Hiking the Quilotoa Loop

The Quilotoa Loop is a self guided hike (you can get a guide but really no need) through the Andean Mountains taking anywhere between 2-4 days but most people do it in 3 days. It’s an undulated ring path that travels between the little Andean towns of Sigchos, Isinlivi, Chugchilan and Quilotoa. You can either start at the crater lake or finish there. The whole loop is roughly 36 km in total. Make sure to bring enough cash with you as there are no ATMs along the way and most places will only take cash. Although the trail will be easier starting at the lake as it will be mostly don hill from here, we preferred finishing at the lake as you have something to look forward to for the three days leading up to it. We stayed in Latacunga the night before starting the hike and left our big rucksacks in the hostel and just took day bags with us. From Secret Gardens in Cotopaxi we got dropped to the bus terminal in Latacunga and checked the times of the buses heading to Sigchos the next day. We stayed in a lovely hostel in Latacunga called…