Quilotoa Loop
3-day hike vs day trip to the crater lake
The Quilotoa crater lake is one of the highlights of Ecuador. A gorgeous deep blue lagoon in the heart of an active volcano, right in the midst of the Andes. This astonishing landmark can be visited without a guide by either a 2 to 3-day hike, known as the Quilotoa Loop or as a day trip from the main cities of the country. Here are all the details you need to know to properly visit the Quilotoa Crater Lake.
South America is a hot destination at the moment and the Quilotoa Crater is a firm favourite among the best things to do in Ecuador. The main reasons are that Quilotoa is accessible, cheap and purely breathtaking.
Imagine rolling mountains and dry valleys overlooked by a few of the highest active volcanoes on earth. In the middle, a 3-km wide crater filled with deep blue water which, on sunny days, reflects the light and the surrounding craggy cliffs.
Well for once, this is not just one of these places you can only reach by joining a tour, trekking for days with camping gear and dried food or even spending a fortune to have the chance to admire the view for only a few minutes… Nope! You can visit the Quilotoa Crater Lake in a day, for $5. Maybe 2-days if you want to spend more time there.
Oh, hey hang on there… if you really want to, you can also hike the loop for less than $70 per person for 3 days… Are you not convinced yet? Keep reading, we’ll share with you our best tips and photos whether you are looking into hiking the Quilotoa Loop or prefer visiting for a day.
QUILOTOA CRATER LAKE:
DAY TRIP VS QUILOTOA LOOP HIKE
Planning a trip to Ecuador? Read our dedicated backpacking guides to prepare for your trip
- Isla de la Plata Ecuador – bird and whale watching tour
- 5 budget-friendly day trips from Quito
- Baños de Agua Santa – 4 amazing things to do on a budget
- Cotopaxi National Park: Hiking to the Volcano Refuge Without A Tour
- Ecuador beaches: 5 amazing towns along the coast
The Quilotoa Crater Lake | Ecuador
The Quilotoa Crater is found in Ecuador, 180 km south of the capital city Quito. It is one of the many volcanos that is dotted along the northern part of the Andean chain, such as Cotopaxi volcano. The region is in fact, highly renowned for its high altitude and its volcanic activity.
The Quilotoa is an active volcano that last erupted in the late 13th-century during which, the top of the volcano collapsed creating a 3-km wide caldera.
What to do at the Quilotoa Laguna?
- Admire the landscape: That’s not a surprise, but it worth mentioning it. From the rim of the crater, the view over the lake, the surrounding mountains and valley are breathtaking. If you do not feel like walking around, take a seat at the wooden terraces near the car park, and take in what you see. It’s not an everyday landscape.
- Hike down into the crater: You can take a 30-min stroll inside of the crater to get closer to the lake, but be aware that it is very steep and the way back up may take a good hour (or more). If you are not enthusiastic about this workout at 3,900 m above sea level, we understand and so do the villagers. This is why, once at the bottom, you can rent a donkey to ride up the caldera – about $10 for 45 minutes ride. But in fairness, if you take your time, you can do it. So why not take the challenge and give the donkey a well-deserved rest?
- Rent a kayak: once at the bottom of the caldera, you can rent a kayak and go exploring the lake on your own. Last we checked it was $3.
- Hike all the way around the crater rim: This is a nice walk that constantly goes up and down and takes you all around the crater. You are sure to not miss a single angle of its beauty. We wouldn’t recommend doing it if the wind is strong as it can get a bit dodgy.
- Camp inside the crater: the ultimate experience is to actually camp right on the side of the lake, in the campsite called “Columpio de Playas De Quilotoa”. If you are lucky and the sky is free of clouds, there are no doubts you will have a magical night filled with shining stars.
Note: you do not have to pay $2 to enter the crater anymore. The access is free wherever you arrive from.
Hiking the Quilotoa Loop without a guide
Quilotoa is also known for its beautiful 2 to 3-day hike called the Quilotoa Loop or Quilotoa Traverse. With its affordable cost and impressive landscapes, this off-the-beaten-path adventure is a favourite when it comes to budget backpacking and lover of nature or outdoor sports.
If you are looking to experience the Ecuadorian countryside with its remote farms, lost in the midst of rolling mountains, you are in the right place. The Quilotoa loop links small quiet villages where the time seems to have slowed down and where it feels good to lay back and relax after a good walk. It is a gorgeous hike where you will cross rivers, traverse valleys, hike up steep cliffs and come across small Quechua communities living and working in these highlands.
The Quilotoa loop is however not for the fainted heart. Whether you choose to keep the Crater Lake as your final reward or use it as the starting point, meaning hiking steadily up or going mostly down, you need to acknowledge the fact hiking at altitude can be difficult. The trek isn’t technically complicated which is why it can be easily done without a guide. Yet, expect to be challenged at times and remember to always keep your focus on your breathing and balance. You will also need to drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep hydrated and avoid headaches due to the shortage of oxygen and intense sun.
NEXT: Cotopaxi volcano without a tour
Where do you start the Quilotoa loop from?
You will more than likely start your day in Latacunga where you can either take a bus to Isinlivi/Sigchos or the Quilotoa Crater. If you choose the first option, the hike will mostly go up. This will leave the gorgeous mirroring waters of the crater until your last day as a reward for your efforts. You can also choose to complete the hike in 2 or 3 days depending on where you start and end.
By starting in Sigchos, you will need to hike 4 to 5 hours on a well-marked trail to Isinlivi where you will spend your first night, then to Chugchilan the next day before reaching the crater on day 3. If you start in Isinlivi, you save a day of hiking. We would, however, recommend getting into town early in order to enjoy your stay longer at one of the best hostels in South America: the Llullu Llama (see below).
The reverse route (from the crater to Isinlivi or Sigchos) is easier but you won’t have a lot of time to spend at the crater if you need to hike 6 hours to Chugchilan. Some prefer staying in Quilotoa village or near it before starting the hike
the next day.
How to get to the start of the trek?
From Latacunga it is very easy to get to either Sigchos/Isinlivi or the Crater rim. For this, you will have to take a local bus from the main bus terminal in Quito in the morning. If you prefer to transit directly from Quito (like us), you will need to catch the first bus of the day from the Terminal
If you are travelling north to south or south to north, it is better to travel to Latacunga, spend the night there (leave your bags in your hostel’s luggage storage) and hop on a bus to the start of the trail the next morning.
GREAT READ: Visiting Isla de la Plata and whale watching
Is the trail well indicated?
Most of the signs are made by the hostels along the trek (good advertising) but can disappear with bad weather or be obsolete from a day to another (in case of an issue with the trail such as landslides). Sometimes different signs from different hostels direct trekkers in opposite directions… (!) But a lot of efforts have been made in the last few months to improve the signalisation along the trail. You will probably get lost a couple of times but that’s part of the Quilotoa Loop experience.
Just make sure to have an offline map on your phone and enough battery to use the GPS – we recommend Maps.me which was really useful for us. Hostels also provide detailed itineraries but that might sometimes be out of date. Team up with the other hikers, it may be just as fun to look for the trail together…
HOW MUCH DOES A SELF-GUIDED HIKE OF THE QUILOTOA LOOP COST?
Hiking the Quilotoa Loop isn’t that expensive. All the hostels offer breakfast and dinner in their rates which make the organisation of the hike easier. You will only need to carry supplies to make sandwiches for lunch and your favourite snacks. You can buy all you need near the bus station at the huge commercial centre “Supermercados Santamaria”, on the Carretera Panamerica. If you prefer not to carry snacks, there are small shops in the villages with very limited supplies. These will be more expensive, but the money will help the community.
Cost of a 3-day hike (per person) – From Quito, returning to Latacunga
TRANSPORT
Quito city centre to Quitumbe bus terminal: $0.50 – 30 minutes
Bus: Quito to Latacunga: $2.30 – 2 hours
Bus: Latacunga to Sigchos: $2.30 – 2 hours
Bus: Quilotoa to Latacunga: $2 – 2 hours
ACCOMMODATION
1st night – private room at Llullu Llama: $20 pp – 3-course meal and full breakfast included
2nd night – private room at Cloud Forest: $15 pp – dinner and breakfast included
3rd night – private room at Sendero de Volcanes Latacunga.- $8.50 pp
FOOD & EXTRAS
Groceries in Latacunga: $10.75 for 2
Beer – $10.50 for 2
Water – $2.50 for 2
Snacks (chips & fruit): $3 for 2
Lunch in Quilotoa (menu del dia): $5 each
TOTAL COST FOR 2: $132
TOTAL COST PER PERSON, PER DAY: $22
Can you DO the loop without hiking?
Yes, you can! But unless you have a car, it might take a bit of time to hop from one village to another as you will depend on buses, milk trucks and local villagers. Our recommendation is to try to hitch-hike and not only depend on local transportation. The villages on this route are Saquisili, Panchaloma, Sigchos, Isinlivi, Chugchilan, Quilotoa, Zumbahua and Pujili.
Take a Quilotoa Crater Day Trip
If you don’t have enough time or don’t feel like hiking 3 days at high altitudes, that is fair enough. The good thing about the Quilotoa Crater Lake is that you can visit on a day trip from either Latacunga, Baños or Quito. For once, the beauties of this planet are not only reserved for the hikers and the long-term travellers like Torres del Paine in Chile or the Maragua Crater in Bolivia! The second good news is that you do not need a guide and can easily get there on your own.
From Quito/Latacunga
Take an early bus from the terminal Terrestre Quitumbe to Latacunga ($2 – 2 hours) and change there to Quilotoa. You will pay at the bus terminal of Latacunga ($3) for local transport to Zumbahua and a jeep ride until Quilotoa (2 hours). The entire journey should take 4 to 5 hours depending on how long you have to wait in Latacunga for the next bus. To come back, there will be a direct bus from Quilotoa to Latacunga where you can change to get back to Quito.
As a day trip, Quito-Quilotoa-Quito means a lot of time spent on transportation. It is absolutely possible, however, we would recommend spending the night in Quilotoa or Latacunga in order to have more time on-site to enjoy the Quilotoa Crater Lake. If you come from the Cotopaxi National Park, go to the main highway and flag bus heading to Latacunga and follow the above itinerary.
From Baños
You can take a bus heading to Quito and ask to be dropped in Latacunga. Note this bus doesn’t enter in the city and that you will be left on the side of the highway (stop known as “La Lateral“) and will need to catch a taxi to get to Latacunga bus terminal.
You can also choose to go to Ambato by bus and change to Latacunga. The issue is that you will also need to take a taxi in Ambato because the place you are dropped off isn’t the same spot as the one the bus to Latacunga leaves from.
In both cases, coming from Baños is tricky because of the multiple changes. It is the same situation if you were to do the reverse route, from Latacunga to Baños. If we had to pick one, we would go to “La Lateral” as the buses are more frequent than to or from Ambato. For day trips from Baños, visitors usually prefer to hire a private driver or take a day tour.
Getting to Quilotoa by car
If you are not fond of buses and multiple changes, you can rent a car and visit the Quilotoa Crater for a day. It may be a bit less budget-friendly but it will save you a lot of time and you will also be able to visit places that you cannot reach by bus.
There is a free car park in Quilotoa village, less than 300 m away from the crater rim. It is the best way for people in a rush, travellers with young children or anyone with difficulties to walk.
Likewise, it is an excellent choice if you are a group as you can split the cost by 4 or 5. Worldwide rental car companies have stores in Ambato, Riobamba and Quito but you can also find local agencies in smaller towns.
Where to stay near the Quilotoa Crater?
Here is a list of different places where you can stay in the region of the Quilotoa Crater. This should help you prepare for the hike but also if you decide to visit the crater for a day with an overnight nearby.
Latacunga
Hostel Sendero de Volcanes: this is where we stayed after our hike. The hostel is quiet, clean with a kitchen and a rooftop bar. They also have a travel agency and organise trips to Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños. The price was very affordable: $17 for a double room with a shared bathroom or $10 for a dorm. Not sure if the breakfast was included as we had to leave very early in the morning to hike the Cotopaxi volcano on our own.
We liked the fact it was lively and that most people were getting prepared for the different hikes in the area. A great thing if you are looking for travel buddies. =>>> Also on booking.com.
Hotel
Where to stay along the Quilotoa Loop?
Isinlivi
Eco-lodge Llullu Llama: This hostel is a must-go-to. Even if you don’t want to hike the Quilotoa Loop, take a bus and spend the night there! Llullu Llama is a Mountain Lodge loved by hikers that have now become one of the most important parts of the Quilotoa Loop experience. Entirely made of wood, the lodge offers rooms for all types of wallets. From single beds in dorms to private doubles, cabanas and luxury cottages.
The terrace overlooks a gorgeous valley and the sunset is one of the best we have seen in Ecuador. At night, the 3-course dinner is served on familial tables contributing to the incredible atmosphere of the hostel, creating exchange and experience sharing.
The hostel also has a spa (steam room and jacuzzi) available for $10 but was offered to us for free during our stay to apologise for construction work (we had not noticed). It is worth the extra money. =>>> Here is a link to check Llullu Llama’s availabilities and rates.
Chugchilian
Cloud Forest: On our second night, we chose to stay at the Cloud Forest just because it had multiple hammocks that looked very appealing to us after a long morning hike! The cloud forest is a huge wooden house offering a lot of rooms to hikers. For only $15 per person, we thought it was a very affordable place to stay for a private double-ensuite room, considering dinner and breakfast were included in the price.
The Cloud Forest is right on the side of the trail of the Quilotoa Loop and therefore cannot be missed. It has large terraces and yes, a lot of hammocks. We didn’t leave them for
Quilotoa
For similar offers, you can also look at the Hostel El Vaquero and the Hostal Taita Cristobal.
For those preferring to stay in Quilotoa for a night, either after the Quilotoa Loop hike or as part of a day trip, you should have a look at the Hostal Chukirawa which includes dinner and breakfast in their fees. =>>> Click here for more details.
Essential Information before hiking the Quilotoa Loop
- Find Travel buddies on Facebook groups: Backpacking Ecuador – South America Backpacking / Traveling – Backpacking South America
- Leave all your belongings that you won’t need at your hostel in Latacunga, Quito or Baños. Only take a small bag with what you need to hike, no need to carry heavy stuff at 3,500 m! You can pick up food and water along the way, but it would be a good idea to have something with you. Most hostels will store your stuff while you are away. It is usually free and safe. Just make sure the luggage storage is correctly locked.
- From Sigchos to Quilotoa, the trek takes you from 2,600 masl to 3,900 masl. This is high altitude. If you are not used to staying this high, it is recommended to acclimatise for a few days before. It is important to stay hydrated and to go back down if you get sick. For more information follow this link and talk with your doctor prior to your travel.
- Weather can change drastically at this altitude and temperatures can drop really low. Make sure to bring clothes for all weather that don’t weight a lot or take up too much space.
- Be careful on the rim at the Quilotoa Crater if it is windy. The trail is very narrow in parts and the cliffs are very steep. When the wind blows strongly, sit down onto your feet rapidly and wait for it to calm. Do not put a cover on your bag. In strong winds, it can act as a parachute which is highly dangerous.
- We would also recommend using hiking poles when you hike in altitude. On top of keeping your ankles and knees from injuries, it helps with the balance and saves a lot of energy. In a low oxygen environment, saving effort is key.
- Bring also good hiking shoes to avoid hurting yourself on loose rocks and think about convertible hiking pants. The weather can change quickly and you will be able to change from pants to shorts in no time!
- Be aware of farm dogs. Like anywhere else in the world, farm dogs protect their land and will show aggressiveness if you get to close to their territory. A strange thing that works extremely well, is to fake (or not) grabbing something on the floor. In dog language, this means danger and it will run away. A good practice is to always keep stones in your pocket in case dogs approach you too much. If you use the fake grabbing technique you will be just fine anyway.
- There are no ATMs along the Quilotoa Loop and hostels will more than likely not take credit cards. Make sure to bring enough cash with you. Ecuador uses the US Dollar as the national currency.
- Accommodations have access to the internet and provide free wifi. This was not always the case. But let’s make a pact and use the Quilotoa Loop as an excuse to disconnect from the world for a few days!
ARE YOU ON PINTEREST?
What about saving this post to your Pinterest board?
Click on the photo to save this blog post for later. We are also on the platform and we love pinning great travel tips. Follow Tales From The Lens’ boards to see our latest pins.
Don’t be shy, come say hi!
Please note │ This blog post may also include affiliate links to hostels or products we recommend, which means if you buy something following a link on this page, we’ll get a small commission. This will be of no extra cost to you but will help us continue running this blog. Thank you for your support.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jen – Owner, writer & photographer – has lived for the past 10 years across Oceania and Ireland while also travelling long-term in Latin America, North America and Europe. She has visited more than 60 countries and set foot on every continent in the world!
>> Favourite countries: New Zealand, Bolivia, Iceland.
>> Wishlist: Svalbard, Japan, Botswana, Alaska.
>> Philosophy: “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.
Jen is a coffee nerd, passionate about photography, wildlife and outdoor activities. Her organisation and curiosity make her a great travel companion always looking for DIY and off-the-grid adventures. For more info, check out the About page.
If you’ve found this travel guide useful and want to say Thank You, you can now buy me a virtual coffee!
I love this post. So many details and very useful for our coming trip. We will do the Loop and can’t be more thankful for the itinerary, tips and places to stay recommendations. Thanks
Marie
Cheers Marie! Hope you enjoy your hike. It is one of the best!
I guess I’ll go with hiking because it’s much fun and needs you to be an athletic kind of.
Just wanted to say that I found your blog wonderful to read. I’m planning a trip to Ecuador and this just made me even more excited. Again love the blog.
Hi Jenny, my wife, two boys (4 and 9), and I are wanting to spend some time in Quilotoa area hiking some of the sections. We want the boys to experience the people and the culture of the area but small legs couldn’t do the whole 3 day hike, what sections of the trail were the most interesting? Quilotoa to Chugchilan to Isinlivi to sigchos?
Hey Jerome, so sorry for the delay upon my response; I seem to have completely missed this comment. Apologies.
From my experience, each section had its difficulties, but the first part is definitely the easiest for young children.
From Isinlivi towards the crater, the trail can be quite narrow with unprotected verge and sharp drop and there are also several rivers crossings which are no more than falling trees. The 3rd section is the hardest one and might be a bit too much for young kids. So I would say it may be best to start in Sigchos and walk to Isinlivi. You’ll get to stay the night in one of the best accommodations in South America (Llullu llama) and find easy transportation out the next morning to Quilotoa lake or Latacunga.
I hope this helps, and please, let me know how it goes and if the kids enjoy the trip 🙂 All the best and stay safe!
Cheers Colin. Hope your trip went well!