Quito to Baños tour: Cotopaxi & Quilotoa Lagoon day trip

One day from Quito's highlands to Baños, crossing two volcanic landmarks

A full-day tour from Quito to Baños visiting Cotopaxi National Park and Quilotoa Lagoon, with a live guide and air-conditioned vehicle. You hike at Limpiopungo Lake at the foot of one of the world's highest active volcanoes, stop at Cañon del Río Toachi to see pyroclastic formations, and reach Quilotoa's crater lake where the guide explains its origin and the surrounding flora. The tour ends with a drop-off at Baños' central park.

Step-by-step itinerary

Quito to Baños via Cotopaxi and Quilotoa

• Depart from Quito early morning
• Hike at Limpiopungo Lake, Cotopaxi Park
• Transfer to Cañon del Río Toachi
• Explore Quilotoa Crater and lake
• Stop for Ecuadorian ice cream
• Transfer to Baños, drop off at Central Park

The experience

How do you get from Quito to Baños without renting a car or piecing together separate rides? This tour handles the route in a single day, picking you up at 06:15 from Blue House Hotel or 06:30 from Café Zular near San Blas Square and moving through three distinct landscapes on the way south. The guide speaks English or Spanish and travels with you the whole way, so you're not following a group or waiting for explanations at each stop.

The first stop is Limpiopungo Lake inside Cotopaxi National Park, where you hike at the foot of the volcano itself. Cotopaxi is one of the world's highest active volcanoes, and from the lake you can see the cone and the flora that survives at that altitude. After roughly two and a half hours at the park, you transfer to Cañon del Río Toachi, a canyon carved by pyroclastic flows from Quilotoa roughly 1,800 years ago. The guide walks you through the volcanic materials (pumiceous elements, lapilli, volcanic bombs) that make up the canyon walls, and you have time for photographs before moving on.

Quilotoa Lagoon sits inside a crater, and you arrive at the rim where the guide explains the lake's origin and the plants that grow there. On a clear day you see the full crater and the water below. If time allows and you choose to pay separately, you can descend to the lake and go boating. Before the final transfer to Baños, the tour stops for Ecuadorian ice cream. You arrive at Baños' Central Park (at the Church) in the late afternoon, ending roughly seven to eight hours after departure.

What’s included

• Tour guide in English or Spanish.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full route from Quito to Baños.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Wednesday and SundayDeparts at 06:15

Book up to14h before

AgesAdult (10 to 89 years) · Child (under 10)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Wanderbus Ecuador

Is this one for you?Pickup from central Quito means you don't need a rental car or a ride arranged separately. The tour collects you in the morning and drops you at Baños' central park by late afternoon, so the whole route works as a single booking whether you're staying elsewhere in the city or just passing through.

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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 (under 10).

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.

What is Cotopaxi National Park like when you arrive to hike there?

Limpiopungo Lake sits at the foot of Cotopaxi, one of the world's highest active volcanoes. You hike around the lake and see the cone and the alpine flora that grows at that elevation, with the guide explaining what you're looking at.

Can you swim or boat on Quilotoa Lagoon during the tour?

Boating on Quilotoa Lagoon is not included in the tour price, but if time allows and you want to pay separately, you can descend to the lake and go out on the water.

What does the guide explain about Cañon del Río Toachi?

Cañon del Río Toachi was carved by pyroclastic flows from Quilotoa volcano roughly 1,800 years ago. The guide points out the volcanic materials (pumiceous elements, lapilli, and volcanic bombs) that form the canyon walls and explains how they got there.

What time does the tour pick up in Quito?

Pickup is at 06:15 from Blue House Hotel or 06:30 from Café Zular, which is next to San Blas Square.

Does the tour include meals?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are not included. The tour does stop for Ecuadorian ice cream on the way to Baños.