Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
High in the Ecuadorian Andes, the Quilotoa crater lake is one of the most gorgeous destinations in the volcano region of Ecuador. There are many ways to visit the Quilotoa Lagoon depending on how much time you have and whether you are interested in hiking or just walk to take in the view. Below you can see everything we learned about visiting the Quilotoa Crater Lake and how you can plan your visit to this amazing place.
The best ways to visit Quilotoa Crater Lake is to either take a tour, arrange your own transportation or hike the Quilotoa Loop trail.
See more about hiking the Quilotoa Loop.
Overview of Lake Quilotoa
Quilotoa crater lake is the westernmost volcano in Ecuador and last erupted around 1300. During this eruption lava flowed all the way to the Pacific coast and a 3 km crater formed. This gorgeous crater filled with water and now is a popular place to visit.
You can stop by the town of Quilotoa, walk down the steep hillside to the water, or take the long and challenging hike around the entire lake. If you choose to go down to the water, you can also rent kayaks to get out on the water.
Join a Tour
The easiest way to visit Quilotoa crater lake for many people will be to take a tour. You can find tours directly from Quito, Banos, and Latacunga that include a visit to the lake as well as other activities in the area. If you are short on time a tour may be the best way to go as they will take care of the logistics. You can see a few tour options below or search for tours either on Viator or Get Your Guide.
Quilotoa Lake Tour with Kayak Rental
This tour is an excellent deal and offers transportation from Quito as well as meals and a kayak rental. There are also a couple of extra activities that make this tour great including a visit to a local market and a home.
Private Quilotoa Tour
This is a private tour that includes time at the crater to hike down to the water as well as a visit to a local village where you will do some painting and then visit Toachi Canyon.
Overnight Quilotoa Tour
This is a fun adventure tour that includes hiking, biking and an overnight with visits to both Cotapaxi and Quilotoa. This is an excellent option if you have the time and want to see both amazing spots.
Take the Bus
If you don’t want to take a tour, another way to visit Quilotoa is to take a bus. The best option is to take a bus to Latacunga and from here catch a bus up to Quilotoa. Buses run relatively frequently to Quilotoa (or you can take a bus to Zumbahua and get a taxi or ride for a few dollars up the hill to Quilotoa.
If you decide to take the bus, once you arrive at the crater lake you have a few options for activities (see more below) but there is no fee to enjoy the lake!
See more about Ecuador Buses.
Hike the Quilotoa Loop
If you have time, like to hike and are up for an adventure, one of the best ways to to enjoy this region and see Quilotoa Lake is to do the 3 day Quilotoa Loop hike. This hike can be done in several ways but the most common way is to hike between towns from Sigchos to Isinlivi to Chugchilan to Quilotoa.
This is a gorgeous and challenging hike and is how we chose to visit Quilotoa crater lake. The hike covers about 24 miles and almost 8,000 feet of elevation gain. Since you are hiking between towns you only need to bring a day pack with extra cloths as there are excellent places to stay along the route.
This is how we visited Quilotoa Lake after spending time researching different tours. We loved the Quilotoa Loop trek and highly recommend it if you enjoy hiking.
You can get complete details on how to do this hike including where to stay, how to navigate and more on our Complete Guide to the Quilotoa Loop.
Things to do in Quilotoa
Whether you are on a tour, taking a bus, or hiking to Quilotoa, there are lots of activities to explore right in the area. Below you can see a few local activities:
Hike around the Quilotoa Lagoon
The hike around Quilotoa is about 6.4 miles with 2,600 feet of elevation gain. While the hike follows the ridge, there is significant up and down sections and the rim itself is made up for small peaks. The trail takes between 4-6 hours to complete but is s truly gorgeous hike!
Kayak on Quilotoa Crater Lake
Once you arrive at Quilotoa, one of the best things to do is to walk down to the water and rent kayaks. Kayak rentals can be done on site and only cost a few dollars. The walk down to the lake is a bit steep, but not too bad if you take your time.
Visit the Shalalá and Quilotoa Lookouts
Even if you aren’t up for hiking around the entire lake, it’s worth exploring a the viewpoints. You can get to the viewing areas quickly right in town.
Visit Tigua a Quilotoa Artisan Workshop
Tigua is a small down near Quilotoa that has become the center for local artisans. The main item made here is wine wood masks traditionally used in local celebrations. Another art form here is sheepskin painting. You can see different paintings here or even learn to make your own in Tigua.
Toachi River Canyon
This nearby canyon is a beautiful place to visit and many of the tours to Quilotoa Lagoon stop at this canyon.
Things to Know about Visiting Quilotoa Lake Ecuador
When to Visit Quilotoa Lagoon
You can visit the Quilotoa crater lake at any time of year and the temperatures are remarkably stable throughout the year. The best time to visit is between June and September when there is less rain. We visited during late February and despite the forecast for rain everyday, most days the rain camp late in the day after we finished hiking.
You can see the average Quilotoa weather in the table below.
Where to Stay in Quilotoa
HosterÃa Chukirawa – This is a great option with lodging right in town near the park and bus station. The is a restaurant on site with good food.
Runa Wasi Quilotoa – this hotel is one the more expensive side and offers excellent rooms and has a restaurant on site
