QUILOTOA: The Mystical Mirror of the Andes

Trip Highlights

  • Turquoise lagoon: a crater that changes color

  • Crater trails: hikes with endless views

  • Descent to the shore: feel the mountain’s power

  • Community route: living traditions and authentic crafts

Description

Visiting Quilotoa means witnessing a landscape that feels like a dream. The turquoise lagoon, formed inside a volcanic crater, shifts its colors with the daylight and weather, creating a natural spectacle that is never the same twice.

Exploring the Route of Indigenous Communities unveils living traditions, authentic crafts, and stories that connect travelers with the Andean worldview. Hiking along the crater’s rim or descending to the lagoon’s shore is to feel both the power of the mountain and the serenity of the water at once.

Itinerary

Meet your guide and receive a briefing for the day

The journey crosses Andean landscapes and traditional villages, with stops at colorful markets and indigenous communities showcasing crafts and living traditions, before reaching the majestic turquoise Quilotoa lagoon.

Traditional lunch at a local restaurant

A volcano transformed into a natural wonder, where the color-shifting lagoon mesmerizes with shades of green and blue. The descent to the shore is an adventure blending the mountain’s power with the water’s calm, creating a mystical experience that connects travelers with the ancestral energy of the Andes.

Return to Quito and rest at the hotel

 

Tour Info

Duration
8 hours
Group Size
no limit
Price starts at
$125
Languages
English, Spanish
Meeting Point

Cotopaxi

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Dropoff location

Cotopaxi

Why take this tour?

Quilotoa is not just a viewpoint: it is a meeting with the earth’s energy, a place where nature and culture intertwine to offer an experience that goes beyond the ordinary.

 

Included

  • National Tourist Guide

  • Private tour transportation

  • Lunch at local restaurant

  • Entrance Tickets to Tourist Sites

Excluded

  • Meals

  • Personal expenses

  • Tips

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