Private Quilotoa Enchanted Crater Lake
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 2 languages
- Private tour
Highlights
This full-day cultural tour begins with a visit to a local indigenous market at Saquilisilí or an historic church in Pujilí (Thursday/Sunday). The drive to Laguna Quilotoa displays a beautiful view of the Andean mountains, passing the ancient canyon of Zumbahua and many indigenous towns and farmlands. Before arriving at Quilotoa we will visit and incredible local gallery in Tigua, where we will have a short painting class to learn about the ancient techniques in this charming town. The tour includes a hike down into the Laguna Quilotoa, a sparkling emerald lake inside the inactive volcano crater. The return hike takes one hour, or there is the option of renting a mule for $12. We will arrive back to Quito in the early evening. We will arrive back to Quito in the early evening.
Inclusions
What's included
- Hiking sticks
- Lunch
- Fees and entrance to Quilotoa reserve, hike to the lake.
- Transportation: Comfortable land transportation.
- Trip Leader: Certified AJ expert English-speaking adventure trip leader
What's not
- Tips
- Souvenirs
- Optional rent of a horse/mule ($12) on the way back up from the lake
- Painting Taller (15 USD per person)
Itinerary
We will visit The Quilotoa lagoon, one of the most beautiful volcanic lagoons on the planet. The most significant feature of this lagoon, with a depth of 250 meters, is its turquoise green waters. The Quilotoa is the westernmost volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes, within its crater a caldera with a diameter of almost 9 km has been formed. We will hike down to appreciate how the minerals have given the surface a greenish and bluish hue when it is hit by sunlight. Inside, there are springs that, from the shore, can be seen as bubbling trails that rise to the surface.
We will visit the traditional Tigua town, where artists have always been known for decorating masks and drums for their festivals with precision and vibrant color. Their talented hands create an extravaganza of color and beauty that is beyond what would be expected from self-taught artists. Once in here you will have a painting lesson with the ancestral technique of painting on a sheepskin. You will take your creation as a souvenir to remember this unconventional experience.
We will visit the viewpoint of Toachi Canyon, a great geographical accident in the form of a gigantic ravine that partly crosses the reserve and is visible from a natural viewpoint in the vicinity of Sigchos. This geographical feature has a viewpoint to appreciate its beautiful landscape in whose deep interior runs the Toachi River, the main hydrographic axis of the Area.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 523
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 23 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Pickup is included for everyone.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Inspiring Ecuador
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
How it compares in Quito
- Its from-price is 23% above the median of the 338 day trips we list in Quito.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 74 of 338.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Quito
Quito, Ecuador's high Andean capital, has one of the best-preserved colonial centres in Latin America, ringed by volcanoes and green mountains.
The historic centre was among the very first places named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its churches, plazas and monasteries are spectacular. La Compañía de Jesús glows with gold leaf inside, the Basilica del Voto Nacional has gargoyles shaped like Ecuadorian animals, and Plaza Grande is surrounded by the cathedral and the presidential palace.
Top-ranked sights in Quito: Cotopaxi National Park, Basilica of the National Vow (La Basílica del Voto Nacional), Independence Plaza (Plaza de la Independencia).
Special offers in Quito
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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