Quilotoa Lagoon day trip from Quito: trek to crater lake

The lagoon changes color as the day cools, shifting from green to brilliant turquoise.

A full-day tour from Quito to Quilotoa Lagoon in the Illinizas Ecological Reserve, with a bilingual guide, includes exploration of a highland indigenous market, a visit to an Andean family home, and a trek down into the crater to the lake's edge. The lagoon sits 270 meters deep and spans three kilometers across; private transportation, entrance fees, and lunch are included. Children from age 6 are welcome; moderate fitness helps with the trek.

Step-by-step itinerary

Quilotoa Lagoon Day Trip from Quito

• Explore Saquisilí or Pujilí market
• Visit an Andean indian family
• See slopes of Quilotoa lagoon
• Trek to bottom of Quilotoa crater lake
• Optional kayaking on Quilotoa lake
• Taste a local lunch
• Return to Quito

The Experience

The day starts in one of two indigenous markets—Saquisilí on Thursdays or Pujilí on Wednesdays—where you walk through stalls of local produce, animals and goods that supply the highland communities. From there the route climbs toward Cotopaxi province, stopping at an Andean family's home to see how they live, what animals they keep and how the economy works at this altitude. The guide explains as you go, and the landscape shifts from cultivated fields to steeper terrain.

At Quilotoa, you arrive at the crater rim and get your first full view of the lagoon. The trek down follows the crater's inner slope—a descent of 150 meters to the water's edge, where the mineral-rich lake sits in shades of green under the daylight sky. Once you reach the bottom, you can choose to kayak on the lagoon or simply stand at the shore; the return trek climbs back up the same slope to the rim. The whole crater experience is the heart of the day, and the guide times it so you have room to move at your own pace.

Lunch happens after the trek, once you're back at a higher elevation. The meal is local and included, and by then the lagoon has often shifted toward turquoise as the temperature drops and the light changes. The drive back to Quito takes the afternoon, with the guide pointing out the landscape you passed on the way up. Private transportation means the vehicle is yours for the day, and pickup from your Quito hotel is part of the package.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Quito hotel and back.
• bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• entrance to the Quilotoa Natural Area.
• lunch.
• all stops at the market, the Andean family home, and the crater lake.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcome

Operated by Real Dreams Tour

Is this one for you?Book the private tour if you want the day entirely to yourself, or choose the small group or shared option if you're traveling solo and want to split the cost with other travelers heading the same direction. The trek into the crater is the defining moment—it takes moderate fitness and a few hours, but it's the only way to stand at the lagoon's edge and see the color shift as the day cools.

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Top questions

How deep is the trek down into Quilotoa crater?

The descent to the lagoon's edge is 150 meters down the crater slope, and you climb back up the same route. The trek is steady but not technical, and the guide sets the pace so you can move at your own speed.

What happens at the indigenous market stop?

Saquisilí market (Thursdays) and Pujilí market (Wednesdays) are where highland communities buy and sell produce, animals and goods. You walk through the stalls with the guide, who explains what you're seeing and how the market fits into local life.

Can I kayak on Quilotoa Lagoon?

Kayaking is an option once you reach the lake's edge at the bottom of the crater. You can choose to paddle or simply spend time at the shore; the guide lets you decide how to use the time at the water.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

Lunch is included and served after the trek, once you're back at a higher elevation. The meal is local to the region; specific dishes depend on what's available that day.

What's the fitness level needed for this tour?

The operator recommends at least moderate physical fitness because of the 150-meter descent and climb in and out of the crater. The trek is not technical, but it is sustained, and the altitude (you're in the Andes) affects some travelers.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to and from Quito?

No. Private transportation is included, and the driver picks you up from your Quito hotel and returns you there at the end of the day.