Quilotoa Lake
Quilotoa Lake things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Quilotoa Lagoon is actually a lake formed inside an old volcanic crater. It is one of the most interesting places in the whole of Ecuador. The viewpoint is located at 3,900 meters above sea level. The lake is about 400 below and has no intakes or outlets. According to the Lonely Planet, the lake is 250 meters deep. From the Mirador (viewpoint) you can see bright and spectacular colors. After havig taken some photos, I took the path that took us to the bottom of the lake in about 45 minutes. Here we found a small beach, with the possibility of renting canoes to navigate the lake. The most critical issue is how to regain the 400 meters in altitude, given that we were at 4.000 meters above sea level, and it is really difficult to breath due to the lack of oxygen. Fortunately, we saw that for € 10 it was possible to go back riding horses lead by local children. Moreover, the ride on horseback was fun and we could focus on the panorama, and on the colors of the lake that changed as the sun went down. Spectacular and highly recommended place.
Raffaele GuidolinRaffaele Guidolin
70
Quilotoa is an amazing place because it has a nice lagoon, the people are very welcoming, it has a marvelous landscape, you can see from the lookout all the landscape, after you have to walk many meters to get to lagoon, there you can take a boat for walking all the lagoon and take a hourse for a walking. For me, it was a beautiful trip because I went with my brother, Pablito and my best friend, I took many photos, I walked a lot for arriving to lagoon, there we to took photos, after Diego with Pablito took a boat, then my best friend and I walked until arriving at the entrance but we got tired. Quilotoa is a nice place for knowing because you can camp with friends or with family, the landscape is amazing for taking photos and you can have fun by walking, I would visit again
carelielizabethcarelielizabeth
30
What a wonderful experience this was. Visiting Quilotoa is something that is unforgettable as there’s nothing quite like it. Located in the mountain tops of the Ecuadorian Andes, this lake is from a collapsed volcano. There is much to do here, you can hike down to the bottom where the lake is located but the hard part is hiking back up. Since it is at such high elevation there is less oxygen, so it is far easier to get fatigued. With that said, it gets really cold and windy up there, so make sure to bring a light jacket at least. You can also meet the friendly alpaca who resides there. There are plenty of restaurants around Quilotoa, as you will have appetite after trekking around this small town. It really is a beautiful place that all must visit if ever in the area.
Yohamy PolancoYohamy Polanco
70
I went to Quilotoa on 3/15/22 and booked my tour online with Ecuadorhop. Leading up to the tour things had to be changed due to changes in tourism in Ecuador. The changes were only a later pick up time which was perfect for me. If you enjoy kayaking and hiking you must go! It’s a tough uphill but going down is easy. Just wear a good pair of hiking shoes for traction! Ultimately this tour couldn’t have been any better if it weren’t for our tour guides Danny and Freddy. Danny described the volcanoes, discussed culture, and took us to indigenous lands and to see art! We even danced. Freddy got us there safely and was a great driver and helped us all feel comfortable.
Stephanie RatsamyStephanie Ratsamy
40
It took us about 3 hours to get to Quilotoa Lake from La Carolina, Quito. The drive there was absolutely stunning, with winding roads and picturesque landscapes for miles to see. We arrived at the top of the crater, overlooked the beautiful lake, and breathed the fresh air. Be aware, with an elevation of 12,385 ft+, the hike down and back up is NOT for the faint-hearted. I recommend coming prepared with proper hiking boots/shoes, plenty of stamina, and other essential items if required. You can also go kayaking once you reach the bottom - we didn’t get to do this activity unfortunately. I HIGHLY recommend this short-day trip for any curious travelers.
AtlasAtlas
10
The best experience in my life. Will never forget this place ever. I tell everyone I came here. This was honestly the most memorable time of my whole ecuador trip. The hike was about 6 hours. But we stopped a couple of times for photos. (I’m a travel photographer). I’d try to do this hike as early as you can. The hike DOES get steep and DOES get dangerous. At some points I was crawling on all fours. So be safe don’t do the hike if you’re out of shape also the oxygen levels will have you out of breath. I suggest bringing food as well and lots of water. This hike is full of surprises and amazing stops along the way. Enjoy !
SonoTravels (SonoTravels)SonoTravels (SonoTravels)
40
Nearby Attractions Of Quilotoa Lake
La Laguna Quilotoa
La Laguna Quilotoa
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Description
Quilotoa is a water-filled crater lake and the most western volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. The 3-kilometre-wide caldera was formed by the collapse of this dacite volcano following a catastrophic VEI-6 ...
attractions: La Laguna Quilotoa, restaurants:
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