If you are planning a trip through the volcanoes of Ecuador, Quito is the perfect destination. An impressive high-altitude city, with years of antiquity and a concentration of stories and cultures making it unique on the continent. Now then: are you ready to go further? Do you dare a surpassing adventure on the margins, testing physique and skill to explore dream landscapes? In this article, we are going to talk to you about numerous excursions to the most famous volcanoes, waterfalls, and lagoons of Ecuador.
These are unimaginable natural scenarios, which can only be fully appreciated when faced. Of course, for each of these experiences, more than good will is required: that is why we are going to suggest Quito packages with essential and top-quality services, such as our professional guides, our special vehicles to transfer you to each point, and the necessary equipment so you don't worry about any detail.
Tour to Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Volcanoes
If the adventure bug has already bitten you, it's time to name those landscapes surrounding Quito that seem straight out of another planet. One of the most complete—and challenging—tours is the Cotopaxi and Quilotoa tour, an intense experience condensing in a single day two of Ecuador's most striking natural icons. Can you imagine walking at more than four thousand meters high, surrounded by infinite páramos, and hours later standing in front of a turquoise water lagoon hidden inside a volcanic crater?
The journey begins in Cotopaxi National Park, where the absolute protagonist is the country's most famous active volcano. There, the Limpiopungo lagoon and the chuquiraguas forest trails are visited, an environment combining silence, wind, and imposing views of the Avenue of the Volcanoes. Later, the road continues towards Quilotoa, whose emerald lagoon surprises even the most experienced travelers.
On the way, contact with local communities like Shalala adds a cultural dimension enriching the experience and connecting the landscape with the people inhabiting it.
Cotopaxi Volcano Bike Tour
For those seeking to take adrenaline a step further, the bicycle tour of the Cotopaxi volcano is directly a personal test. It includes a challenging hike up to five thousand meters to try to touch the glacier, followed by an exciting two-hour descent on a mountain bike, with Cotopaxi watching every pedal stroke. The distance from Quito to the Cotopaxi volcano is 107 kilometers along the Avenue of the Volcanoes. The bicycle journey starts in the National Park. It is an intense, sporting experience completely different from the traditional tour, designed for active travelers wanting to feel the landscape in their body.
Specialized equipment and resolved logistics help focus on what is important: enjoying the challenge, although altitude and effort do not forgive.
Tour to Quilotoa Lagoon
If instead your adventurous spirit leans more towards contemplation and cultural encounter, the tour to Quilotoa lagoon may be your best choice. Descending to the crater and seeing up close the changing color of the lagoon is one of those images remaining engraved forever. Added to that are visits to indigenous markets, communities like Tigua—famous for its art on leather—and rural landscapes showing daily life in the Andes. Mind you: the climb back from the lagoon is steep and demanding, but every step is worth it.
Tour to Mindo
And if you feel you've had enough altitude, Mindo appears as a green respite. This tour we offer completely changes the scenery: cloud forest, waterfalls, hummingbirds, and a much kinder climate. It is a relaxed and versatile excursion, ideal for combining nature watching with optional activities such as canopy, tubing, or artisanal chocolate tours. It is perfect if traveling as a family or if passionate about fauna and flora, or simply to slow down after several days in the capital.
How to Get from Quito to Quilotoa Lagoon?
There are some alternatives to arrive at Quilotoa from the city of Quito, we tell you about them below.
- By bus: the most economical option. To get to Quilotoa from the city of Quito, you must first go to the city of Latacunga, capital of the Cotopaxi province, and take public transport at the Quitumbe Terrestrial Terminal, south of the city of Quito. Buses bound for the city of Latacunga depart regularly; the ticket price is around $2.50 USD and the estimated travel time is approximately 1.5 hours. Once at the terrestrial terminal of the city of Latacunga, you must take a 63 km bus to the parish of Zumbahua, for about $2.50 USD. These buses leave every hour and run daily, without exception.
- By car: The distance from the city of Quito to Quilotoa is about 178 kilometers. From Quito, take the Pan-American Highway South to the city of Latacunga (45 minutes to an hour). From here, take the Pujilí-La Maná road until reaching the Zumbahua parish. Once in that town, follow about 13 more kilometers on a paved road to reach the top of the Quilotoa crater. There is an extra option to get to Quilotoa through the entrance called La Virgen. You must take the Pan-American Highway South towards the city of Machachi, and from the main road, a paved road reaches the El Chaupi parish. From there, via a secondary road, you reach the La Virgen sector.