5-Day Ecuador Tour: Quito to Cuenca with Cotopaxi & Quilotoa

Walk Quilotoa's crater rim and ride the Swing at the End of the World in one journey

A 5-day guided tour from Quito to Cuenca (or vice versa) covering Ecuador's highest peaks, crater lakes and colonial cities. You stay four nights in arranged accommodation, travel by private vehicle with an English or Spanish-speaking guide, and visit Cotopaxi National Park, Quilotoa Lagoon, Baños, Chimborazo, Ingapirca ruins and El Cajas National Park. The route is fixed, but you choose whether to start in Quito or Cuenca, and on the 5-day option you add either Mindo's butterfly farms and bird watching or Gualaceo's textile and jewelry workshops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Quito to Latacunga via Cotopaxi and Quilotoa

• Pick up from Quito hotel early morning
• Visit Cotopaxi National Park and Limpiopungo Lake
• Travel to Quilotoa Lake and walk to lake bottom
• Return from Quilotoa by walking or horse
• Visit Toachi Canyon near Sumbahua
• Travel to Latacunga and overnight

Day 2: Latacunga to Riobamba via Baños

• Visit Yambo Lagoon viewpoint
• Travel to Baños and explore Av. De las Cascadas
• Visit Pailon del Diablo waterfall
• Lunch in Baños
• Ride cable car over Pastaza River
• Experience Swing at the End of the World
• Travel to Riobamba and overnight

Day 3: Riobamba to Cuenca via Chimborazo and Ingapirca

• Travel to Chimborazo Faunistic Reserve
• Walk to Chimborazo second refuge (optional)
• Box lunch at Chimborazo
• Visit La Balbanera church
• Visit Ingapirca archaeological complex
• Travel to Cuenca and overnight

Day 4: Cajas National Park and Cuenca city tour

• Visit and walk trails in Cajas National Park
• Lunch near Cajas National Park
• Return to Cuenca city
• Half day Cuenca city tour including historic center
• Visit Tomebamba riverbank and Turi viewpoint
• Optional visit to Panama Hat Factory
• Overnight in Cuenca

Day 5: Optional Mindo or Gualaceo and Chordeleg visit

• OPTION 1: Visit Mindo butterfly farm, bird watching, chocolate tour
• OPTION 1: Visit Middle of the World
• OPTION 1: Travel to Machachi and overnight
• OPTION 2: Visit Gualaceo and Chordeleg workshops
• OPTION 2: Lunch and Piedra de Agua SPA time
• OPTION 2: Overnight in Cuenca

The experience

Five days is enough to see the spine of Ecuador without rushing. The tour picks you up at 6:30am on day one and heads straight to Cotopaxi National Park, where you walk around Limpiopungo Lake with views of one of the world's highest active volcanoes, weather permitting. From there you descend to Quilotoa Lagoon, a crater lake many consider Ecuador's most beautiful. You walk down to the water and can walk back up or rent a horse for the return. A short stop at Toachi Canyon, one of Ecuador's most impressive gorges, rounds out the first day before you reach Latacunga for the night.

Day two moves through the cloud forest and into Baños, a town built around waterfalls. You visit Pailon del Diablo waterfall, take the cable car over the Pastaza River, and then ride the Swing at the End of the World: a famous swing that hangs over a cliff edge with a view of the valley below. After lunch you drive about 90 minutes to Riobamba. Day three takes you to Chimborazo Faunistic Reserve, where you can walk to the second refuge at 5,000 meters above sea level and see vicuñas, llamas and alpacas. You then visit La Balbanera, Ecuador's oldest church, and the Ingapirca archaeological complex to learn about Cañari and Inca cultures before driving to Cuenca for two nights.

On day four you spend the morning in El Cajas National Park, walking one of its trails through high-altitude scenery, then return to Cuenca for an afternoon city tour. The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You walk by the Tomebamba River and visit the Turi viewpoint for views across the city. A Panama Hat Factory visit is also possible. If you book the 5-day option, you add either a Mindo extension at the start (butterfly farm, bird watching, chocolate tour and the Middle of the World monument) or a Gualaceo and Chordeleg extension at the end (jewelry and textile workshops, plus time at Piedra de Agua spa). The choice depends on which city you start from.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to all activities.
• breakfasts and one courtesy meal.
• four or five nights accommodation in double occupancy.
• transportation in a private vehicle with a live guide in English or Spanish.
• pure water throughout the trip.
• pickup from your accommodation.

Options for this experience

6 options

Four-day standard tour (shared)Guide in English or Spanish · 06:30Includes 4 nights in Economic Class Hotels, transport by SUV, VAN or MINIBUS with professional drivers. Standard: an option with a nice tourist-class hotel (shared tour). With this kind of tour, more people may join. Pickup is included.

Four-day Tourist Superior tourGuide in English or Spanish · 06:30Includes 4 nights in Tourist Superior Hotels, transport by SUV, VAN or MINIBUS with professional drivers. Tourist Superior: a special tour with good hotels. With this kind of tour, more people may join. Pickup is included.

Four-day tour in first classGuide in English or Spanish · 06:30Includes 4 nights in First Class Hotels, transport by SUV, VAN or MINIBUS with professional drivers. Private tour: a great tour with the best hotels in the area. Pickup is included.

See 3 more options

Five-day standard tour (shared)Guide in English or Spanish · 06:30Includes 5 nights of accommodation in economic but nice hotels, with transport by SUV, VAN or MINIBUS from professional drivers. Standard: a good economic option that lets you travel with other people. Departures are guaranteed. Pickup is included.

Five-day Tourist Superior tourGuide in English or Spanish · 06:30Includes 5 nights in Tourist Superior Hotels, transport by SUV, VAN or MINIBUS with professional drivers. Tourist Superior: a nice option with a good category of hotels. In this option, more people can join the tour. Pickup is included.

Five-day tour in first classGuide in English or Spanish · 06:30Includes 5 nights in First Class Hotels, transport by SUV, VAN or MINIBUS with professional drivers. First Class: an excellent private-service option with a higher category of hotels, where you can decide some details of the tour. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

AgesAdult (13 to 80 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Polylepis Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the 4-day option if you want the core route (volcanoes, lakes, ruins and Cuenca) without the add-ons. The 5-day option suits travelers who want to see more: either Mindo's cloud forest and butterfly farms if you start in Quito, or Gualaceo's artisan workshops and spa time if you start in Cuenca. Children from age 6 are welcome, and the guide will adjust the pace to your group's fitness level.

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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: Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I start the tour from Cuenca instead of Quito?

Yes. The tour runs in both directions: you can begin in Quito and end in Cuenca, or start in Cuenca and end in Quito. The 5-day option includes different add-ons depending on which city you start from: Mindo if you begin in Quito, or Gualaceo and Chordeleg if you begin in Cuenca.

What is the Swing at the End of the World?

It's one of Latin America's most famous swings, located in Baños. The swing hangs over a cliff edge with a view down into the valley, and it's a highlight of day two of the tour.

Do I need to be very fit to hike Quilotoa Lagoon?

You walk down to the crater lake and back up, but you have the option to rent a horse for the return journey if you prefer not to walk the full distance. A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended for the tour overall, and it's not suitable for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What meals are included?

Breakfasts are included every day. One courtesy meal is provided during the tour. Other lunches and dinners are not included, though the guide will take you to places to eat and you'll have time to order.

How many people travel together on this tour?

The tour operates as a private tour with your own guide and vehicle. Vehicle size depends on group size: a SUV for 2–3 people, a minivan for 4–6 people, or a minibus for 7–15 people.

What is included in the price?

All entrance fees to the parks and attractions, four or five nights of accommodation depending on which option you choose, breakfasts, pure water throughout the trip, one courtesy meal, and transportation in a private vehicle with a guide. Pickup from your hotel, Airbnb or house is included.