Quito to Baños & Cotopaxi: 3-Day Andes Crater & Volcano Tour

Three Days in the Ecuadorian Andes: From Crater Lake to Active Volcano

You get three days moving through Ecuador's high country with a naturalist guide who photographs and explains what you're seeing. The itinerary covers a crater lake you can hike into, a waterfall route with a gondola crossing, a swing over a gorge, and trails around an active volcano: all with accommodation, meals, park fees, and transport included from your Quito hotel. No arranging permits, no figuring out which market operates which day, no negotiating transport between stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Quito to Baños via Quilotoa

• Depart Quito early morning
• Stop at indigenous market
• Visit Tigua village painters
• Stop at Toachi canyons
• Arrive at Quilotoa Crater Lake
• Hike crater edge or down to lake
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Try traditional ice-creams
• Travel to Baños

Day 2: Baños Full Day

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit waterfalls route
• Ride gondola over Pastaza River
• View Manto de la novia waterfall
• Hike to Pailon Del Diablo waterfall
• Return to Baños for lunch
• Swing at the end of the world
• Visit Baños town
• Free afternoon to explore

Day 3: Baños to Quito via Cotopaxi

• Depart Baños to Salasacas town
• Visit Salasacas textile shops
• Travel to Cotopaxi Volcano National Park
• Admire volcano and natural environment
• Hike around Limpiopungo Lake
• Lunch near Cotopaxi
• Return to Quito

The experience

You start in Quito at dawn, and by mid-morning you're standing at the edge of Quilotoa Crater Lake, staring down at water so green it doesn't look real. The contrast hits you right away: the city's noise and traffic fade, and suddenly you're in high-altitude silence with a naturalist guide who knows which plants the locals use and why the crater filled with that particular shade. On the drive up, you stop at a weekly indigenous market (Pujilí or Zumbahua, depending on the day) where vendors spread out produce and textiles, and then at Tigua village where painters work on goatskin with Andean landscapes. The hike down to the crater lake is steep (demanding enough that mules are available for the return), but you can also walk just the rim if that suits you better. Lunch is at a locally owned restaurant near the lake, and then you drive toward Baños, stopping for traditional ice cream made in the region.

Day two is all waterfalls and one unforgettable swing. You take a gondola across the Pastaza River to get close to Manto de la Novia, a waterfall that hangs like a veil, and then hike a forest path for about 45 minutes to reach Pailon Del Diablo, Devil's Cauldron, where the water thunders into a canyon. After lunch back in Baños, you head to the Swing at the End of the World, which is exactly what it sounds like: a swing suspended over a gorge with nothing but air and the valley below. The rest of the afternoon is yours to walk around town, grab coffee, or sit with the view.

The third day takes you back toward Quito but not before Cotopaxi. You stop at Salasacas to see indigenous textile workshops, then enter Cotopaxi National Park where the volcano (5,897 meters high and still active) rises in front of you if the weather cooperates. Your naturalist guide walks you around Limpiopungo Lake at the volcano's base, pointing out the flora and fauna, and you hike the trails at that altitude. Lunch is in the park, and then it's the drive back to Quito, arriving in the afternoon.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Quito area, two nights accommodation in Baños, breakfast both mornings, lunch each day, light refreshments, bottled water, all activity fees, entry to Cotopaxi National Park, and a naturalist guide who also photographs the landscape and wildlife you encounter.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by GREEN ADVENTURES

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want the main Andes highlights (crater lake, waterfalls, volcano) in one trip without arranging your own transport, park permits, or timing between stops. The naturalist guide handles the logistics and the explanations, which is what makes three very different landscapes fit into three days.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

How high is Cotopaxi Volcano?

5,897 meters (19,347 feet). It's considered the highest active volcano in the world.

Is the hike to Quilotoa Crater Lake difficult?

The hike down to the lake is demanding. Mules are available for hire on the return climb (cost not included in the tour price).

What's included in the accommodation?

Two nights at La Floresta Hotel in Baños or a similar property, with breakfast both mornings.

How long is the hike to Pailon Del Diablo waterfall?

About 45 minutes along a forest path.

What if I want vegetarian meals?

Vegetarian options are available. Advise the operator at the time of booking and mention any other dietary requirements.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, though the hikes at Quilotoa and Cotopaxi involve uneven terrain. Discuss your specific needs when booking.

Do I need a passport for this tour?

Yes. Passport information is required to print permits for Cotopaxi National Park.

What should I bring for the weather?

The tour operates in both warm and cold conditions. Dress in layers. You'll be at high altitude where temperatures drop, especially in the mornings and evenings.