Quilotoa Lagoon full-day tour: Crater hike & village

Crater descent, indigenous household, painted village, and volcanic highlands in one day south of Quito

This full-day private tour from Quito heads south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Quilotoa Lagoon at 3,600 meters, where you descend into the crater for nearly two hours or walk the rim. Along the way, you visit an indigenous Paramos household made of straw to learn about daily life and animals, explore Tigua's native paintings, and stop at the Toachi canyon before returning to the city. A live guide in English or Spanish leads the route. Lunch and pickup from Quito are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day tour to Quilotoa Lagoon

• Drive south of Quito via Avenue of the Volcanoes
• Stop at indigenous house in the Páramos
• Visit town of Tigua, see native paintings
• Arrive at Quilotoa village and viewpoint
• Descend inside crater or walk around lagoon
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Stop at Toachi canyon viewpoint
• Return to Quito

The experience

You leave Quito heading south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes, passing Latacunga and Pujilí on the way to the highlands. The route climbs steadily toward Quilotoa village, which sits at 11,800 feet. Before reaching the lagoon, the tour stops at a traditional indigenous house in the Paramos. A structure made of straw where you spend time talking with the family, watching how they live, and learning about the animals they keep: guinea pigs, lambs, quails. This is not a museum display. You are in their home, observing their clothes and customs as they go about their day.

From there, the tour continues to Tigua, a town known for its native paintings, then up to Zumbahua and finally Quilotoa village. At the lagoon, you have a choice: descend into the crater itself for nearly two hours round trip, or walk around the rim. The crater sits inside a volcanic caldera, and the descent is steep but manageable for anyone with moderate fitness. After you finish at the lagoon, lunch happens at a local restaurant. On the return to Quito, the tour stops at the Toachi canyon to see the geological formations carved into the Andean Highlands before heading back to the city.

The full day runs 10 to 12 hours from pickup to drop-off. Your guide speaks English or Spanish and travels with you the entire route. Children are welcome from age 5, though the altitude and the crater descent require some physical capability. Gratuities are not included in the price.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the day.
• pickup from your Quito hotel or meeting point.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• access to the indigenous Paramos household and the towns of Tigua and Zumbahua.
• entry to Quilotoa Lagoon and the Toachi canyon viewpoint.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 42 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by Great Horned Owl Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to combine high-altitude hiking with time spent inside indigenous homes learning directly from local families, rather than viewing culture from a distance.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I descend into the Quilotoa crater, or do I just walk around the rim?

You choose at the lagoon. The crater descent takes nearly two hours round trip and is steep, so it requires moderate fitness and comfort with altitude. Walking the rim is the alternative if you prefer not to descend or want to save time.

What is an indigenous Paramos house like, and what will I actually do there?

A Paramos house is built of straw and sits in the highlands where indigenous families live. You spend time inside talking with the family, watching them work, and learning about their daily life and the animals they raise: guinea pigs, lambs, quails. It is their home, not a staged attraction.

What makes Tigua worth a stop on the way to Quilotoa?

Tigua is famous for its native paintings, which reflect indigenous artistic traditions. The town is a brief stop to see this local art before continuing up to the lagoon.

How high is Quilotoa, and will the altitude be a problem?

Quilotoa Lagoon sits at 3,600 meters (11,800 feet). The altitude can cause discomfort for some travelers, especially if you arrive in Quito only a day or two before the tour. Moderate physical fitness is recommended, and the tour is suitable for children from age 5 onward.

What is the Toachi canyon, and why is it on the route back?

The Toachi canyon is a geological formation in the Andean Highlands, carved by water and time into striking rock layers. It is a brief stop on the return to Quito to see this natural feature of the highlands landscape.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, but the tour stops at a local restaurant near Quilotoa Lagoon where you can order and pay separately.