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The green crater lake of Quilotoa inside its volcanic caldera

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Cotopaxi province, Ecuador · Ecuador

Quilotoa Loop trek: grade, cost & permits

Most visitors see Quilotoa on a rushed day tour from Quito: two hours at the crater rim and back on the bus. The loop walks there instead, village to village through Andean farmland and canyons, from Sigchos to Isinliví (about 14 km), Isinliví to Chugchilán (about 12 km) and Chugchilán up to the Quilotoa crater rim (about 12 km, the steepest day). You sleep in family-run hostels with dinner included, so you only carry a daypack. Altitude is the main challenge: spend a couple of days in Quito first.

Photo: TupakAmaruIshkay · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

GradeModerate
Duration3 days
Highest point3,900 m
SeasonLate June to early September is the dry season and the usual pick; December to February is also popular. The trail is walkable all year, but rain makes paths slippery and raises the risk of landslides and hard river crossings.
Cost from base₹7,500per person
BaseLatacunga (start buses to Sigchos; finish buses back from Quilotoa)

Most visitors see Quilotoa on a rushed day tour from Quito: two hours at the crater rim and back on the bus. The loop walks there instead, village to village through Andean farmland and canyons, from Sigchos to Isinliví (about 14 km), Isinliví to Chugchilán (about 12 km) and Chugchilán up to the Quilotoa crater rim (about 12 km, the steepest day). You sleep in family-run hostels with dinner included, so you only carry a daypack. Altitude is the main challenge: spend a couple of days in Quito first.

Good for soloGood for couplesGood for groups
Live weather

On the trail now and the next 7 days

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Forecast for the trek's map point. It is usually colder and windier at the top.

Step 2 of 7Next: Route

The route

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On the map

Quilotoa Loop · Open in Google Maps ↗

The climb

2850 m2950 m2700 m3200 m3000 m3800 m3900 m Start · 2850 mEnd · 3900 m 3,900 m

How to reach the start

Quito (Quitumbe south terminal) → Latacunga: bus about every 30 minutes, about 2 hours, around US$2.30. Latacunga → Sigchos: bus, about 2 hours, around US$2.30 (morning departures from about 6 a.m.). At the end, Quilotoa → Latacunga: bus roughly hourly, around US$2.30. Pay cash at the terminal on the day; no advance tickets needed.

Directions to the trailhead ↗Open in Google Maps ↗
Step 3 of 7Next: Permits

Permits and rules

Permit: No permit is needed to hike the loop. Ecuador's Ministry of Tourism ended the US$2 lagoon entry charge at Quilotoa in January 2017; the community may still charge for parking, toilets and mule rides. Some recent travellers report being asked for a small community fee at Quilotoa village, so carry a few dollars in small notes. The lagoon lies in the Los Ilinizas Ecological Reserve.
GuideNot needed
Travel adviceUK FCDO: a 60-day state of emergency from 15 September 2026 covers Pichincha province (Quito, the main gateway) and La Maná canton in Cotopaxi (not on this route), with more police and military on the streets. FCDO also warns of robbery on long-distance buses and at bus stations, and in Quito's old town: keep your bag on your lap, not in the overhead rack.

Rules change. Check the park office or official booking system before you travel.

Step 4 of 7Next: Gear

What to carry

Step 5 of 7Next: Cost

What it costs

Your group, from the base₹15,000
Couple · from Latacunga (start buses to Sigchos; finish buses back from Quilotoa)
Per person₹7,500

Covers local transport, permits or entry, a guide where needed and food on the trail. Getting to Latacunga (start buses to Sigchos; finish buses back from Quilotoa) is extra.

Step 6 of 7Next: FAQ

Photos

Questions people ask

How hard is the Quilotoa Loop trek?

Moderate grade. It takes 3 days and climbs to about 3,900 m. Most visitors see Quilotoa on a rushed day tour from Quito: two hours at the crater rim and back on the bus. The loop walks there instead, village to village through Andean farmland and canyons, from Sigchos to Isinliví (about 14 km), Isinliví to Chugchilán (about 12 km) and Chugchilán up to the Quilotoa crater rim (about 12 km, the steepest day). You sleep in family-run hostels with dinner included, so you only carry a daypack. Altitude is the main challenge: spend a couple of days in Quito first.

Do I need a permit for Quilotoa Loop?

No permit is needed to hike the loop. Ecuador's Ministry of Tourism ended the US$2 lagoon entry charge at Quilotoa in January 2017; the community may still charge for parking, toilets and mule rides. Some recent travellers report being asked for a small community fee at Quilotoa village, so carry a few dollars in small notes. The lagoon lies in the Los Ilinizas Ecological Reserve.

How do I reach the Quilotoa Loop trek?

Quito (Quitumbe south terminal) → Latacunga: bus about every 30 minutes, about 2 hours, around US$2.30. Latacunga → Sigchos: bus, about 2 hours, around US$2.30 (morning departures from about 6 a.m.). At the end, Quilotoa → Latacunga: bus roughly hourly, around US$2.30. Pay cash at the terminal on the day; no advance tickets needed. Base: Latacunga (start buses to Sigchos; finish buses back from Quilotoa).

What is the best season for Quilotoa Loop?

Late June to early September is the dry season and the usual pick; December to February is also popular. The trail is walkable all year, but rain makes paths slippery and raises the risk of landslides and hard river crossings..

How much does the Quilotoa Loop trek cost?

From about ₹7,500 per person from the base, covering local transport, permits or entry, a guide where required and food. The journey to the base is extra.

What should I carry?

Daypack only if you sleep in village hostels (they include dinner and breakfast; packed lunches can be bought). Bring rain jacket and warm layers (wind and weather change fast at 3,000-3,900 m), sun protection, hiking shoes with grip for steep, muddy descents, offline map (paths are poorly marked in places), a stick for stray dogs, and enough US dollar cash: there are no ATMs on the trail.

Step 7 of 7Next: Sources

Sources and last check

Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.

  • gov.uk OfficialState of emergency 60 days from 15 Sep 2026 in 8 provinces incl. Pichincha, plus La Maná canton (Cotopaxi); advise-against areas are the coastal provinces and within 20 km of the Colombian border (not this route); updated 2 Oct 2026
  • gov.uk OfficialHeightened police/military presence nationwide; robbery on interstate buses and at bus stations; Quito crime; altitude and changeable weather; accredited guide legally required only for high/glaciated mountaineering
  • turismo.gob.ec OfficialMinistry of Tourism announcement that the Quilotoa entry charge was eliminated (seen in search results; site did not resolve when fetched)
  • elcomercio.comUS$2 lagoon entry charge (collected since 1998) ended 11 January (2017); parking, toilets and mule rides (US$10) still charged
  • laidbacktrip.comStages, distances and village elevations (Sigchos 2,850, Isinliví 2,950, Chugchilán 3,200, rim 3,800 m); bus fares US$2.30 and times; hostels with two meals US$30-40; no ATM; dogs, bulls, bus theft; dry season late June-early Sept, Dec-Feb popular
  • en.wikivoyage.orgHostels with meals included; buses from Latacunga, last departures in the afternoon; stray dogs; year-round with rainy-season landslide risk; roughly 1,000 m climb Sigchos to Quilotoa
  • en.wikivoyage.orgCrater lake at about 3,900 m in a 3 km caldera

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Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.

By Gokul · Updated 11 October 2026 · Photo: TupakAmaruIshkay · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Arabsalam · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: amalavida.tv from Ecuador · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · Photo: Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

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