6 best day trips from Quito

Day trips compared

The day trips

95 km · About 2 hours by bus

1.Otavalo market

The indigenous Kichwa Otavalo people run one of South America's best-known craft markets around the Plaza de los Ponchos, selling textiles, wool, hammocks and jewellery. It trades daily but is biggest on Saturdays, and tours often add the Cuicocha crater lake and Cotacachi's leather shops.

Getting there

Bus from Terminal Carcelén, or a tour

Best for

Shopping, Culture, First-timers

60 km · About 1.5–2 hours by road

2.Cotopaxi National Park

The near-symmetrical snow-capped cone of Cotopaxi, one of the world's highest active volcanoes, rises above páramo grassland with wild horses and the Limpiopungo lagoon. Tours drive to a car park at about 4,500 metres and walk towards the José Ribas refuge, depending on volcanic activity.

Getting there

Tour or car; buses reach the park turn-off only

Best for

Couples, Solo travellers, First-timers

80 km · About 2 hours by bus

3.Mindo cloud forest

On the western slopes of the Andes, the village of Mindo sits in a cloud forest known for hummingbirds, butterflies and orchids. Visitors walk to waterfalls, ride a cable car over the canyon, try zip-lines and visit small chocolate makers.

Getting there

Bus from Terminal La Ofelia, or a tour

Best for

Families, Couples, Quiet stays

65 km · About 1.5 hours by road

4.Papallacta hot springs

Thermal pools at around 3,300 metres on the eastern side of the Andes, fed by volcanic springs and surrounded by misty páramo hills. The pools are warm even on cold days, and walking trails lead into the surrounding reserve.

Getting there

Bus towards the Amazon (Baeza/Tena) or taxi; tours available

Best for

Couples, Quiet stays, Families

180 km · About 3.5–4 hours by road

5.Quilotoa crater lake

A collapsed volcano holds a turquoise lake about 3 km across, whose rim sits at nearly 3,900 metres. Visitors walk down to the shore and climb back up, or hike part of the rim; the trip is a long day from Quito, so many people stay overnight.

Getting there

Tour, or bus via Latacunga

Best for

Solo travellers, Couples

30 km · About 1 hour by road

6.Pululahua crater

One of the few inhabited volcanic craters in the world, with farms on its floor. The Ventanillas viewpoint on the rim looks down into the crater, often filling with cloud in the afternoon, and a trail descends to the bottom.

Getting there

Taxi or tour, often combined with Mitad del Mundo

Best for

Families, Quiet stays, First-timers

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• The Trolebús, Ecovía and Metrobús rapid-bus lines run in dedicated lanes north–south and are cheap, but very crowded and a known spot for pickpockets.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask