Private day tour from Quito · About 8 hours
A private hike in the Pasochoa Wildlife Refuge, 45 minutes from Quito: a cloud forest growing inside the collapsed crater of an extinct volcano, more than 100 bird species, and trails from 30 minutes to a full day to the 4,200 m summit.
At a glance
A private day tour with your own certified English-speaking guide and transport, from your hotel in Quito.
| Departure and return | Your hotel in Quito (the airport and the valleys with an extra cost) |
|---|---|
| Departure time | 8:00 am |
| Duration | About 8 hours, back around 4:00 pm |
| Highlights | Andean forest, birds, volcano summit |
| Price | US$140 per person, based on 2 people (1 person: US$240 · 3–4 people: US$110 per person · 5 or more: ask us) |
Your day
First stop
A first stop on a hill in the south of Quito with a sweeping view of the city and its mountains, perfect for panoramic photos.
The refuge
Pasochoa is an extinct volcano of about 4,200 m; inside its crater, 2 km wide and collapsed in its last eruption, grows a cloud forest with more than 50 species of native Andean trees and more than 100 bird species, among them the Andean Condor, hummingbirds, mountain-tanagers and the Red-crested Cotinga. The refuge protects one of the few Andean forests of the area untouched by farming. We register at the entrance and visit the interpretation centre.
The hike
Through the montane forest at 2,800 m, on trails from easy to very hard: Colibrí (30 minutes), Bosque para Todos (1 hour), Manguayacu (2 hours), Palma de Cera (4 hours) or Los Pantzas (8 hours). The goal, if your fitness allows, is the summit at 4,200 m, with some of the best views of the area. Box lunch on the way, and the chance to taste traditional Andean dishes at a local restaurant. Back at the hotel around 4:00 pm.
Times are approximate and may change with traffic, the weather and your pace; your guide always looks for the best option of the day.
Before you go
More day trips
| Day tour | Type | Highlights | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotopaxi National Park | Nature | Cotopaxi volcano, Limpiopungo lagoon, páramo birds | 7:00 am |
| Cotopaxi Hike & Bike | Adventure | Hiking, mountain biking, Cotopaxi volcano | 7:00 am |
| Otavalo market | Culture | Indigenous market, crafts, the equator | 7:00 am |
| Papallacta hot springs | Relax | Hot springs, páramo, Andean Bear country | 8:00 am |
| Cayambe-Coca hike and Papallacta | Hike + relax | Páramo lagoons, Polylepis forest, hot springs | 7:00 am |
| Quilotoa crater lake | Nature and culture | Crater lake, indigenous markets, Tigua painters | 7:00 am |
| Quito and the Middle of the World | Culture | UNESCO old town, the equator, Pululahua crater | 9:00 am |
| Cuicocha Loop hike | Hike | Crater lake hike, Cotacachi or Otavalo | 7:00 am |
| Rucu Pichincha hike | Hike | Summit hike, views of Quito | 8:30 am |
| Pichincha mountains hike | Hike | Three summits, views of Quito | 8:00 am |
| Pasochoa hike · you are here | Hike | Andean forest, birds, volcano summit | 8:00 am |
| Pululahua hike | Hike | Inhabited crater, lava domes, orchids | 7:00 am |
| Antisana and condor watching | Nature | Andean Condor, páramo, Antisana volcano | 8:00 am |
All our day tours are private, from your hotel in Quito. Prefer birds? Try our half-day birding tour in Mindo (about 4 hours). Staying longer? See our land tours of Ecuador and our Galápagos cruises. See all our day trips from Quito.
Price
| 2 people | US$140 per person |
|---|---|
| 1 person | US$240 |
| 3–4 people | US$110 per person |
| 5 or more people | Ask us for a quote |
Prices per person for a private tour, with guide, transport, lunch and entrance fees. Pick-up at the airport or in the valleys around Quito has an extra cost.
Questions
At your hotel in Quito, at 8:00 am. Pick-up at the airport or in the valleys around Quito is possible with an extra cost.
Yes: your own certified English-speaking guide and private transport, just for you and your companions.
Quito is at about 2,850 m and many of these places are higher. If you have just arrived, start with an easier day, drink plenty of water and bring warm layers.
Yes. We combine day tours with our land tours, a stay in Mindo Cloud Forest and Galápagos cruises, with all the transfers coordinated.
That’s why you choose Dana Tours
Tell us your date and how many people are traveling. We confirm the guide and the pick-up time within 24 hours.
Or write to us at [email protected]
