Private land tour · 5 days / 4 nights · 4-star hotels
Five days of hiking in the northern Andes of Ecuador: the pyramids of Cochasquí and the waterfall of Peguche to acclimatise, the full rim trail of the Cuicocha crater lake, and the round Cubilche lagoon above Angochagua, with an English-speaking guide.
At a glance
A private tour with your own English-speaking guide and transport, 4-star hotels and the meals and excursions of the itinerary. The itinerary is a sample: it can change with local conditions and adapt to your interests.
| Travel style | Luxury, with 4-star hotels |
|---|---|
| Highlights | Volcanic landscapes, indigenous communities, hiking |
| Fitness level | Fair condition: hikes of up to 6–8 hours above 3,000 m |
| Start and end | Quito |
| Price | From US$1,149 per person (price for larger groups) |
Day by day
Day 1
Welcome to Ecuador! We meet you at Quito’s international airport (UIO) as soon as you collect your luggage, and take you to your hotel.
Day 2
Morning. Pick-up at 9:00 am and north towards Otavalo, with a first walk at the Cochasquí archaeological site, with its 15 grass-covered truncated pyramids, built by the Caranqui people between about 1250 and 1550, before the Inca conquest. A short walk, with the chance to feed the llamas and learn about the people who lived here.
Afternoon. After lunch, the Kichwa village of Peguche, just outside Otavalo, known for its weavers and musicians; a second walk to its waterfall and viewpoints. Back to the hotel before sunset, acclimatised after a day above 3,000 m.
Day 3
Full day. The trail around the rim of the caldera that holds the Cuicocha lagoon, «the Lagoon of the Gods», with its Yerovi and Wolf volcanic domes at the foot of the extinct Cotacachi volcano, in the Cotacachi–Cayapas Ecological Reserve. From 3,100 m, in just 10 minutes you already see the caldera and its lake; along the way, mountains and volcanoes, native plants and, with great luck in the summer months, the Andean Condor. The trek takes 6 to 8 hours, with a box lunch on the trail.
Day 4
Morning. To Angochagua, named one of the Best Tourism Villages in the world by the UN World Tourism Organization in 2022, and up the mountain to the Cubilche lagoon: rabbits, quails and hawks, native plants and crops on the way, and at the top a perfectly round lake of volcanic origin with no streams flowing in, fed from inside the mountain. A snack with views of the Andes.
The view. From the top you see the San Pablo lake and its towns; to the south, the San Francisco hill and Mojanda; to the northeast, the Ibarra valley and the Yahuarcocha lagoon; to the east, the snows of Cayambe above the Zuleta valley; and to the west, the Imbabura.
Afternoon. Back to Quito, with a short stop near Cayambe.
Day 5
Transfer to the airport for your international flight: we take you three hours before your departure time.
The itinerary may change with local conditions, and it can be adapted to your interests and to what your guide considers feasible. Your guide has the final word on what can and cannot be done if circumstances change.
Where you go
North of Quito, the province of Imbabura is the land of the Kichwa Otavalo people, famous for their weaving and their market, of crater lakes such as Cuicocha and Cubilche, and of communities that welcome visitors, like Peguche, Zuleta and Angochagua.
Where you stay
Every night is in a comfortable 4-star hotel, chosen for its location so the drives stay short and the mornings start well.
Combining your land tour with a Galápagos cruise? Book the cruise with us and your nights in Mindo Cloud Forest are complimentary.
Compare
| Tour | Route | Highlights | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days · you are here | Otavalo · Cochasquí · Cuicocha · Cubilche | Hiking crater lakes in the north | From US$1,149 |
| 5 days: Central Andes Trekking | Antisana · Quilotoa Loop · Quilotoa | Hiking the páramo and the Quilotoa crater | From US$1,303 |
| 7 days: The Route of Textiles and Ancestral Culture | Quito · Otavalo · Cuicocha · Zuleta · Cochasquí | Markets, embroidery and communities | From US$1,622 |
| 7 days: Nature, Adventure and Culture | Quito · Cotopaxi · Baños · Otavalo · Cuicocha | Volcanoes, waterfalls and markets | From US$1,630 |
| 12 days: Avenue of the Volcanoes | Otavalo · Antisana · Cotopaxi · Quilotoa · Baños · Chimborazo · Cuenca | The Avenue of the Volcanoes, end to end | From US$3,465 |
| 13 days: Cloud Forests, Indigenous Markets and Colonial Cities | Quito · Mindo · Otavalo · Cotopaxi · Quilotoa · Cuenca | Cloud forest, markets and colonial cities | From US$3,437 |
Only have a day? See our day trips from Quito. Going further? Our Peru tour with Machu Picchu, the Galápagos cruises and the birdwatching tours. See all our land tours.
Price
| 5 days / 4 nights | From US$1,149 per person |
|---|
The price per person depends on the size of your group and your dates: the price shown is for larger groups. We send you the exact quote within 24 hours.
Questions
At Quito’s international airport (UIO): we meet you as soon as you collect your luggage and take you to your hotel.
Yes: your own English-speaking guide and private transport, just for you and your companions.
Yes: tell us your dates and interests, and we adapt the days, the pace or the hotels, or create a custom program.
Yes. We combine land tours with Galápagos cruises, Amazon lodges and a stay in Mindo Cloud Forest, with all the transfers coordinated.
Much of the tour is above 2,800 m. Take the first days easy, drink plenty of water and bring warm layers: the Andes can be cold and windy, especially at the volcanoes and lakes.
That’s why you choose Dana Tours
Tell us your dates and how many people are traveling. We confirm the guide and the hotels and send you the final price within 24 hours.
Or write to us at [email protected]
