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QUILOTOA · FULL DAY · FROM QUITO

Quilotoa Day Tour from Quito.

The easy part is going down.

Descend into an ancient crater. Kayak across a volcanic lake. Then earn the view all over again on the way back up.

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FROM US$59

shared tour

DURATION Full Day

Quito to Quilotoa

CRATER RIM 3,914 m

Quilotoa Lagoon

FLOW STYLE Active

hike + optional kayak

THE EXPERIENCE

The view from the rim
is only the beginning.

Most people arrive at Quilotoa and look down.

We're going down.

The trail drops from the crater rim toward that impossible turquoise water. At the bottom, take a kayak out across the lagoon, slow down for a moment and look back at the walls surrounding you.

Then comes the part nobody sees in the postcard. You climb back out.

THE CRATER AT A GLANCE

Down first. Then earn your way back.

01 3,914 m

Meet the crater.

Stand on the rim and take in the first impossible view of Quilotoa.

02 THE DESCENT

Now go inside it.

Leave the viewpoint behind and follow the trail toward the lagoon.

03 THE WATER

Change perspective.

Reach the shore, slow down and take in the crater from below.

04 OPTIONAL

Take to the lagoon.

Add a kayak if you want to experience Quilotoa from the water.

05 THE WAY UP

Earn the rim again.

The return climb is the part the postcard leaves out.

CarpeDM travellers descending into Quilotoa crater in Ecuador
THE WAY DOWN The lake keeps getting closer.

So does the climb back out.

YOUR DAY

Quito to Quilotoa.
And back again.

Roads, weather and the pace of the group can shift exact timings. That's part of travelling through the Ecuadorian Andes.

07:20
QUITO

Leave the city behind.

Meet at the CarpeDM Adventures office in Quito at 07:20. A second meeting point is available at Hilton Colón at approximately 07:45.

MORNING
THE ROAD SOUTH

The Andes start telling the story.

Travel through highland landscapes toward Quilotoa, with a local market visit on Thursday and Sunday departures.

EN ROUTE
ANDEAN LIFE

More than the destination.

Stop along the route for a closer look at the landscapes and communities that shape this part of the Andes.

3,914 M
QUILOTOA

Meet the crater.

Arrive at the rim and take in the lagoon before beginning the descent.

DOWN
THE LAGOON

Go beyond the viewpoint.

Hike toward the water and, if you choose, add time on the lagoon by kayak.

UP
THE RETURN

Now earn the view again.

Climb back toward the crater rim at your own steady pace before lunch.

~19:00
QUITO

Back to the city.

Return to Quito after a full day in the high Andes.

SEE THE CRATER

The postcard only shows you
the view from the top.

Indigenous musicians in the Ecuadorian Andes near Quilotoa
BEYOND THE LAGOON The Andes are more than scenery.

Landscape, culture and everyday life share the same road.

CHOOSE YOUR FLOW

Your crater. Your pace.

01

Hike

Descend toward the lagoon and make the climb back to the rim your challenge.

02

Hike + Kayak

Add time on the water and experience the crater from a completely different angle.

03

Take It Slower

The lagoon isn't going anywhere. Listen to your body and let altitude set the pace.

FIND YOUR SLOW FLOW STYLE

How this journey travels.

Not every experience creates impact in the same way. Here's where Quilotoa sits in the CarpeDM travel framework.

TRAVEL APPROACH
△

Traditional

An iconic Ecuador experience shaped by one extraordinary volcanic crater.

◒

Responsible

Local guides, local livelihoods and visitor spending connected to highland communities.

≈

Slow Flow

Descend with curiosity. Climb steadily. Let your pace matter more than the checklist.

TOUR DNA
👥 Small Group ▰▰▰□□ Active 12+ Age ♧ Nature
IMPACT CONNECTIONS
8 Decent Work
& Economic Growth
15 Life
on Land
CARPEDM FLOW

Travel can entertain, support or regenerate. Knowing the difference is part of travelling better.

Travellers sharing a moment with a local woman overlooking Quilotoa crater lake
QUILOTOA Come for the crater.
Remember the people.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

We bring the essentials.

  • Bilingual Spanish / English guide
  • Tourist transport from Quito
  • Lunch

Kayaking and any optional local activities should be confirmed before we publish the final inclusions.

BRING WITH YOU

The Andes make their own weather.

Warm layers Waterproof jacket Hiking shoes Water Sun protection Hat Snacks

Breakfast, additional food and drinks, personal expenses and tips are not included.

YOUR GROUP. YOUR QUILOTOA.

One crater.
Four simple prices.

The per-person price changes with your group size. No mystery at checkout.

QUILOTOA DAY TOUR
Private Your own guide, vehicle and pace
US$179 per person
2 travellers
US$89 per person
3 travellers
US$69 per person
4+ travellers
US$59 per person
Book Quilotoa
NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

Your crater.
Your pace.

Travelling with a larger group, looking for a different setup or simply want to talk it through? Send us a message.

Talk to CarpeDM →

TRAVELLER VOICES

Quilotoa isn't just a viewpoint.
The best part happens after you start walking.

QUILOTOA Traveller reviews

See what travellers say about our established Quilotoa experience on Tripadvisor.

Read Quilotoa traveller reviews →
Quilotoa crater lake and Andean landscape in Ecuador
MORE THAN A LAGOON The road there
is part of the story.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Good questions.
Especially before the climb back up.

How difficult is the Quilotoa hike?

The descent is straightforward for many active travellers; the return climb is the demanding part. Altitude and your own pace matter more than speed.

Do I have to hike down to the lagoon?

No. Quilotoa can still be enjoyed from the crater rim. If you prefer a slower day, talk with your guide about the best option for you.

Is kayaking required?

No. Kayaking is optional. You can spend your time at the lagoon without going onto the water.

What altitude will we reach?

The crater rim sits at approximately 3,914 metres above sea level, so altitude can make the return hike feel harder than the distance suggests.

Do we visit a market?

Thursday and Sunday departures include a local market stop when the day's route and conditions allow.

Where does the Quilotoa day tour leave from?

Our standard meeting point is the CarpeDM Adventures office in Quito at approximately 07:20, with a Hilton Colón meeting point at approximately 07:45.

Can I book Quilotoa privately?

Yes. Private departures are available for travellers who prefer their own guide, vehicle and pace.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included in the standard Quilotoa day tour. Breakfast, snacks and additional drinks are not included.

SLOW FLOW TRAVEL

The view isn't
the whole story.

Quilotoa rewards the people who stay longer than the photograph.

Walk down. Get close to the water. Look back at the crater walls. Then climb steadily and let the landscape reveal itself again on the way up.

Sometimes going deeper is what changes the view.

KEEP EXPLORING

One crater tends to lead
somewhere else.

Quilotoa is one version of Ecuador. Here are three completely different ones.

Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador
VOLCANO · ANDES

Cotopaxi

High-altitude hiking, open páramo and an optional mountain-bike descent.

Explore Cotopaxi →
Hummingbird in the Mindo cloud forest of Ecuador
CLOUD FOREST

Mindo

Waterfalls, hummingbirds and chocolate in an entirely different Ecuador.

Explore Mindo →
Otavalo women in market
CULTURE · ANDES

Otavalo

Markets, landscapes and indigenous culture along the road north of Quito.

Explore Otavalo →

READY?

Down into the crater.
Back out with a story.

Quilotoa Day Tour from Quito · Shared departures from US$59.

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