Quito: Cotopaxi, Quilotoa & Baños 3-Day Andes Trek

Three Days in the Andes: Volcanoes, Lakes & the Swing at World's End

You travel three days through Ecuador's Andes with a local bilingual guide, hiking to Cotopaxi volcano's first refuge, walking around Quilotoa's turquoise crater lake, and swinging from a tree house above Baños. Transport, park entry and all major attractions are included; you book your own hotels in Cotopaxi and Baños the night before departure, and the itinerary can shift based on weather and road conditions.

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want the main Andes highlights — volcanoes, crater lakes, waterfalls — without arranging transport and park tickets separately, and who have a few days and moderate fitness for high-altitude hiking. The guide's pace means you're not racing between stops, which is what makes the altitude manageable and the views stick.

What’s included

Your three days include transportation from Quito, a bilingual guide, entry to Cotopaxi National Park and the hike to the first refuge, entry to Quilotoa Lagoon with time for the trail and photos, the cable car over the Pastaza River, entry to Devil's Cauldron waterfall, and entry to the Swing at the End of the World. You arrange and pay for your own accommodation in Cotopaxi and Baños, meals throughout, and any optional activities like the zipline.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Travel from Quito to Cotopaxi

• Stop to buy snacks and use restrooms
• Visit Cotopaxi National Park and hike to refuge
• Visit Limpiopungo Lagoon and watch birds
• Stay overnight near Cotopaxi volcano

Day 2 — Cotopaxi to Quilotoa and Baños

• Pass local houses and galleries in Tigua
• Visit Quilotoa Lagoon and walk trail
• Travel from Quilotoa to Baños
• Free time in Baños town and hot springs
• Stay overnight near Baños church

Day 3 — Baños waterfalls and return to Quito

• Start waterfalls tour and visit Devil’s Cauldron
• Ride cable car over Pastaza river
• Visit Swing at the End of the World
• Return safely to Quito

The Experience

Your guide will meet you in Quito and tell you straight away — the itinerary can shift depending on weather and road conditions, but you'll hit all four main stops no matter what. That kind of honesty is what you get when the people running the tour actually live here. Day one heads south toward Cotopaxi, Ecuador's second-highest volcano. You stop for supplies first, then drive into the national park where the air gets thinner and the landscape opens up. The hike to the first refuge sits at 4,684 meters, and most people feel the altitude by the time they reach it. Coca tea waits at the top — locals swear it helps, and whether it does or not, you're standing in front of a volcano that's been here for centuries.

Day two is the drive from Cotopaxi to Quilotoa, and it moves through Tigua, a village known for its paintings and local art galleries. Then you reach the lake itself — the water is so turquoise it doesn't look real at first. You get time at the lookout and a walk down the trail to the shore, no rushing to the next stop. That's the thing about this tour: the guide knows that standing in front of Quilotoa Lagoon for an hour matters more than ticking off five places in a day. After that, you ride to Baños, a town built into the jungle where hot springs run under the streets and the air smells like earth and water. The night is yours to explore or rest.

Day three starts early. You head out on the waterfall route, taking the road that cuts toward the jungle. There's a cable car that swings you over the Pastaza River — you can see the canopy from up there, and if you want to zipline, the option is there (that's separate). Then comes the Devil's Cauldron waterfall, which is exactly as loud and powerful as it sounds. The last stop is the Swing at the End of the World, a rope swing hanging from a tree house with Baños spread out below. People come here to take the photo, but you'll understand why once you're up there. After that, you head back to Quito with drivers who know the mountain roads.

The whole thing is built around not having to arrange transport, park tickets, or figure out which stops matter most. Your guide speaks English and Spanish, and the entry fees to Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, the waterfall sites and the cable car are already in the price. You bring moderate fitness — the hike to Cotopaxi's refuge isn't technical, but altitude and terrain mean you're moving uphill for a couple of hours. Accommodation in Cotopaxi and Baños is on you, but the guide can point you toward places that work.

Top questions

What's the altitude like on this tour?

The hike to Cotopaxi's first refuge reaches 4,684 meters (15,364 feet). Altitude sickness is possible; coca tea is offered at the refuge. The tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

Are meals included?

No. You stop for snacks and supplies on day one, and meals in Baños are on your own. The cable car and zipline option on day three are also separate costs.

How fit do I need to be?

Moderate fitness is needed. The hike to Cotopaxi's refuge involves uphill walking at altitude, but it's not technical climbing. The walks around Quilotoa and to the waterfalls are less strenuous.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Can the itinerary change?

Yes. The order of days and stops may vary based on weather, road conditions and operating needs. You'll be told the final itinerary one day before the tour starts.

Where do I stay at night?

You book your own accommodation near Cotopaxi on night one and near Baños on night two. The guide can recommend options when your booking is confirmed.

What if I want to do the zipline?

The zipline over the Pastaza River is optional and not included. You can decide when you reach the cable car station on day three.

What's included in the price?

Entry fees to Cotopaxi National Park, Quilotoa Lagoon, the Swing at the End of the World, Devil's Cauldron waterfall and the cable car; bilingual guide; and all transportation from Quito.