Quilotoa Lagoon full-day tour: Private transport & lunch

The lagoon sits 12,000 feet up inside a volcano crater, ringed by mountains.

A full-day private tour from Quito to Quilotoa Volcano in the western Andes, with guide, transport, lunch and park entry included. You drive the Avenue of Volcanoes to Tigua, a village known for local painters, explore a home and learn about daily Andean life, then hike down into the crater to the blue-green lagoon or view it from above. Lunch is typical potato soup at an Indigenous restaurant, and mule-riding back up is available if you choose it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Quilotoa Volcano and local communities

• Drive through Avenue of Volcanoes
• Stop at Paramos community village
• Explore Tigua painters town and local home
• Visit Quilotoa lagoon viewpoint
• Hike down to lagoon or admire view
• Return by mule to viewpoint
• Enjoy typical lunch at Indigenous restaurant
• Return to Quito

The experience

The drive from Quito takes you through the Avenue of Volcanoes, a route that passes beneath towering Andean peaks and stops in Paramos communities along the way. Tigua, the painters' town, is where you step into a local home to see how people live and work, and to look at the art they make. The landscape shifts as you climb toward Quilotoa itself, a volcano whose name means "The Princess Tooth" in the local language.

At Quilotoa Lagoon, you choose your own path: hike down into the crater to reach the water's edge, or stay at the viewpoint and take in the sight from above. The lagoon's blue-green color comes from minerals in the water and sits surrounded by the crater walls. If you hike down, mule-riding is available to bring you back up to the rim: a choice you make once you see the terrain. Lunch happens at an Indigenous restaurant in Quilotoa town, where the potato soup is what the place is known for.

The tour runs seven to eight hours total, including the drive back to Quito at the end of the day. Your guide speaks English or Spanish, and the group is just you and whoever books with you: no strangers on the van. Transport, water, lunch and park admission are all included. Mule-riding down and back is optional and paid separately if you want it.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Quito.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• park admission fee.
• box lunch at Quilotoa town.
• and bottled water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (16 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 39 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Guide Ecuador Travel

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English or Spanish, so choose the language you're comfortable with before you book. The tour is private (just your group and the driver), so the pace and stops are yours to set.

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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 (4 to 15 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

Can I hike down to the lagoon or do I have to stay at the top?

Quilotoa Lagoon sits inside the crater, and you choose whether to hike down to the water or view it from the rim viewpoint. Mule-riding is available to bring you back up if the hike down is more than you want to do on the return.

What is Tigua and what do we do there?

Tigua is a village in the Andes known for its local painters and artists. You visit a home in the community to see how people live, learn about their daily life, and see the art they create.

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

Quilotoa sits at 12,000 feet in the Andes. The tour is not physically demanding, though the altitude is high. It is suitable for all fitness levels, though not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What meals and drinks are included?

Box lunch and bottled water are included. Lunch is served at an Indigenous restaurant in Quilotoa town, famous for its potato soup.