Quilotoa Lagoon Day Tour

The turquoise Quilotoa Lagoon inside the volcanic crater A hiker at a viewpoint on the Quilotoa crater rim Kayaking on Quilotoa Lagoon Sheep on the trail along the Quilotoa crater Mules resting on the shore of Quilotoa Lagoon Snow-capped volcano seen from the Quilotoa crater rim

Overview

Drive the Avenue of the Volcanoes to the crater lake, walk down to the shore and visit Andean villages on the way. Starts and ends in Machachi.

Itinerary

Start in Machachi and the Avenue of the Volcanoes

Your tour starts early in the morning at our office in Machachi, south of Quito. If you add the pickup, your guide collects you at your hotel in Quito first. The road heads south along the Avenue of the Volcanoes, with views of Cotopaxi and the Ilinizas on clear days.

Starts and ends: our office in Machachi
Pickup in Quito: available as an extra

Tigua and the Andean highlands

A stop in the Tigua valley, home of the Tigua painters and their colorful scenes of Andean life, before crossing the high páramo above 3,500 m.

The Quilotoa crater rim

Arrive at the village of Quilotoa and walk to the viewpoint over the turquoise crater lake, about 3 km wide and almost 4,000 m high.

Walk down to the lagoon

A steep, sandy trail takes you to the shore in about 30 to 45 minutes. Time to rest, take photos or rent a kayak. The climb back takes about an hour, or you can ride a mule up.

Lunch and return to Machachi

Lunch in Quilotoa village, then the drive back to Machachi, or to your hotel in Quito if you added the pickup.

What's included

Included

  • Transport from and to our office in Machachi
  • Local English-speaking guide
  • Bottled water

Not included

  • Pickup in Quito or other cities (you can add it as an extra)
  • Lunch
  • Kayak rental and mule ride, paid locally
  • Tips

Good to know

Altitude
The crater rim is at about 3,900 m. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and ask your doctor first if you have heart or breathing conditions.
What to wear
Warm layers, a windproof jacket, sunscreen, a hat and good walking shoes. The weather changes fast at this altitude.

How booking works

  1. Choose your date and group. The price per person drops as your group grows, and you see the total before you send anything.
  2. Check availability. Nothing is booked or charged yet; we confirm your date first.
  3. Pay and enjoy. Once confirmed, we send you a secure payment link by email or WhatsApp.

FAQ

How hard is the walk down to the lagoon?
Going down takes about 30 to 45 minutes on a steep, sandy trail. The climb back takes about an hour, or you can ride a mule up, paid locally.
Can I kayak on the lagoon?
Yes, kayaks are usually available for rent on the shore, paid locally.
Can you pick me up in Quito?
Yes. Add the pickup in Quito when you check availability, or ask us about other cities. It has an extra cost.

More tours

Sheep on the trail along the Quilotoa craterSnow-capped volcano seen from the Quilotoa crater rimPanoramic view of Quilotoa crater lakeA hiker at a viewpoint on the Quilotoa crater rimAndean farmland and hills around Tigua, near QuilotoaThe turquoise Quilotoa Lagoon inside the volcanic crater
Hiking
Quilotoa Crater Rim HikeFull dayHike part of the crater rim for wide views of the lagoon and the Andes, then walk down to the water. Starts and ends in Machachi.From $75 per personView tour →
$120 per person
1 traveler
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