Quilotoa & Baños 2-Day Tour: Lagoon, Swing & Cable Car

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/11

Duration2d

GroupUp to 17

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Discover local markets and hot springs while exploring Ecuador’s volcanic landscapes

You spend two days moving through Ecuador's highlands and cloud forest, visiting Quilotoa's crater lake and Baños' adventure attractions. Your guide handles the route, all entry fees are covered, and you return to Quito by evening on day two. Bring layers—the altitude and weather change fast.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Quito to Quilotoa and La Casa del Árbol

Visit small highlands town
Stop at traditional moorland house
Visit Tigua community art gallery
Walk to Quilotoa lagoon
Enjoy typical lunch near lagoon
Ride Swing at the End of the World
Optional visit to natural thermal baths

Day 2 — Adventure activities in Baños

Visit Devil´s Cauldron waterfall
Ride cable car over Pastaza River

The Experience

The turquoise water of Quilotoa Lagoon sits 3,914 meters up in the Ecuadorian highlands, and the first time you see it from the rim, you understand why people come back to this lake. Day one starts in Quito and moves through the moorland slowly—your bilingual guide stops at a traditional highland house where families still raise guinea pigs the way they have for generations, then takes you into the Tigua community to watch artists hand-paint on llama and sheepskin leather. By afternoon you're at the lagoon itself, walking down into the crater on a trail your guide picks based on weather and how you're feeling. Lunch happens in the town after, and it's typical highland food—not included in the price, but your guide knows where to eat.

The second day is pure adrenaline. You start at the Swing at the End of the World in Baños, which is exactly what it sounds like—a wooden swing that hangs out over a cliff, and when you swing forward, you're looking down at Mount Tungurahua and the wilderness spreading out below you. Then comes the Devil's Cauldron waterfall, a massive drop of water that fills the air with mist, and after that the cable car ride across the Pastaza River. The cable car is slow and steady, and from up there you see waterfalls, jungle canopy, and the river cutting through the valley. Both days include transportation from Quito, all the major entry fees, and a guide who knows the region as a local—not someone reading from a script.

The pace is built for people who want to move but not rush. You're not hiking for eight hours or climbing anything technical. The trails at Quilotoa have options depending on difficulty, and the cable car and swing are the kind of activities that feel bold without requiring training. Small children can come—the stroller works on the easier paths—and the whole thing is designed so you're not arranging tickets or transport yourself.

What’s included

Your two days include bilingual guide, hotel pickup and return to Quito, all transportation between stops, entry to Quilotoa Lagoon, the Swing at the End of the World, Devil's Cauldron waterfall, and cable car over the Pastaza River.
Meals are not included, though your guide will direct you to local restaurants.
Optional thermal baths in Baños have a separate entrance fee.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Quito Tour Bus

Is this one for you?Book this if you want Ecuador's most famous highland and adventure attractions in one trip without arranging your own transport, guides, or tickets—the two-day structure is what fits all the major stops into one journey from Quito.