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Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Tour All in One - 1 Day

Badge of ExcellenceQuito, Ecuador

From $100.00

Price varies by group size

Select Date and Travelers

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

9 to 10 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Don’t let limited time in Quito stop you ticking off two of the country’s top natural attractions—visit both Cotopaxi National Park and the Quilotoa Lagoon in just one day on a private tour that lets you set the pace. Letting someone else drive means you can soak up the scenery, while a private guide ensures you’ll explore according to your own agenda.

Cover two top Ecuador attractions in one day on a nature day trip from Quito
Explore Cotopaxi National Park and the Quilotoa Lagoon at your own pace
Tick off more sights in less time as you travel in air-conditioned comfort
Hotel pickup and drop-off in Quito mean you don’t have to find a meeting point

What's Included

Lunch
Professional guide
Private transportation
Tickets to natural areas
Bottled water

Breakfast
Alcoholic Beverages

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

07:00 AM

Pickup details

We pick up from any Hotel in Quito and its surroundings !

What To Expect

Cotopaxi National Park

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Laguna de Limpiopungo

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Los Andenes de Zumbahua (Pass By)

Laguna Quilotoa

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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

John_N

Pedro was great! He was knowledgable about Cotopaxi & Quilatoa and answered all our questions. It is a long day but Pedro had great energy throughout. If you are interested in seeing these 2 sites this is the best way to do it in a day.

Reviews

5.0

99 reviews

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

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 99 reviews

Nice tour of the countryside

Mary_L, Apr 2024

We had a great day with Pedro and Carolina even though the weather was not great. We could not see the top of Cotopaxi but drove up to 15k feet to try to get a peak. Was really nice to see the countryside along the way.

Best way to see both sites in 1 day!

John_N, Jan 2024

Fantastic day with 2 amazing guides Miguel & Jimmy

Richard_B, Dec 2023

What a great day, Miguel and Jimmy arrived at 7.00am in a lovely car. Miguel explained that the tour was totally flexible and we could do as much or as little as we wanted. Miguel was so informative, and we will leave Ecuador with a much better understanding of life for the people. The volcanos are just amazing to think they are still active and smoking . Thanks guys for a memorable day, we won’t forget it 👍

Volcanos and Crater Lakes

Charlie_C, Dec 2023

Get ready for a looong day! However you will enjoy nearly every moment of it. We were picked up promptly at 7am from our hotel, then headed straight to Cotopaxi National Park. It's about a hour and a half from Quito and we saw great views of the mountain driving up. Unfortunately when we got close to the mountain it was shrouded in cloud. But nonetheless I feel fortunate that she shown her face on us for the time we got to see her. After a short walk around a pond and a hike into a canyon we were on our way to Quilotoa. This drive is around about 2 hours but the views are spectacular. It was a sight to behold from the top of the crater and had it not been for a foot injury I would have totally braved the hike to the bottom. After getting our fill of the lake we had our (included) lunch in the small town. Lunch was enjoyable and we did a little curio shopping before heading back to Quito. We were back to our hotel around 4:30pm however if we had done the hike or gotten closer to Cotopaxi I could see us having been back closer to 6 or even 7pm so be aware. That being said what a fantastic time and something I'll be grateful I had the privilege of experiencing. Completely recommend!

A trip with stunning landscapes

Stephen_P, Oct 2023

Pedro was really great and told us all the important info for the trip. Even though Cotopaxi was a bit cloudy the landscape was amazing. And Quilotoa was stunning. A long but great day

A long day, but well worth it!

Stella_K, Aug 2023

We were booked for this tour originally on a Thursday, and unfortunately, had a false start to our tour. First, our tour guide had gone to the wrong hotel, but he was only a couple of minutes late. Then, the van that they provided was quite large for the narrow street by our hotel and got stuck in the road. We had to exit the van and then were told that they could only get a small jeep for our family of 4 for a 10+ hour tour. They other option they provided was to do the tour the following day. Thankfully, our itinerary was flexible, and we were able to do the tour on Friday. Our guide, Miguel was very knowledgeable about the sites that we were visiting, as well as about the history and stories surrounding Quilatoa, Cotopaxi, and the other volcanoes. He was also willing to answer our questions about the current political situation, since there was an incident that occurred just a few days prior. Our time at Quilatoa was amazing! It is a site that should not be missed! Our guide was always looking out for our safety and mindful of our comfort levels. He was extremely patient as we made the climb out of the crater. Our lunch spot was great, and he even helped haggle at the market when we were purchasing some souvenirs. Our day ended with a glimpse of Cotopaxi and a leisurely walk around the lagoon. It was a great way to end the day. We were concerned about doing Cotopaxi and Quilatoa in the same day, but with the conditions at Cotopaxi, it ended up being fine. It is a long drive, but the scenery is amazing and well worth it!

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hi Stella and Family Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback and share your experience with Miguel. We sincerely apologize for the initial challenges you encountered on the original day of your tour. It is unfortunate that the confusion with the location of the hotel and the transportation problem caused some delays and inconveniences. We understand that these incidents can affect the overall experience and we are pleased that you were able to reschedule for the next day. Miguel's dedication to ensuring you had a positive experience, including assisting with haggling in the market and meeting your needs, reflects our commitment to customer satisfaction. We understand that combining Cotopaxi and Quilatoa in one day may seem ambitious, but we are delighted to know that the scenic drive and captivating landscapes made the trip enjoyable and well worth it. Thank you for choosing our tour despite initial setbacks, and we look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back. greetings

Pedro has a phenomenal...

Jeremy_L, Jul 2023

Pedro has a phenomenal tour guide. I still can't believe we were able to do so much in one day, and we were incredibly lucky with the weather and wildlife sightings. I'd recommend this tour to anyone visiting Quito.

Driving

SarahDuffy, Jun 2023

The tour was perfect for me! There was a lot of driving between the points, but I didn't need an intense hike at either location (especially given the altitude) so was a good use of my day. The guide, Ivan, was really nice and informative and the couple I went on the tour with were really great. We even had an added stop at a local Ecuadorian home and Ivan was nice enough to ensure we stopped somewhere with an ATM during the day per my request. The lower rating is due to a negative customer service interaction with the tour management that would lead me to book with a different company when returning to Ecuador.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hello again Dear Sarah Thank you for sharing your Review about the Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Tour. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the destinations and found the tour to be a good use of your day. It's great that Ivan, your guide, provided a pleasant and informative experience, and that you had pleasant company during the tour. We apologize again for any negative customer service experiences you have encountered with our travel management. We have taken your feedback to heart and are deeply sorry that we did not meet your expectations in terms of customer service our failure to provide you with more information your concern will be immediately shared with our management team and we will take appropriate steps to address the issue and work diligently to improve the overall customer experience based on your valuable feedback. We understand that you may consider booking with a different company in the future, but we sincerely hope that you will give us another opportunity to serve you. If we decide to choose us again, we will do everything possible to ensure a more positive and satisfying experience. Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience caused and thank you for taking the time to submit a second review. Sincerely, Lili Manager

A wonderful trip and superb service by the guide

Fangyi_Z, May 2023

We had a wonderful day trip, including normally should have been two separate destinations: Cotopaxi & Quilotoa. Our guide Pedro is an outstanding tour guide. He went down to bottom of volcano crater lake with us, helped rent the horse for us and spent huge amount of time to take photos for us. In addition, we happened to stay in a hotel that is 45min away from Quito center. While the other tour company asked for additional $37 for transportation, THIS company honored the promise to picked us up and Pedro used his own car to dropped us off for free. We are very grateful!

Response from Host, May 2023

Dear Fangyi Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us! We are thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful day trip to both Cotopaxi and Quilotoa, and that Pedro was an outstanding tour guide. It's great to know that he went the extra mile to ensure that you had a memorable experience, including accompanying you to the bottom of the volcano crater lake, helping you rent a horse, and taking photos for you. We are also glad to hear that our company honored its promise to pick you up and drop you off for free, despite the distance from Quito center. We believe that it's important to provide excellent service to all of our customers, regardless of their location. Thank you again for choosing us as your tour company, and we look forward to the opportunity to serve you again in the future! Best regards,

Perfect day

Paul_T, Apr 2023

Great day with a great tour guide and a great driver. Weather was horrible but there’s not much you can do about it. Be aware that sometimes you go to the volcano and you don’t see much because of the weather but that’s part of it. Everything was perfect. It was a long day, but the car was very comfortable. This was scheduled to be a group tour but we were the only ones so it was a private program. That made it even more exciting.

Fun filled day with Pedro

Madison_W, Jan 2023

Pedro gave our family an amazing private tour of both Cotopaxi and Quilotoa crater. Friendly and knowledgeable, I would recommend Pedro every time. He even ran down and up the crater with me for fun!

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Dear MAdison, thank you very much for writing to us and letting us know about your experience with us. We are very excited to know that you and your family had a very nice time on this Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Full day Tour. And that Our Guide Pedro has turned this tour into something to remember, running in Quilotoa was an act of motivation for everyone. Happy for this Pedro sends greetings!

Pedro and Jimmy were...

John_B, Dec 2022

Pedro and Jimmy were awesome! Pedro was so knowledgeable about the area and Jimmy, our driver, was so in tuned to every time I reached for my camera so he could stop for a picture. They bent over backwards to adjust to our schedule. Would definitely recommend them!

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Dear John Thank you very much for take the time to write this review. We are very happy to know that you had a great time with Pedro and Jimy our Dreams Tour team! We are very happy to know that we met your expectations. Best regards

Nice day with Pedro at Cotopaxi and Quilotoa

Gabriel_H, Nov 2022

Had a great day with Pedro. Including Quilotoa and Cotopaxi in one day is a lot, and you spend a long time driving from one place to another. However, Pedro was a great companion. His English is excellent and we spent the drive talking about life in Ecuador and learned a lot from him. At Cotopaxi you basically get a viewpoint of the glacier which is beautiful, but we did not have time to go to the shelter half way through the mountain for better views. Limpiopungo lagoon is pretty disappointing it is pretty much a large pond. Quilotoa lagoon is beautiful. When we arrived it was obscured by fog, but we broke for lunch and when we came back the fog dissipated and we had great looks. We also loved a stop at a hut of local indigenous people who share the hut with their guinea pigs.

Response from Host, Nov 2022

We are very happy that you enjoyed the Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Tour. Pedro really enjoys his job. We hope to have you again in Ecuador, Gabriel.

Great destinations but would have been better with a different guide

GLENN_O, Feb 2022

I would like to give this excursion 3.5 stars if I could. The trip did take us to two magnificent natural destinations in one day, which made for a long day with a lot of time spent on the road. Our stop at Cotopaxi was a long way from the summit, I wish we could have driven at least somewhat closer to the top of the volcano. The hike down to Quilotoa was strenuous but invigorating; riding a horse back up was money well spent, especially since we were behind schedule and short for time at that point. We were a group of four on a private tour in a very nice but surprisingly large bus. The trip was more expensive than the competition for no apparent reason. The hotel pickup and dropoff was convenient and on time. The included lunch was at an attractive hostel near the Quilotoa lagoon, although the food was just average, and we also had a stop for coca tea at a pleasant snack bar bear Cotopaxi. The guide did provide bottled water and fresh fruit for snacks. The guide, Carlos, was knowledgeable, had a good personality, and spoke English well. The biggest problem with the trip was that Carlos spent virtually the entire day chatting with the bus driver; almost the only time he spoke with the guests was when we asked him a question. When we asked questions, his answers were generally excellent, but there was a lot of time during the day when he said nothing to us when he could have been providing us more information about what we were seeing. Also, our group included two people in their 70's with mobility issues, but he generally didn't ask how they were doing, offer restroom breaks, etc. My overall review is that I'm glad we got to see these two wonderful places, but this trip would have been much better had the guide been more attentive to the guests.

Response from Host, Mar 2022

Dear Glenn We want to thank you for writing this valuable comment. We have read your review and we take it very seriously to provide professional and quality services to our future travelers. Unfortunately, the current winter weather conditions did not allow them to clearly observe the Cotopaxi volcano. The stop on this Tour is La Laguna de Limpiopungo, which is inside the Cotopaxi National Park, we would have liked you to mention it to the tour guide so that he can bring you a little closer to the Volcano. The distance between the two attractions Cotopaxi and Quilotoa are 2 hours by road, so if we consider that transportation is the most comfortable for our clients and their experience is pleasant and enjoy the Andean landscapes on the way to the second attraction. We very much agree with you; the guides can make or break the trip. The Dreams Ecuador Team puts a lot of effort in selecting the guides that work for us as those who have previously received good comments and meet the standards in quality and services. However, on this occasion we are very sorry We are very committed to getting this feedback to the guide in question and will make sure that you improve certain aspects of your guide in the future. We are glad to know that you enjoyed the ride, our goal is always to provide the best possible service to our passengers and we will continue working on this, again I appreciate your comment, as it helps us to continue growing! Best regards Carolina Inlago

See a lot in a short amount of time!

Victoria_W, Feb 2022

Carlos Iza and Mairon were terrific guides for this amazing private experience to go to Cotopaxi National Park and Quilotoa in the same day. They coordinated everything to my comfort and interest level and even took special care for some dietary restrictions I have as a diabetic which was incredibly thoughtful. Unfortunately, it was very cloudy at Cotopaxi so I didn't get to see the volcanic cone, but Carlos Iza still made the experience very interesting and I think it actually made me pay attention more to what I learned about the wildlife in the National Park. I learned a lot about the native plants to the paramo region, how they have been used by indigenous peoples for health purposes or rituals, and how geological changes with the tectonic plates have even influenced the biospheres and ecosystems in the Andes and surrounding areas. It was really excellent. In Quilotoa, we took a challenging but rewarding hike down to the lagoon and then had a really good lunch afterward. I told Carlos Iza and Mairon that sometimes the food on tours is not very good, but this food was excellent! On the way back to Quito we stopped at to see a local artist and how they make pictorial representations of the local cultural legends and also stopped at the home of an indigenous family to see their way of life (I was originally afraid this would be a cringey experience, but it actually was a very wonderful sharing of ideas of how local people live with the animals and plants of their land). Overall, the only think I would change is having been able to see the Cotopaxi Volcano, but I chose to come to Ecuador during the winter months and fully recognize that no one can control Mother Nature when it comes to the clouds and the rains! This tour was absolutely an A++

Response from Host, May 2022

Dear Victoria Thanks for your comment! It is very gratifying for us to know that you have enjoyed your trip. For us it is very important that our guides are very well prepared to give you quality time during the days of the Tour. We hope you come back soon!