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Visiting Quilotoa on a Day Trip from Latacunga

October 14, 2012 by Arianwen Morris 10 Comments

Take a Quilotoa day trip or join the ‘Quilatoa Loop’ hike, but whatever you do, don’t miss Quilatoa off your Ecuador itinerary.

WHY TAKE A QUILOTOA DAY TRIP?

Quilotoa day trip - cloud shadows

The views from the top of Quilotoa Crater are incredible. When we rounded the corner and came face to face with the shimmering water of Quilotoa Lake, it stopped us in our tracks. The conversation went dead and we all stood in stunned silence watching the shadows of clouds dance in patterns across its surface.

If you’re only on a day trip, you also have more time to play around at the crater, including the chance to rent a kayak on the lake.

HIKING INTO QUILOTOA CRATER

Quilotoa day trip - testing the temperature

If you’re just on a Quilotoa day trip then there’s a fantastic walk to the lake and back. Descending into the crater takes about 40 minutes, but this path should come with a warning. It’s all very well bounding down through the scree towards the crystal clear aquamarine lake, but the hike back out again is a tough one.

Quilotoa Lake is located at almost 4000 metres’ elevation, which makes simple tasks like bending over to tie your shoe laces strenuous activities. The relentless sun and complete lack of shade on the footpath add to the challenge. And finally, all that loose scree that carried you down the steep slopes on your care-free descent threatens to drag you back down with every step. If you’re really struggling to get back out, you can hire a mule.

DOING THE QUILOTOA DAY TRIP BY BUS

Quilotoa day trip - winding road

To ensure your Quilatoa day trip actually is a day trip, you should leave your hostel at 7 am or shortly after.

There’s a bus that leaves for Zumbahua from the main bus terminal at 8 am, taking about 2 hours, and – at the time of writing – cost between $1.25 and $2.00 each way.

In Zumbahua, you can negotiate a lift in the back of a pick-up truck. This cost us $2 per person on the way out and $3 on the way back and took about 20 minutes. Safety shouldn’t be an issue. This isn’t like hitch hiking. All the locals – even the school children – use these vehicles to get around because buses are so few and far between.

ADDITIONAL COSTS

Quilotoa day trip - riding in the pick-up

It costs an additional $1 to enter the crater-viewing vicinity so make sure you travel with some spare cash. It  also wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring enough to get you shelter or a longer ride just in case you can’t rely on public transport.

On our bus back to Latacunga, there had been a landslide in the road, and a massive queue of lorries and buses had to wait more than an hour while they cleared it. While it’s always worth factoring extra time for unforeseen events like this, I saw so many roadworks going on that I wouldn’t be surprised if, in a few months’ time, there were regular, easy buses navigating the roads between each of the tiny towns in the region.

ALTERNATIVE HIKES

Quilotoa day trip - enjoying the view

If you’re planning on doing some serious hiking at altitude in the region, a visit to Quilotoa crater is handy as acclimatisation.

A lot of people who are preparing for the Cotopaxi Volcano climb do a multi-day hike that incorporates Quilotoa Crater called the Quilotoa Loop. It passes through small indigenous villages and highland markets. The accommodation is minimal and transport along the bumpy dirt tracks is hard to come by, but I hear the remoteness makes the journey that much more rewarding.

It’s also possible to hike around the rim of the crater. This should take between three and five hours.

Comments

  1. Gaelyn says

    October 14, 2012 at 3:21 pm

    Looks like a awesome hike. But I’d have trusted the mules coming back out. Here at the canyon I’m told by our wranglers that, “Mules are not suicidal.”
    Gaelyn recently posted..Shadows on the EsplanadeMy Profile

    Reply
    • Arianwen Morris says

      October 14, 2012 at 3:37 pm

      I’ve been tempted a few times on my South America trip, but they make me nervous!

      Reply
  2. Les Petits Pas de Juls says

    October 16, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    Quilotoa is just an amazing site! I didn’t climb down as you did but did the hike around, and the sights are breath-taking all the while! what amazed me most are the children running up and down to take care of cattle or horses around the crater, not even feeling the strain of breathing we still do even after some time up in the mountains!
    Impressive colors on your pictures again!
    Where to next?
    Enjoy!
    Les Petits Pas de Juls recently posted..Beautiful Blogger Award !My Profile

    Reply
    • Arianwen Morris says

      October 16, 2012 at 9:41 pm

      I know! It always amazes me how fit and agile the locals are. It’s embarrassing struggling up a footpath, dressed head to toe in ‘The North Face’ gear, then being overtaken by a woman in a skirt with a baby on her back and a goat in her arms!

      Reply
  3. memographer says

    April 22, 2013 at 7:46 pm

    A good story! Such a beautiful lake. I know what you mean by hiking in high altitudes. I’ve hiked the Taquile Island on Lake Titicaca at 4,000 meters… Fun! :)
    memographer recently posted..Machu Picchu – The Lost City of The IncasMy Profile

    Reply
    • Arianwen Morris says

      April 22, 2013 at 7:53 pm

      Ah, I went to Amantani. I so nearly gave in and took a donkey taxi! If you go to Ecuador, try Cotopaxi. That’s the real killer!

      Reply
  4. Xavoc says

    June 3, 2013 at 7:26 am

    Quilotoa is magical, nice story!

    BTW, Saw your image used in an ad with the logo of a company… you should probably report it..

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=546026155436188&set=a.389481291090676.83258.379610322077773&type=1&permPage=1

    Reply
    • Arianwen Morris says

      June 3, 2013 at 12:29 pm

      Thanks for letting me know. Good spot!! I’ll look into it.

      Reply
  5. Oceanic Salon says

    May 3, 2016 at 9:28 am

    nice one

    Reply

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