Quilotoa Loop

Laguna Quilotoa

After leaving Baños, we took a bus to Laguna Quilotoa. It is another volcanic crater at 3,500m (~11,500 ft) that is filled with water and is considered a wonderful day hike. You can also hike up to the lake through neighboring villages in 3-5 days. Unfortunately, due to time, we had to limit ourselves to the day hike option. It took us around ~5 hours to complete the loop, and we pretty much had the trail to ourselves!

Although we had been up in the Andes for a little over a month, the altitude really got to us on this hike. We think our time in in Cuenca and then Baños, which is around 1,800m, made a difference. Also, the weather along the hike drastically changed from one minute to the next. Starting out we wore base layers, scarves, and beanies, shortly after that we had to remove a bunch of layers and then for the rest of the hike found ourselves constantly putting on and removing various layers. All that said, without question it was one of the most beautiful hikes in Ecuador.

Viewing platform - which came first, this or the High Line?

The trail follows the ridge of the volcanic crater

The highest point along the trail is about 3,800m

Almost looks like the beach

One of the many outfit changes along the trail - trendsetter

For those thinking of hiking Quilotoa we recommend staying right by the lake in Quilotoa, or another town nearby. Many other people spend the night in Latacunga (about 2 hours by bus), which even if you leave extra early leaves you with not much time to complete the hike and 4 hours of bus time. If you do stay over, prepare yourself for a cold night. The rooms we slept in had a small fireplace that they lit after dinner, though we really needed it lit a few hours before. Of course the hostel doesn't stock wood to have on hand, rather someone brings in a batch each night. Surely if you read our Cotopaxi post this does not surprise you...Ecuadorian efficiency.