Upon arriving in Quito, we were eager to escape the city and embark on an adventure in the nearby mountains. Of course Cotopoxi was a top contender for a day trip. Fortunately, we also stumbled upon a trip to the Quilotoa Crater. Find out what to expect from a day trip to Quilotoa below.
Quilotoa Crater is a stunningly beautiful volcanic crater. This crater was formed by the collapse of a volcano’s summit, and it now holds a stunning blue-green lake. Our guide mentioned that it is still considered an active volcano even though it hasn’t erupted in many years.
The color of the lake varies with the weather and the time of day, from a deep blue to a shimmering green, making it a photographer’s dream. Hiking around the crater rim is a popular activity for visitors. There are also opportunities to go kayaking or take a dip in the lake itself. I feel like that would be an extremely cold experience though! 🥶 Quilotoa Crater is not only a geological wonder but also an important cultural site for the indigenous communities that live in the surrounding area.
Quilotoa Tour Info
We booked our full-day tour to Quilotoa through Viator. We were picked up at a nearby hotel and because we were staying the farthest north, they came and got us first and we sat through the rest of the pickups. Not ideal, but it is what it is.
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Quilotoa is quite far from Quito. Sometimes trips include going to both Cotopaxi and Quilotoa. I would suggest doing these two trips on different days. Otherwise, it would feel very rushed and you would not have enough time at either location to fully appreciate them.
Along the way, we stopped for breakfast and snacks, gearing up for the long trip ahead. Even though Quilotoa is a considerable distance from Quito, we were fortunate to enjoy spectacular views high up in the Andes Mountains from a double decker bus.
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A Couple of Stops before the Quilotoa Crater
Our first stop was at an artisan market in Tigua. There we sipped on traditional honey-like piñol and admired picturesque paintings and masks.
The following stop at the Toachi Canyon lookout proved less exciting, but the anticipation for Quilotoa Lagoon had already set in. Thankfully, we were almost there.
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Hiking to the Bottom of the Quilotoa Crater
Upon arriving at the small town that serves as the home of the Quilotoa lagoon lookout and trailhead, we were given ample time to explore… about three hours. Deciding to hike down to the lagoon, we set off with snacks in tow. About 15 minutes in, Levi didn’t want to continue. He had a “headache”, and I tink he was not looking forward to climbing back out. Mike and Levi turned around, but Isaac and I persisted. We enjoyed taking in stunning views of the crater’s beauty on our way down.
After maybe another 15 minutes, Isaac and I arrived at the bottom. If you do want to hike to the bottom and don’t desire to hike out, there are donkeys you can ride back to the top for a minimal fee.
At the bottom, you can also rent kayaks and explore the lagoon. The cost is pretty inexpensive; $3 for 30 minutes, $6 for an hour, and $10 for 3 hours. We didn’t have the time to kayak, so after a brief break to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and recharge with some M&Ms, we began our hike back up to the top.
Though not a particularly long hike, the altitude and hiking with a young child made it more challenging. It took a little over an hour to get back to the top. By this time we were hungry, so we grabbed some cheap food at a local restaurant.
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Enjoying the Culture of Ecuador
Mike and Levi had already eaten and went out to explore. They’d observed a number of dressed up locals walking past the restaurant as they dined inside, so upon exiting, they followed in the direction everyone had gone.
Beginning of the Festivities
Behind the buildings that lined the main street, an impromptu ring had been assembled. When they arrived, there was a full on brass band walking around in a large crowd playing rhythmic tunes. Beyond the band, the crowd included the vaqueros (cowboys) on their horses with large bags of fruit that they were handing out to the crowd.
The best part was the women who each had some form of alcohol in hand and cups to pour out a portion for anyone nearby. As Mike crouched beneath the bleachers trying to get a better view inside the ring, an old woman greeted him and promptly poured him a small glass of a homemade blue alcohol. He desperately wanted to say no, but didn’t want to be rude. He accepted the glass and downed the liquid. Thankfully, no ramifications came.
After a while the party portion of the event slowed, and the ring was cleared. Once the flimsy gates were shut, the vaqueros began releasing bulls into the ring. They were let out one at a time.
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Bullfight Near Quilotoa Lagoon
No bull fighters were present while we observed. Instead, this was the time for those feeling confident to step into the ring. Not surprisingly it was only a number of young men who seized the opportunity to risk their bodies for a moment of triumph. They’d motion the bull, slowly wander closer to it (but never too far away from the flimsy barrier). They laughed and cheered their friends on.
Eventually the bull would take notice and charge at them. They’d rush to the barrier and jump up in time to avoid the sharp horns. In total, 4 different bulls were on display prior to our tour bus’s scheduled departure. It was the most cultural event we’ve seen thus far, and I wish we could have stayed to the end.
This tour was our first in Quito and was an incredible and memorable experience where we really fell in love with the mountains and culture of Ecuador.
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