Cotopaxi & Quilotoa Volcanoes: Day Trip from Quito

Two volcanoes, one day: Cotopaxi and Quilotoa from Quito in 10 hours

You travel 10 hours round-trip from Quito to see two of Ecuador's most recognizable volcanoes: Cotopaxi National Park with a hike around Limpiopungo Lagoon, and Quilotoa crater lake with an optional descent to the water. The day includes private transport, a professional guide, all park entry fees, and lunch. You don't arrange tickets, timing, or transport yourself. Everything is coordinated so you move between the two sites without gaps or confusion.

Options for this experience

3 options

From US$ 240 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Small Group 07:30 Guide in English or Spanish Up to 15 per booking The trip lasts 10 hours and includes lunch, a van or jeep, entry to the natural areas, and pickup.

Private Tour 07:30 Guide in English or Spanish Up to 15 per booking Includes lunch, a jeep or van, entry to natural areas, and pickup.

Solo Travel 07:30 Guide in English or Spanish Up to 1 per booking Includes lunch and a jeep, and pickup is included.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Volcanoes

• Depart Quito to Cotopaxi National Park
• Observe Avenue of the Volcanoes landscape
• Explore Cotopaxi National Park and flora
• Hike around Limpiopungo Lagoon
• Pass through Pujili, Tigua, and Zumbahua villages
• Arrive at Quilotoa Lagoon for lunch
• Explore Quilotoa Lagoon and optional hike

Stops and time spent at each 3 stops

1. Cotopaxi National Park Entry included 2h
2. Limpiopungo Lagoon Entry included 1h
3. Quilotoa Lagoon Entry included 2h

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Quito, private transportation to both sites, a professional guide throughout, entry tickets to Cotopaxi National Park and Quilotoa Lagoon, and lunch near Quilotoa. You also get stops for photography at panoramic viewpoints along the Avenue of the Volcanoes and the option to hike down into the Quilotoa crater if you choose.

Times

• Every day 07:30

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Private 4 group tours ›

Live guide English and Spanish Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included.

Ages Adult (8 to 90 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

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 Not recommended during pregnancy Not recommended with heart problems Not recommended with back problems

Operated by Real Dreams Tour

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

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The experience

"The páramo changes everything you think you know about mountains," our guide said as we climbed out of Quito toward the Avenue of the Volcanoes. He wasn't wrong. The drive takes about an hour and a half, and somewhere in that stretch (past Pujili, through Tigua, into Zumbahua) the landscape stops being a view and becomes something you're inside. The Andes wrap around you. Cotopaxi itself sits at 5,897 meters, and even from a distance it holds the sky. We stopped for photographs at points where the whole valley opens up, and the light does something different every few minutes depending on where the clouds are.

The first real stop is Cotopaxi National Park, where you hike around Limpiopungo Lagoon. It's not a long walk, but it's the kind that lets you feel the altitude and the air. The páramo flora is low and tough, nothing like the forests lower down. After that, the drive to Quilotoa takes another two hours, and you pass through villages that have been here since the Inca era, inhabited by Panzaleo people whose descendants still live in these highlands. It's not a rushed thing. The guide points things out, but mostly you just watch the landscape change.

Quilotoa itself is the crater lake: a circle of water so vivid it doesn't look real at first. There's an optional hike down to the bottom if you want it, but most people eat lunch near the rim and spend time just looking. The water is that particular turquoise that only high-altitude crater lakes have, and on a clear day you can see across the whole caldera. The tour wraps up in the late afternoon, and the drive back to Quito gives you time to sit with what you've seen.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

How long is the drive from Quito to Cotopaxi?

About an hour and a half. The route follows the Avenue of the Volcanoes through the Andes.

Is there a hike at Quilotoa?

Yes, an optional hike down to the crater lake bottom. Most travelers do the rim walk instead, which takes less time.

What's included in the tour price?

Private transportation, professional guide, entry tickets to Cotopaxi National Park and Quilotoa, and lunch. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Quito are included.

How high is Cotopaxi?

5,897 meters (19,347 feet). You don't climb it on this tour. You hike around Limpiopungo Lagoon in the park instead.

What villages do you pass through?

Pujili, Tigua, and Zumbahua: all indigenous Panzaleo communities in the highlands with roots in the Inca era.

What should I bring?

Comfortable walking shoes, a jacket (it's cold at altitude), sunscreen, and a camera. The weather can change quickly in the mountains.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited fitness?

The hikes are moderate and optional. The tour is designed for all fitness levels, though the altitude and terrain require basic mobility.

How many people are in the group?

Small groups or private format, depending on your booking. This keeps the pace manageable and the experience more personal.