Cotopaxi & Quilotoa day tour from Quito: Two volcanoes

Two volcanic summits and a crater lake in one day from Quito

A full-day tour from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park and Quilotoa crater lake with private transportation, English-speaking guide and lunch. You ascend toward Cotopaxi, one of the world's highest active volcanoes at 5,897 meters, visit Limpiopungo Lagoon at its base, then drive to Quilotoa's three-kilometer caldera formed eight centuries ago. The route passes indigenous villages and markets (Saquisilí on Thursdays, Pujilí on Sundays) before returning to Quito.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cotopaxi and Quilotoa day adventure

• Start tour at Go F.A.R / CarpeDM Office
• Travel to Cotopaxi National Park
• Visit Limpiopungo Lagoon
• Explore Laguna Quilotoa and indigenous villages
• Return to Quito, drop off in Old or New Town

What’s included

• Private transportation in your own vehicle.
• lunch.
• all national park fees and taxes.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.

Times

• Every day 07:20 07:30

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Up to 15 5 private ›

Live guide English Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. 7 with pickup ›

Ages Adult (1 to 80 years) · Child (under 1)

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Public transport nearby Not recommended with heart problems

Operated by CarpeDM Adventures

Prices and times updated today

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The experience

The tour departs at 7:30am from either the Go F.A.R / CarpeDM office or the Hilton Colon Hotel in New Town. Your guide drives you to Cotopaxi National Park, where the volcano rises 5,897 meters (19,347 feet) as one of the planet's highest active peaks. At Limpiopungo Lagoon, you stand at the base of the mountain and see why locals call Cotopaxi "the Moon's Throne." The lagoon sits in the shadow of the summit, and the drive itself takes you through high-altitude terrain where the landscape shifts as you climb.

From Cotopaxi, the route continues to Quilotoa, Ecuador's most visited crater lake. The lagoon fills a caldera three kilometers across, born from an eruption roughly eight centuries ago. On the way, you pass through villages where indigenous communities still live and work: the Saquisilí market (Thursdays) and Pujilí market (Sundays) are stops on the route, letting you see the daily rhythm of the highlands. At Quilotoa itself, you have time to take in the crater and the water, or photograph it before heading back.

The full day runs nine to eleven hours from start to finish. Private transportation means you travel in your own vehicle with your guide rather than in a shared minibus, and lunch is included along with all park fees and taxes. Drop-off is in either Old Town or New Town Quito, depending on where you prefer to end the day.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 1).

How high is Cotopaxi volcano?

Cotopaxi stands at 5,897 meters (19,347 feet), making it one of the world's highest active volcanoes. You don't climb to the summit on this tour. Instead, you visit Limpiopungo Lagoon at its base in Cotopaxi National Park.

What are the markets like on this tour?

The Saquisilí market runs on Thursdays and the Pujilí market on Sundays. Both are in indigenous villages along the route to Quilotoa, and you pass through them to see local life and commerce in the highlands.

What is Quilotoa crater lake?

Quilotoa is a crater lake filling a caldera three kilometers across, formed by an eruption roughly eight centuries ago. The lagoon is Ecuador's most visited crater lake, and you have time to view and photograph it before returning to Quito.

Is there time to walk or hike on this tour?

The tour is built around driving and stops at viewpoints rather than long hikes. Each stop gives you time to step out and take in the views, roughly 30 minutes at each site, but the day is structured as a driving tour with an English-speaking guide.

What's included in the price?

Private transportation, lunch, all park fees and taxes, and an English-speaking guide are included. Breakfast and tips are not included, and you'll want to budget for personal expenses and any snacks or drinks beyond lunch.