Private land tour · 5 days / 4 nights · 4-star hotels
Five days of hiking in the central Andes of Ecuador: the páramo of Antisana National Park and its condors, a long day on the Quilotoa Loop trails, and the turquoise Quilotoa crater lake from the inside, with an English-speaking guide and private transport.
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: a 7–8-hour hike at about 3,800 m |
| Start and end | Quito |
| Price | From US$1,303 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. East of Quito to Antisana National Park, around the volcano of the same name (5,753 m / 18,874 ft), the fourth highest in Ecuador, about 60 km southeast of the city and one of the refuges of the Andean Condor. At about 3,800 m there are good chances of eagles, Carunculated Caracaras, white-tailed deer, foxes and the condor itself, the largest flying bird in the world.
The Mica lagoon. A walk on the Andean slopes to Laguna La Mica (4,050 m / 13,287 ft), left by the last ice age, for a better view of the volcano and its water birds: Andean Lapwings, Andean Gulls, Andean Coots, Andean Ducks and Black-faced Ibises.
Day 3
Full day. A long, rewarding trek of 7 to 8 hours on the rough trails of the Quilotoa Loop, among Andean volcanoes and mountains, with striking viewpoints over the emerald crater lake of the Quilotoa volcano, a caldera about 3 km wide at roughly 3,800 m (12,467 ft).
Day 4
Morning. Pick-up at 9:00 am for the central Andes. The Quilotoa lake, one of the most spectacular sites in Ecuador and still off the beaten path, formed when the volcano erupted about 800 years ago; it is about 250 m deep and famous for its bright turquoise colour.
The crater. We go inside the crater: you can walk down to the shore (about 30 minutes each way), rent a mule or walk around the rim, and take great photos.
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
South of Quito, the Pan-American Highway runs between two lines of volcanoes, the route Alexander von Humboldt called the Avenue of the Volcanoes: Antisana, Cotopaxi, the Quilotoa crater lake, Tungurahua above Baños, and Chimborazo, the highest mountain of Ecuador.
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: Northern Andes Trekking | Otavalo · Cochasquí · Cuicocha · Cubilche | Hiking crater lakes in the north | From US$1,149 |
| 5 days · you are here | 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$1,303 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]
