{"id":18991,"date":"2019-09-18T08:00:35","date_gmt":"2019-09-18T13:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wanderbusecuador.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/18\/quilotoa-tour-from-quito\/"},"modified":"2021-07-20T22:03:11","modified_gmt":"2021-07-21T03:03:11","slug":"quilotoa-tour-from-quito","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderbusecuador.com\/es\/quilotoa-tour-from-quito\/","title":{"rendered":"Quilotoa tour from Quito"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many travelers that fly into Quito don\u2019t realize that there are a number of incredible destinations only a few hours from the city that you can easily plan to visit on your own. One of these is <\/span>Quilotoa Crater<\/span><\/a> – an astonishingly beautiful water-filled caldera formed from a volcano eruption nearly 1,000 years ago. You\u2019ll probably see dozens of panoramas of Quilotoa before you arrive to Ecuador (there\u2019s even one in the airport), but there\u2019s nothing like visiting the spot yourself. Here are a few tips to organize your own Quilotoa tour from Quito.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Quilotoa<\/span><\/h2>\n

Quilotoa tour, a Picture-Perfect Adventure<\/span><\/h2>\n

Only a 3-hour drive from Quito is one of my favorite spots in Ecuador, Quilotoa Crater. The view from the lip of the crater is impossible not to appreciate, rain or shine. As you stand there, you\u2019re literally looking into the remains of a volcano eruption, now filled with frigid, crystalline water. The dramatic drop from the crater rim makes you feel like you\u2019re on the edge of the world and, on a clear day, you\u2019ll see other majestic peaks on the horizon.<\/span><\/p>\n

Apart from the panos and selfies you will surely take, here are a few additional activities to do on your Quilotoa tour.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quilotoa Crater Caldera hike<\/span><\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t be fooled, the hike around the entire Quilotoa Crater rim isn\u2019t as easy as it looks! It takes about 4-5 hours to complete and has a few narrow sections where you should take it slow. Try to leave early in the morning for the best views and bring PLENTY of sunscreen, a hat, sun glasses and water.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kayak in Quilotoa Crater<\/span><\/h3>\n

Hike down into Quilotoa Crater and right up to the lake. Maybe lather yourself in some Quilotoa mud while you\u2019re at it (my sister vows that it healed her rash) and then rent a kayak (only $3 per person an hour) and paddle around Quilotoa Crater Lake. If you\u2019re too tired to hike back up to the rim of the crater, you can always have a donkey to take you up, but I did that once and felt really bad for the donkey.<\/span><\/p>\n

Note: It can get chilly out on the lake! Make sure to bring warm, waterproof clothing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hike the Quilotoa Loop (multi-day trek)<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Quilotoa Loop<\/span><\/a> passes through a few of the towns in the area, including Quilotoa itself. It can be competed in 2 – 5 days, depending on your pace. The most popular route starts in Quilotoa, then goes to Chugchil\u00e1n, Isinlivi and ends in Sigchos.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pretty much anyone can do the Quilotoa Loop because you don\u2019t need any gear. Every night, you\u2019ll be stopping through a town where you can find a decent hostel and food to eat – what more could you ask for?<\/span><\/p>\n

Horseback ride from Chugchil\u00e1n to the crater<\/span><\/h3>\n

Chugchil\u00e1n is about 45 minutes from Quilotoa Crater and a good spot to stay the night if you don\u2019t feel like making the trip back to Quito the same day. There are a couple of good hostels in town, including a personal favorite, the <\/span>Black Sheep Inn.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t yet stopped by Quilotoa Crater, from Chugchil\u00e1n you should consider taking a scenic horseback ride there!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Quilotoa<\/span><\/h2>\n

Quito, the best starting point for your Quilotoa tour<\/span><\/h2>\n

Day trips to Quilotoa are regularly made from Quito or Ba\u00f1os. Quito is your best starting point because it\u2019s easier to find transport from there heading in the direction to Quilotoa. Also, if you want to see more in the same amount of time, you can stop through Cotopaxi on your way down, which is a common route on <\/span>the Wanderbus.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Please note that a Quilotoa tour from Quito in one day is a <\/span>long<\/span><\/i> day. If you only have one day left on your itinerary, this trip is absolutely worth it (especially when combined with Cotopaxi), but expect to get home exhausted!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Quito,<\/span><\/h2>\n

How to go from Quito to Quilotoa?<\/span><\/h2>\n

You can get from Quito to Quilotoa by regular bus, the Wanderbus, car rental, or a private tour. We\u2019ll cover buses below.<\/span>
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

Important<\/b>: LEAVE EARLY if you want to do this in a day.<\/span><\/p>\n