Quilotoa Lagoon and Indian Markets in One Day from Quito

Name: Quilotoa Lagoon and Indian Markets in One Day from Quito
Brand: Community Adventures
SKU: 32664P5
Price: 66.70 USD
Rating: 5.0 (25 reviews)

Quito, Ecuador

Day Trip to Quilotoa Crater Lake from Quito

11 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Don’t let limited time in Ecuador stop you visiting the majestic Quilotoa Lagoon, an emerald crater lake surrounded by mountain landscapes. Reach the natural wonder the easy way on this full-day tour from Quito, ideal for nature lovers. Stop at a traditional craft market before arriving in Quilotoa National Park and opting to hike or ride a mule (own expense) to the rim of the dormant volcano. Lunch and transfers are included.

Full-day tour of Quilotoa Lagoon and Indian craft market from Quito
An activity-packed day trip for travelers with limited time
Opt to hike or ride a mule (own expense) to the rim of the crater
Absorb stunning views of the emerald crater lake inside Quilotoa National Park
Lunch and all transfers are included

What's Included

Lunch
Driver/guide
Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
Private transportation

Entrance fees ($2 entrance to park)
Breakfast
Additional fees (mule $10 or canoe ride $5, Toachi cañon $1)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

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Start time

07:00 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Service animals allowed
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking

Near public transportation
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Sonia_R

We kicked the day off with a yummy breakfast at a local market, visited an indigenous group who shared their way of living with us - which was super insightful before we had time to spend at the Quilotoa lagoon. We rented a kayak for 20 minutes- which was fun before we headed back up. We all did it below an hour and we’re rewarded with a delicious lunch nearby. Our guide was super caring and fun.

Reviews

5.0

25 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 25 reviews

great experience but not for the faint of heart for those in later years.

Lily_F, Sep 2023

i enjoyed the trip a lot. i loved visiting the family on the way to learn about their food, their animals, medicines etc. the volcano was beautiful, i found with the altitude i was not able to climb down and back, but waited at the top with some breathtaking views. it is a very long ride up and back with some stunning views of canyons and volcanos. i didn't learn as much as i would have liked about the country, people etc but still delightful.

Quilotoa and cultural tour must do!

Trina_F, Jul 2023

Excellent tour. Guide (Victor) was informative and gave us so much education and guidance about all our stops / sights. Included history and cultural info and made sure ALL our needs were met. The lagoon was amazing and the rim hike gorgeous. Not easy but not the down and then steep & altitude gain of the lagoon hike. Wild flowers abound in colors and views beyond the crater were amazing. Bring snacks for the starving but sweet dogs in the plaza and LOTS of water for yourself! We had perfect weather and LOVED this tour. Great value as well! And an authentic delicious meal at the end. Can’t recommend enough!

Magical Day

Kristen_S, Jun 2023

Our day visiting Quilotoa Lagoon was beyond our expectations. The van was waiting for us at our meeting point and it was very comfortable. We were all glad we had a window seat because the views to and from the lagoon were breathtaking. Our first stop was at a gas station/restaurant. We were glad to take a quick break and very very happy we decided to listen to our guide and got snacks and a drink to take for later in the day. After a gorgeous climb into the mountains, we stopped at a local family's home to see how some Highlander families live. This was so special. The homeowners were incredibly welcoming and kind. I loved this part of the day. Even though we had seen pictures of Quilotoa Lagoon, seeing it in reality was magical. We were lucky enough to have a cloudless day and words cannot do it justice. Most of the group decided to walk the trail to the Lagoon. I choose to go down part of the path but did not venture further because it was very steep decline with a lot of sand and loose soil. Two members rode the horses back to the top and they were so happy they did. The others who chose to walk back up described it as extremely difficult. (Except for the teenagers who of course had no problem). This is where the drinks and snacks came in handy. After we all recovered, we had lunch at a local restaurant. It was delicious. We had options of veggie, beef or chicken. Everyone really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The ride home was just as spectacular as the ride there. One other very important reason our trip was so successful was our guide, Estuardo and our drive, Alex. Both were very professional, patient and kind. Estuardo went so far as to have a birthday cake and sing happy birthday to our teen who turned 15. That is true hospitality. I would recommend this tour with all my heart.

We kicked the day off...

Sonia_R, Dec 2022

Fun day

Neeha_B, Jan 2022

Had a great time at the lagoon as well as exploring some of the other stops. Didn’t feel rushed at any spot. Great trip to enjoy the Andes scenery.

Wonderful and caring tour guides

Therese_W, Nov 2020

Our tour guides Andrea and Alex were excellent. Not only were they very knowledgeable, but also very considerate. There love for their country was evident and clearly cared that we enjoyed our trip. Easy going, lovely folks that made it feel Like we spent a lovely day with friends. Highly recommend Viator and these particular guides. 👍🏽

Response from Host, Nov 2020

Thank you so much Therese! Our guides and team here at Community Adventures loved having you on our tour! We love our country and want to show it in every way possible!

Great trip in great scenery

Heiko_S, Sep 2019

All stops of great interest, incl. Indian market, a Shaman house, a gorge, and of course the lagoon itself. Path from crater rim down to lagoon however very sandy, and especially the way up again because of the sometimes deep sand very strenuous. Alternative: ride back by horse or donkey at some extra cost. Thank you, Patricio, you did a great job.

Amazing full day trip to Quilotoa and more

Hannah_D, May 2019

This trip is a packed day of adventure from Quito. Our tour guild "Alex" provided rich history, stories and legends during our time on the bus between destinations. The short stops along the way to Quilotoa were unforgettable and made the drive pass quickly. Quilotoa is an absolutely outstanding view and great exercise if you choose to descend to the bottom and hike back up. The hike up is no joke even if you are in shape, took 1 hour on foot with the option of horses for $10. Temperature varies from moment to moment - recommend layers, rain coat and sun protection. Trail is soft dirt/dust and air gets very dusty at times, hiked in running shoes that got dirty but were OK. Bring some change for bathroom fees (50c). The included lunch at a restaurant in Quilotoa was delicious. Overall this trip was perfectly run and provided a variety of experiences in one short day. Thank you Alex for a fabulous trip!! Great trip for a great price. 10/10 would recommend.

Great tour. Our guide, Marco, was...

IgnacioAlf_F, Apr 2018

Great tour. Our guide, Marco, was very keen on explaining everything. Tough walk the one from the lagoon back up to the Viewpoint, if needed, horses are available.

We had a great time on this day trip...

CAROLINE_W, Jan 2018

We had a great time on this day trip to Quilotoa. It is an amazing place and our guide, Pedro, did a great job.

An Awsome tour and highly...

Samira R, Jan 2018

An Awsome tour and highly recommended !! Our tour guide Pedro an Patrico were amazing. They were courteous and professional. The stop to Indian market was so entertaining just to walk around and the lake was gorgeous !! Be prepared to walk a lot and be drained by the end of the trip but its worth it !!

Loved this day! Our guide was terrific...

Lauren R, Jan 2018

Loved this day! Our guide was terrific and one of the best days of our entire trip!

Loved this tour! The walk down to...

Susan B, Aug 2017

Loved this tour! The walk down to the crater is fun but very challenging on the way up even for the fittest of people. Definitely do this tour. I recommend hiking shoes or boots for the extra foot grip.

Breathtakingly beautiful! If you...

Rebecca_M, Mar 2017

Breathtakingly beautiful! If you plan to walk down to the Laguna make sure you are physically fit and have acclimated to the climate. Definitely worth the trip for the view even if you don't hike down to the bottom. Mules are available for the trip back up for 10. Make sure you request a mule not a horse. Mules are more surefooted.

Falta de logistica

Julieth_R, Mar 2022

Me enviaron una ubicación y estuve 15 minutos antes de la hora que me señalaron , y al haber pasado 30 min decidi llamar y me dijeron que ya se habian ido, me toco ir a otro lugar a alcanzarlos, y tuve que pagar el taxi. Al final el que hace el tour tenia señalado una dirección y los que lo venden aquí me enviaron otra, MUY DESORGANIZADO. Bien se podría eliminar la visita al mercado, resulta 0 atractiva y más una perdida de tiempo. Al hacer esta actividad estuvimos llegando a la 1 a bajar la laguna , lo cual resulta más agotador a la hora de subir porque se esta subiendo casi a las 3 de la tarde sin haber almorzar. EL guía fue muy amable, al igual que el conductor, ellos cumplen con el programa que le indican , pero deben mejorar estos temas de logística.