The first stop will be Latacunga City at Cotopaxi Province. From this point, head west for a 1-hour drive through the unforgettable Andean scenery towards the village of Quilotoa. Visit a local town and get in contact with the Andean culture (either Saquisilí or Pujilí). Get the chance to mix with the rich Andean culture of the local community that inhabits the surrounding area by visiting either Saquisil, Pujili or Zimbahua Indian markets (depends on the day). (pass by)
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Laguna QuilotoaThe lovely town of Zimbahua comes right before we start hiking down towards the turquoise colored Quilotoa Lagoon. Trek around this natural wonder of water holding strong minerals, formed by the collapsed volcanic caldera. From the rim hike down towards the banks of the lagoon and then climb back up. Have lunch at a local restaurant and then stop at the small town Tigua famous for the Tigua art. In the late afternoon, head back to Quito. The weather in the area of the Quilotoa Lagoon is unpredictable so please bring warm and waterproof clothing. Quilotoa is located at 3,800 masl and the temperatures usually hovers around the 12°so we recommend acclimatizing at least one day prior to this trip. Please don’t make this excursion you first right after arriving Ecuador. The hike is easy and you need no climbing expertise, however, we do recommend to climb back up from the lagoon on a mule or horse (cost not included in the price of the tour). Swimming in the lagoon is not recommended.