Quilotoa Loop Trekking

On arrival at the international airport in Quito, your guide picks you up and brings you to your hotel in the heart of Quito. From there you can start the Quilotoa Loop Trekking!

If your tour starts on a Saturday, you will have the chance to visit the market of Zumbahua in the early morning. The indigenous inhabitants of the surrounding villages come to sell animals, local products like potatoes, beans and different vegetables. Also, retailers of lower regions bring their products like rice and plantain from warmer climate zones. Lingering over the market with its colorful dressed indigenous people will be an extraordinary experience. On all the other days, the tour begins in Tigua. After the market visit, you will start the first part of the trek from Posada de Tigua towards the beautiful crater lagoon Quilotoa. On your way through the sandy and dry area you will pass a lot of cactuses, small houses and flocks of sheep with their shepherds. You will enjoy a fantastic view over the canyon. When you go down you reach a nice village from where you can see the beautiful surrounding of Zumbahua behind you. The way takes you down to the valley of the river Zumbahua (3230 m), before you go up again to the breathtaking edge of the canyon (3500 m). From there you reach the crater lagoon Quilotoa and its same named village at a height of 3900 meters. You will spend the night in a hostal of a local family, a simple but comfortable accommodation. Walking time: about 5 – 6 hours.

Meals: Breakfast / Box Lunch / Dinner

Your journey goes on with a fantastic hike to the village Chugchilán. The first hour takes you along the left crater edge and through the “paramo” landscape with rock formations, which are the result of erosion, wind, rain and animals. Enjoy the view over the deep blue crater lagoon beneath your feet and glance at one of the highest volcanos in the world. When leaving the crater, you start going down a sandy track to the indigenous village Huayama. You will pass the traditional houses of the inhabitants and the colorful fields which form a wonderful mosaic within the landscape. After Huayama the tour goes on to the canton Sigui (2890 m), where you have a nice panoramic view of the canyon and the village Chugchilán. A steep way down will lead you to the river Toachi. You will cross the water and go up again until you reach Chugchilán (3200 m). In this Andean village, you will stay the night in a small hotel. Walking time: about 4 – 5 hours.

Meals: Breakfast / Box Lunch / Dinner

Today you leave Chugchilán and walk towards Sigchos. On your way, you will pass a small village and continue your journey to the river Toachi. Going along the left bank we will reach a suspension bridge where the ascent up to the village Isinliví starts. Enjoy the walk through the beautiful landscape and the colorful gardens of the local families. On this diversified trekking, you will meet indigenous people, who are on their way to the fields or are herding their animals. The beautiful green countryside, that is a result of the many rivers and streams, leads you to Isinliví at the end of this day. Walking time: about 3 – 4 hours.

Meals: Breakfast / Box Lunch / Dinner

The program of today is relaxed. After a delicious breakfast in your hotel, you will go with your guide down to the river Toachi again. Enjoy the awesome canyon and walk along antique ways of the indigenous rural population to the village Sigchos. Here the trekking tour ends and we head back to Quito. Walking period: about 3 – 4 hours.

Meals: Breakfast / Box Lunch