Quilotoa Loop Trek
Enter the mountains from Latacunga and spend three days trekking through the villages of Isinlivi and Chugchilán to the Quilotoa Crater Lake.
Ecuador's most established self-guided trekking route, covering about 35 kilometers. You will stay in village hostels, most of which include breakfast and dinner. Trekking from Sigchos to Quilotoa involves more uphill climbing but saves the spectacular crater lake for the grand finale. You will need to acclimatize in Quito beforehand. The third section offers a choice between the standard route or a more challenging detour. Best suited for fit backpackers; does not include Cotopaxi or Baños.
Trails can be muddy and slippery during the rainy season. Exercise extra caution when descending into the canyon.
Day by day
Day 1 · Quito to Latacunga
Quilotoa Loop（Latacunga Historic Center、Casa de los Marqueses de Miraflores）
Take a bus from Quito's Quitumbe Bus Terminal (~1.5–2 hours). Spend the afternoon exploring the historic center of Latacunga on foot.
You can store your large luggage at your hostel and head into the mountains with just a light daypack.
Stay: Latacunga
Day 2 · Trek from Sigchos to Isinlivi
Sigchos → Quilotoa Loop（Isinliví）
Take an early morning bus to Sigchos (~2 hours), then trek about 10 km (~3–5 hours).
Stay: Isinliví
Day 3 · Cross the Canyon to Chugchilán
Quilotoa Loop（Toachi Canyon Viewpoint、Chugchilán）
Trek about 12 km, descending into the Toachi River canyon before climbing back up (~5–6 hours).
Stay: Chugchilán
Day 4 · Climb up to Quilotoa Crater Lake
Quilotoa Loop（Laguna Quilotoa）
Trek about 13 km, ascending nearly 1,000 meters to the crater rim (~5–7 hours).
The crater rim sits at an altitude of about 3,900 meters and gets very cold at night.
Stay: Quilotoa Village
Day 5 · Viewpoints & Return to Quito
Quilotoa Loop（Mirador Shalalá）
Walk to the viewpoints, then take a bus back to Latacunga (~2 hours) and transfer to a bus back to Quito (~2 hours).
On Saturdays, you can hop off the bus at Zumbahua to visit the local market.