Tours and Tickets to Experience Quilotoa Lagoon

There are plenty of ways to experience Quilotoa Lagoon. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Quilotoa Full Day Tour from Quito with Entrances
• 3-Day Andes Adventure Visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños
• Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Volcanoes Tour All in One-from Quito
• Quilotoa and Volcanoes Avenue Day Trip from Quito with Entrances
• Active Ecuador tour 8 days

There’s a US$2 fee to enter Quilotoa Lagoon. Day trips from Quito start from US$79 and typically include guided hikes to two lookout points and hassle-free round-trip transportation. Tours combining Quilotoa Lagoon with Cotopaxi National Park start from US$175. Expect to pay more for multi-day tours.

Yes, you can go hiking around Quilotoa Lagoon. You can hike downhill to the lakeshore, which takes about 30 minutes, followed by a 1-hour climb back up (challenging due to the altitude). There’s also a tough 7.5-mile (12-kilometer) loop around the rim with many sheer drops and uneven terrain.

Yes, the indigenous handicraft in the village of Quilotoa (beside the lagoon) is a great place to pick up souvenirs. Cotopaxi National Park, home to one of the world’s highest active volcanoes, is a 1.5-hour drive away, and some tours combine the two attractions on day trips from Quito.

Yes, you can rent a kayak to paddle out onto the lake or take a boat ride around the lake. This will require you to complete the up-and-down hike, so ensure you have acclimatized to the high altitude to help you catch your breath during the steep climb back up.

Yes, there are rustic accommodations near Quilotoa Lagoon; expect basic facilities in the homestay and camping site options. For more comfortable hostels and hotels, opt to stay in the nearby villages of Chugchilan and Isinlivi, which are part of the Quilotoa loop and just a short drive from the lagoon.