laguna quilotoa

The lake is the ONLY attraction here so if you don't have a lot of time you may want to skip it. First of all, it takes nearly forever to get to this place. Secondly, accommodations and restaurants are very sparse in this little "town" if you want to call it that. It is easy to walk down to the lake, but, boy oh boy, be ready for a very challenging and steep walk back up. You will need about 30-45 minutes to descend and about double that to come back up. If it is not a particularly sunny day then you will not get to see the true turquoise color of the lake. HOWEVER, if NATURE is what you seek then plan to stay here for at least 2 days. Use one day to go down to the lake and then back up and then the next day you can hike the rim (this takes from 5-7 hours). You can get out to Quilotoa by bus from Latacunga (a bustling little city) on the loop. Regarding "The Loop" - there really isn't much more to see than Latacunga and the Laguna in Quilotoa. No internet here at all so be prepared for that. There are several hostels in Quilotoa so you don't really need to make a reservation. They also serve meals, as a general rule, since there really aren't any restaurants. We stayed at one (Hostal Cabanas Quilotoa) which is to the right at the very entrance to the town (just past the toll booth - you must pay $2.00 pp to enter the town). We paid $18 per person and this was for a pvt rm with pvt bath and 2 separate beds, included breakfast and dinner). They will quote you $25 per person - don't pay it. Tell them you will go back to Zumbahua (a town 15 km away) to stay because there is WIFI in that town. I promise you they won't let you leave. They have a little wood burner stove in the room - they light it for you at night. Ours went out right away, but others said their's stayed lit as long as they kept adding wood. They advertise hot water, but, in reality, it is remotely warm. Food is typical Ecuadorian fare, but it is abundant. It was chilly in Quilotoa, but not freezing cold.IF YOU FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL THEN PLEASE CLICK ON THE BUTTON: "Was this review helpful?" I try to provide as much information as possible and I like to know if I am helping people. Thank you.

This is a great place to visit!!! The view is incredible and you can find food, lodge, and souvenirs. The lagune is in the top of the volcano and you have to walk down hill to the lagune. If you are very tire, you can rent a horse for the trip

A beautifull crater lake, especially when the sun is shining. Walking 300 meters down from the rim to the lake is a bit risky, as the sand on the stones makes steps very slippery. So wear good shoes. Going up bij mule/horse should be $10, but we where asked $12, and there are little bargaining options being down there and only one horse around.

Best view came from not just hikes up & down and at the main entrance but when we rode our horses back on the left side of the rim. Amazing view of the entire lake from top to bottom. A very clear day even when we left after 2pm. We came on horses from Black Sheep Inn, quite a hike but the ride back was very challenging with steep ravines & into canyons. Glad it was a clear & beautiful day.

Went here with a Family from Germany. It was absolutely marvelous. Though I recommend you bring something like a jacket and a hat or scar if you intend on staying up on the ridge because it is really cold. Apart from the trails leading to the lake in the crater there are also some that go around the ridge and split off to local towns(pueblos) some trails are marked with specific destinations. I took a trail and it was a great 6 hour hike to the hostal we were staying at. (See my other review.)

The scenary was absolutely stunning, blue lake surrounded by high mountains that form the rim. The hike down to the water was fun, as was the hike up to the rim. Horses are available for those who need a little extra help getting back up. There is a trail along the rim which we did not take due to lack of time, but our guide has done that with other visitors. I think it takes a whole day to hike around the lake along the rim trail. The drive from Cotopoxi Natl Park to Quilotoa was beautiful through many varied landscapes.

This trail had a spectacular view of the lake although my parents had a hard time with the altitude it was a great hike. We didn't make it the full circle because of lack of time but if we had more time we would have hiked it all.

We visited last week. In my opinion this is one of the best places to visit when you come to EC. It's an extinguished volcano, in which its crater has a lagoon with an amazing turquoise water, one of the best sceneries to take pictures and visit alone, with friends or family. Try to get there early so you can have enough time to take pictures and have a nice walk to the lake.

Since we were short on time, we took a taxi from our hotel in Latacunga. The scenic drive through the mountainous roads were breathtaking. Taking a bus might be a good idea as well, and it would save you some money. You have to pay $2 pp to get in.The lake looks majestic from the top. You could either hike all the way down, or you could hike around the rim, which would take you about 5+ hours. If you are planning to go down to the surface of the lake, keep in mind, you are at 3500+ m above sea level, and the 280m climb back up to the rim from the lake surface, might be quite strenuous, especially if you are not acclimatized to high altitude. There are options of riding back on a mule. However I would suggest take your time and hike back up. It might be exhausting, but definitely rewarding. Once you are back, feel free to enjoy the market and some local food.

2-3 hour drive from Quito depending on traffic but the "scenic tour" you travel is worth it alone. You will see people dressed in the customary hats and sweaters along the little farm towns you pass. The mountain views are awesome. Their is a huge canyon before you hit the lake too. Worth a stop.Most of all visit the volcano lake! I looked at it for hours. Just beautiful. Trails lead up and down the observatory. Donkey rides. Bring a coat and hat. Hostels are available. Kitchen serves local food! No internet, TV, or cell service. I smiled when I saw their TripAdvisor sticker!!!

It's a medium hicking tour. You're going down the hills to the water and then can go back with horses.

Went our first full day in Ecuador. We took a taxi from Quito (for $80). There were 4 of us, and didnt want the mess of switching buses. Could have got there much cheaper.... Wonderful views, cold windy, Walk to the bottom, rode horses back up, also kayaking available. Plenty of hostels, and places to eat. from cheap to nice. We walked around part of the rim, saw shepherds grazing their flocks of sheep/goats, also pigs grazing on the slopes. last bus leaves at 1 PM...we negotiated a pickup truck ride- but a late bus showed up (Friday afternoon) so we took that to Latacunga. Overall an easy 1 day trip.Warning- I visited the first day in Ecuador and I was not ready for the high altitude. I had a bad headache, and just wanted to get out of there- be prepared......

Great hike down, tough hike back up. Mules for $10 might be worth it. Return transportation by bus may be difficult. we had a rental car and were able to give a ride to couple of stranded trekkers.

It's an amazing lake and instead of going down to the crater, it's better to walk at least a bit around it. Then you enjoy the view over the crater and over the mountains in the skyline. We took a bus to get there from Chugchilan (9am on Sunday) and walked back following a map that we were given in The Black Sheep Inn (if you get the same one, ask also for the photostory of the walk- there you see spots where you might get lost - it was super helpful for us to find our way back). It was a tough hike back but the views were stunning and very rewarding. Take care if it's windy - we experienced a little sand storm on our way down from the lake, direction Chugchilan. BTW as nasty as the sand storm were begging children (the only time I experienced it in Ecuador was just there) who didn't want to accept that they won't get anything and were following us for a while. It seemed that they live on a farm at the slope which you pass while finding your way down.

An amazing view. Nice hike to the bottom of the crater. If you prefer, you can ride the mules on the way up. A bit windy at the top, but warms up when you hike down.