Cotopaxi & Quilotoa With Optional Hotel Pick-Up & Drop-Off

Badge of ExcellenceQuito, Ecuador

National Park of Cotopaxi Day Trip from Quito

From $64.00

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

12 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Check out two of Ecuador’s top natural attractions—the Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa lagoon—and their natural landscapes with ease on this day trip from Quito. Head to Cotopaxi National Park to see its snow-capped volcano—stopping to drink coca leaf tea on route to reduce altitude sickness—before visiting Limpiopungo Lagoon and Quilotoa’s turquoise caldera lagoon. Plus, during your trip, stop to browse a local market or two.

Experience two Ecuadorian natural wonders on a full-day tour from Quito
Check off the Cotopaxi National Park and Quilotoa in one hassle-free day
See Cotopaxi volcano, Limpiopungo, Quilotoa lagoon, and a museum and markets
Combine nature, history, and shopping in a day: ideal if your time is short

What's Included

Hotel Pick-Up and Drop-Off (if you select this option)
Professional guide

Gratuities
Lunch and drinks

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

Hotel NH Collection Quito Royal
Luis Cordero 444, Quito 170143, Ecuador
The meeting point is the NH Collection at 7:00 am.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

If you choose the option with pick-up from hotels, you can choose from any of the following list: • Patio Andaluz 07:30 am • Hilton Colon Quito 07:20 am • Mercure Hotel Alameda Quito 07:18 • Reina Isabel 07:15 am • Río Amazonas 07:10 am • Hotel Swissôtel Quito 07:01 am • Hotel NH Collection Quito Royal 07:00 Am • Holiday Inn Express Quito 06:53 am • JW Marriott Hotel Quito 06:50 Am • Wyndham Garden Quito 06:45 am • Dann Carlton 06:35 am • Le Parc Hotel 06:35 am • Sheraton Quito Hotel 06:30 am.

What To Expect

Leave Quito aboard a comfortable coach or bus. Head south along the Pan-American Highway: driving through spectacular scenery and soaking in views of Ecuador’s countryside from stunning heights.

On the way to Cotopaxi Volcano National Park, stop to sip coca leaf tea to help reduce any altitude sickness, and stop by at the local museum to learn more about the park’s unique biodiversity. Then, visit the Limpiopungo Lagoon. If weather permits, your tour will end with a walk to see Cotopaxi, an active volcano 19,000 feet (5,900 meters) above sea level.

Take the opportunity to visit a local market or two during your travels; and finish with a trip to Quilotoa Volcano, whose crater houses a beautiful turquoise lake. Take in the views here before returning to Quito in the afternoon.

Note: If the day is too foggy and cloudy, guests have the opportunity to repeat the tour at no additional cost.

Cotopaxi National Park (Pass By)

Laguna de Limpiopungo

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Laguna Quilotoa

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
Not wheelchair accessible
Note: train operation is subject to change. Days in which train operation is not available the trip will be made by bus.
Near public transportation

Infants must sit on laps
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Optional pick-up and drop-off from selected hotels at an additional cost.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 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.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Christian_M

The Cotopaxi Vulcano was besutiful. We were lucky that it was sunny and the sky opened wjen we were there. And then the view is magic. Same with the Quilotoa lake. It was a magical view and experience. Plus, the tour guides were very motivated and good. They supported us a lot to have a great experience

Reviews

4.5

154 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 154 reviews

Irene

Wojciech_S, May 2024

The best tour I have joined in South America. Ask for Irene! Great energy and many interesting facts prepared.

Great sightseeing tour

LISA_H, May 2024

We were lucky to see Cotopaxi volcano before the mist came down and avoided the usual afternoon rain at Qilotoa. Note this trip is essentially transport to see Cotopaxi (10 min stop on side of road for photos), Limpiopungo lagoon for a 45 min flat boardwalk walk and Qilotoa for 30 mins to take photos at the lagoon before lunch. The scenery on the drive to each place is beautiful so if you want to see a little of the country outside Quito with minimal exertion this is a great trip. If you’re expecting hiking or time to wander etc this might not be the trip for you. Irene was a great guide seamlessly jumping between Spanish and English with great knowledge about all locations

Enjoyed my trip very much!

Anirudh_N, Apr 2024

I took this trip with Andrea as our guide. She was amazing! She explained things very well in Spanish and English. Gave us information on medicinal plants in Cotopaxi. We had great lunch that was just $6 in Quilotoa after seeing the crater with the lagoon.. I highly recommend taking the trip with Andrea. I don’t remember the name of our driver but he was so skillful and drove us safely everywhere.

Good exoerience with good people in good places!

Nexhat_P, Apr 2024

It was a beautiful experience, I got to know the flora and fauna of the Cotopaxi National Park as well as the stunning view of the Quilitoa Lagoon. Even though I had only joined the group as if we had been friends for a long time. We really had a great time. Don't forget you the guide was also very professional and spoke english well...

Gorgeous Day

FERESHTEH_A, Mar 2024

Irene was very knowledgeable and kind, managing both English and Spanish speaking guests. The weather turned out in our favour and we all witnessed some gorgeous views of Cotopaxi and Quilotoa. The breakfast and lunch stops on the way also had some of the greatest foods. Thank you again and hope to see you soon.

Wonderful Experience!

Fareed_S, Feb 2024

Great tour. Tour guide Andrea was amazing. Ride was comfortable. They took time to show us the place.. Covered two most beautiful places in Quito in a day!

Lovely tour & great guide.

Laura_C, Jan 2024

Great trip to beautiful places. The car we went on was very comfortable. Andrea was a fantastic guide, speaking everything in both English and Spanish. Well organised. You will absolutely need cash for this (and most tours in ecuador).

Full of amazing scenery & great value

Leanne_H, Jan 2024

This small group tour was great value for money. Homero was a safe driver & transport was very comfortable. Andrea the guide made the day enjoyable, entertaining & informative. Unfortunately the volcano was covered in cloud but the rest of the day the scenery was amazing. There was time at the crater for lunch, shopping or to walk to the bottom.

A memorable day

Catherine_B, Jan 2024

My tour guide was excellent. Informative and was seamlessly able to offer her talks in English and Spainish.

Wonderful

Farrokh_G, Dec 2023

It was a unique experience. The guide was friendly and enthusiastic. The scenery was unforgettable… we had a delicious meal too at the lake

Andrea is the best tour guide!!!

Jessamine_A, Oct 2023

Andrea was the best tour guide! She made the drive go by quickly with games and by sharing information about Quito, including extensive history of the Indigenous communities of the area. Andrea answered any questions we had and took such good care of us. We were so lucky on this trip with weather and were able to see all of Cotopaxi and the surrounding volcanoes. Would recommend!

Absolutely beautiful!

Jasmin_S, Sep 2023

The tour guide was lovely and the views were so beautiful. Great tour if you want to fit Cotopaxi and Quilotoa into one day.

Awesome trip ! You gotta do it

Iryna_S, Aug 2023

Awesome experience!! Loved everything about it The guide Andres and Paolina from Cotopaxi are the best guides ever ! They know everything and more :)

Nice

Andrey_M, Aug 2023

Excellent guide, we really enjoyed. I suggest to you if you have free time in Quito. Well organized tour

Nice tour

Larysa_P, Aug 2023

It was a well organized tour. Going to both locations in one day makes more sense because there is not much to see in Cotopaxi. We were lucky to see the volcano, as the weather was good in both locations. This tour includes a lot of sitting in the bus, but it was worth it

Awesome day but windy

JooTim_O, Jul 2023

Great tour. The timing was awesome. Was met at the pickup point at the right time. Then we went on to the first stop. I would say the guide from the Cotopaxi National park was awesome The guide that came with us only half translated the Spanish to English. Thankfully I understood the Spanish version but felt bad for those that don’t The views were spectacular And definitely not to be missed. Yes people will say it is a long ride. From quilotoa back is 3 hours. So it is a long ride But worth it

Our guide Andrea made it...

Jacqueline_D, May 2023

Our guide Andrea made it fun. Very professional and courteous! She kept us safe and was also very informative.

Irene was a great guide...

Ali_A, May 2023

Irene was a great guide full of energy. We were lucky that the clouds cleared and saw Cotopaxi and the wild horses that live at the base. Would recommend

Spectacular in every possible way!

Khim_B, Dec 2022

Getting to know the other tourists was a memorable thing in such a short amount of time. This tour was spectacular in every possible way and the guide was so knowledgeable. Interpreted in English every bit of Spanish services she provided.

Amazing and magical experience at Coropaxi and Quilotoa

Christian_M, May 2022

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