About this tour
When Roo from the Global Hobo crew tackled this, we packed two of Ecuador's most dramatic volcanoes into a single day — Cotopaxi and Quilotoa — starting with a hotel pickup in Quito and rolling south along the Avenue of the Volcanoes. You'll hike around Limpiopungo Lake at the base of Cotopaxi (one of the world's highest active peaks), then push on to Quilotoa's crater lake, famous for those surreal emerald-green waters and proper Andes vistas. It's 8–10 hours door-to-door, lunch included, and definitely doable for anyone with moderate fitness.
Highlights
- Limpiopungo Lake walk: intimate Cotopaxi views without technical climbing.
- Quilotoa crater lake emerald water — genuinely striking, no filter needed.
- Bilingual guide commentary on volcanic geology and Andean landscape.
- Two national parks (Cotopaxi + Quilotoa) ticked in one push.
- Air-con van beats sweaty minibus — small mercy on long drives.
- Lunch included sidesteps mid-tour scramble to find food.
- Avenue of the Volcanoes drive itself is scenery worth the petrol.
What to expect
You'll start early with a hotel pickup in Quito and settle into a private van with your bilingual guide for a solid 1.5–2 hour drive south toward Cotopaxi. The landscape shifts quickly — lush valleys give way to high-altitude scrub as you climb. At Cotopaxi National Park, you'll walk a gentle loop around Limpiopungo Lake. The volcano itself dominates the horizon, snow-capped and imposing, though the hike is more contemplative than strenuous.
After Cotopaxi, you'll head toward Quilotoa (another hour-plus drive). The crater lake is the real showstopper — that otherworldly green water sits in a volcanic amphitheatre, and on a clear day the Andes roll endlessly behind it. Lunch happens somewhere en route, so you won't be starving. The drive back to Quito takes up the final chunk of the day, so pace yourself with photos rather than rushing the views. Total time is 8–10 hours including transport.
What travellers say
- Two volcanoes, one day — efficient use of limited Ecuador time.
- Quilotoa's crater lake lives up to the hype — genuinely gorgeous.
- Bilingual guide keeps the geology and culture commentary flowing.
- Private van and included lunch sidestep the budget-tour grind.
- Limpiopungo Lake walk accessible to most fitness levels.
- Altitude and pacing can knacker travellers — it's real physical work.
- Long day of sitting in a van — back may protest by evening.
- Weather at 3,000+ metres is unpredictable and shifts quickly.
- Early start from Quito suits early risers; late sleepers will grumble.
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
Two iconic volcanoes in one day means you're making proper mileage if you're short on time. The hike at Cotopaxi is manageable — no scrambling, just a scenic loop. Quilotoa's crater lake is genuinely striking and worth the drive. Lunch is sorted, which saves faffing about. Air-con vehicle beats bouncing around in a colectivo.
Moderate fitness is a real ask — altitude is no joke here (Quilotoa sits around 3,500 metres), and some travellers find it tiring even at a gentle pace. The day is long and transport-heavy, so don't expect much downtime. Early start from Quito. Weather at high altitude is changeable — bring layers and a waterproof. No breakfast included, so grab something in your hotel. Tips are separate. Not pram-friendly. Bring plenty of water and snacks to bridge gaps between lunch and the van ride home.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original Global Hobo summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.