Quilotoa Lagoon hike full-day tour from Quito

The lagoon sits 800 years into a volcanic crater, and you walk down to its edge.

A full-day tour from Quito to Quilotoa Lagoon in Ecuador's Andes, with guide, transport and lunch included. You cross the Avenue of the Volcanoes, stop at an indigenous market and Tigua artisan community, then hike down into the water-filled caldera to the lagoon shore before returning to Quito. The crater lake changes color with the weather and sits at 12,467 feet above sea level.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Quilotoa Lagoon and surroundings

• Depart from Quito to Machachi
• Observe Andes mountains and volcanoes
• Visit indigenous market (Wed, Sat, Sun)
• Stop at Tigua community art gallery
• See guinea pig roasting
• Hike down to Quilotoa lagoon shore
• Enjoy activities at Quilotoa lagoon
• Taste typical food at community restaurant
• Return to Quito

The experience

The day starts before dawn in Quito and heads south through Machachi, a town ringed by rose plantations and dairy farms in the inter-Andean valley. Your guide points out volcanoes across the mountain range from a roadside viewpoint. Depending on the day of the week, the route includes a stop at an indigenous market (Zumbahua on Wednesday or Saturday, or Sunday's market), where vendors and buyers from surrounding villages gather early. The bargaining and the bright traditional dress of the sellers fill the space with color and movement. It is the everyday commerce of the highlands, not a performance.

Before reaching the lagoon, you stop in Tigua, a community an hour from Latacunga that combines farming with craft work. A small gallery displays acrylic and watercolor paintings of Pachamama (Mother Earth) and scenes from old Spanish haciendas. You'll see a guinea pig being roasted over hot charcoal, a rural delicacy, and later taste it at lunch. The Tigua stop gives shape to what "local" means on this route: not a museum, but a place where people work and sell what they make.

Quilotoa itself is a water-filled caldera at 12,467 feet. The lagoon's color shifts with the weather: bright turquoise on clear days, slate gray under clouds. The main event is the hike down to the crater shore and back up. The descent takes time and the ascent demands effort. If your legs won't carry you back, a local can rent you a mule for the return. After the hike, you eat typical food in one of the community restaurants overlooking the lagoon, then drive back to Quito. The whole day runs nine hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Lunch at a community restaurant in Quilotoa.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• private transportation and hotel pickup from Quito.
• entry to Quilotoa Lagoon and the Tigua artisan community.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 85 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (8 to 12 years) · Infant (6 to 7 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 24 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Galapagos My World

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so choose the language that lets you follow the commentary comfortably through the market, the artisan community and the crater. Children from age 6 are welcome, though the hike down and back up demands moderate fitness and takes real time. Younger children or anyone with mobility concerns should plan for mule rental on the return.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (8 to 12 years); Infant (6 to 7 years). Children under 6 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 kayak or swim in Quilotoa Lagoon on this tour?

Quilotoa offers kayaking, hiking, photography and quiet time at the viewpoint. The most popular activity is the hike down to the lagoon shore and back up. Kayaking is available as a choice, but the tour does not require it or include a guide for water activities.

What is the Tigua community stop like?

Tigua is a farming and artisan community one hour from Latacunga. You visit a small gallery where local artists display acrylic and watercolor paintings of Mother Earth and hacienda scenes, and you see guinea pig being roasted over charcoal before tasting it at lunch.

How hard is the hike down to the lagoon?

The hike down to the crater shore is the main physical demand of the day. You walk back up afterward, and mule rental is available for the return if you need it. The tour requires at least moderate fitness. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or during pregnancy.

Which days can I see the indigenous market?

Indigenous markets operate on specific days: Zumbahua market runs Wednesday and Saturday, and the Sunday market is also an option. Your guide will include whichever market day aligns with your tour departure.

Is lunch included, and what will I eat?

Lunch is included and served at a community restaurant in Quilotoa after the hike. You'll taste roasted guinea pig, a local delicacy, along with typical highland food.