Quilotoa Crater Lake Private Day Tour: Trekking, Market, Art and Llamas

5.0
(2 reviews)

10 hours (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English and 2 more

A tour to the Quilotoa Crater Lake is a must if you are visiting Ecuador. It´s a perfect day, where you can explore the beautiful Andes region. On the way to Quilotoa you will be able to take in the sights of the Avenue of Volcanoes including the Cotopaxi. Before going up to Quilotoa we will first stop and visit a traditional indigenous market, then we will make a stop at the town of Tigua renowned for its unique art style and handcrafted wooden masks of endemic wildlife and local legends, you will also have a chance to take a picture with a llama and traditional Andean homes at the Toachi Canyon. Once you arrive at Quilotoa you will have time to take in the amazing sights, trek down to the lake bottom, kayak on the lake and come back up riding a mule or horse. We will have lunch in town and head back to Quito before the fog comes down. Truly a fun packed day with tons of culture, art, landscapes and outdoor activities.

What's Included

Private transportation
Bottled water
Certified Bilingual Guide
Snacks
Entrance fees to attractions
Lunch
Gratuities
Personal expenses

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

We can pick up guests at any hotel in urban Quito and close to the airport.

Itinerary

Duration: 10 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Galeria del Primer Pintor de Tigua - "Julio Toaquiza Tigasi"

    On the way up to Quilotoa you will make a stop in the Andean town of Tigua. This town is renowned for its local artists. We will make a quick stop at some art galleries which showcase this unique local art style.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 2
    Tigua

    The town of Tigua is also famous for its hand crafted wooden masks. I love making a quick stop at a workshop where you can see how these masks are made and you have a choice of multicolored masks representing local animals and legends. Among these you´ll find, an andean fox, amazon monkey, wolf, rooster, Diablo Huma, and many more. Its a great stop for souvenirs.

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 3
    Laguna Quilotoa

    Once we make it to the town of Quilotoa, you will have time to walk around the touristy town a the top of the crater, take in the sights of the crater lake from the various lookout spots and trek down to the lake bottom where you can rent kayaks. If you are too tired you can take a mule or horse back to the top. Quilotoa Crater Lake is a breathtaking experience. Highly recommended!

    3 hours Admission ticket free
  • 4

    Pujili is a small Andean town on the way to Quilotoa. They have a great market here open on Wednesdays and Sundays. If your trip falls on either day we will make a stop here so you can experience a bit of Andean culture and see how a market works and operates in this corner of the World.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 5

    Zumbahua is a small Andean town on the way to Quilotoa. They have a great market here open on Saturdays. If your trip falls on a Saturday, we will make a stop here so you can experience a bit of Andean culture and see how a market works and operates in this corner of the World. The Zumbahua market is a very traditional indigenous market.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 6
    Mercado Indigena

    Saquisili is a small Andean town on the way to Quilotoa. They have a great market here open on Thursdays. If your trip falls on a Thursday we will make a stop here so you can experience a bit of Andean culture and see how a market works and operates in this corner of the World. Also a very traditional indigenous Andean market.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 7
    Canon del Rio Toachi

    The Toachi Canyon is called the Ecuadorian Grand Canyon. On the way up to Quilotoa we can make a short stop at a lookout point where you will be able to take in the beautiful sights of the Toachi Canyon. You can also take a picture with a llama and visit an Andean hut where you can see how the Andean indigenous live.

    20 minutes Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Supplied by Galapagos Connoisseur

Tags

Day Trips
Full-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private Sightseeing Tours
4WD Tours
Walking Tours
Nature Walks
Car Tours
Adventure Tours
Involves Animals
Zombie
Zombie Slice
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

5.0 Based on 2 2 reviews
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