Day Trips from Quito

October 29, 2026

Travel advisory, as of October 2026. Ecuador has declared an internal armed conflict against criminal gangs, and rolling states of emergency apply in several provinces. Pichincha, which includes Quito, is under one until mid-November 2026. Quito had a night curfew in May 2026, and curfews can return at short notice. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to several coastal provinces and the strip along the Colombian border; Quito lies outside those areas. Street crime and express kidnappings are real risks, so use registered taxis or ride apps, especially at night and for El Panecillo. Read the FCDO advice for Ecuador and check travel.state.gov before you book.

Quito is a good base for day trips because the Andes, a cloud forest and hot springs all lie within about two hours. Ecuador has also issued a red alert for the 2026-27 El Niño season, so expect landslides on mountain roads and check conditions before you set out. Money is in US dollars, and small bills help in market towns.

Otavalo and Laguna de Cuicocha

Otavalo is roughly 100 km north of Quito. Buses leave Terminal Terrestre Carcelén every 20 minutes to an hour, cost about $2 to $6 and take 1.5 to 2 hours, longer on market weekends. Plaza de Ponchos trades daily, but Saturday is the big market day, with a smaller one on Wednesday. Weavers and craft sellers offer alpaca blankets, sweaters, embroidered blouses and leather goods. From Otavalo or nearby Cotacachi you can take a taxi to Laguna de Cuicocha, a crater lake at high altitude. Treat it as a viewpoint and a walk, since the water is cold and unsupervised.

Cotopaxi National Park

Cotopaxi is an active volcano of 5,897 m, about 60 km south of Quito and 1.5 to 2 hours by road. No public bus enters the park, so most visitors join a tour, which runs roughly $55 to $100, or hire a driver. Rangers ask you to register and show a passport. The track climbs past Laguna de Limpiopungo, around 3,800 m, to a car park near 4,500 m, then a steep scree path leads up to the Ribas refuge at about 4,800 m, 45 to 75 minutes on foot. This is not a day one or two activity. Check the volcano bulletin from the Instituto Geofísico (IG-EPN) and the park’s status before travelling, because access can close at short notice. Climbing the summit legally requires an accredited guide.

Mindo cloud forest

Mindo is about 80 km north-west of Quito, roughly two hours away, at 1,250 to 1,400 m in warm, misty Chocó-Andean forest. It is known for birds, orchids and waterfalls. Buses leave Terminal La Ofelia a few times a day for about $3 to $4, so check times in advance. Visitors commonly take the Tarabita cable car across a gorge to waterfall trails, visit a butterfly farm for about $8 or try a chocolate tasting for around $10. Guided birdwatching is sold, but sightings are never guaranteed.

Termas de Papallacta

The hot springs are at Km 65 on the Quito to Baeza road, about 65 km east, over a pass of around 4,000 m. The town sits near 3,250 m on the edge of Cayambe-Coca National Park. The heat is volcanic. Entry prices are set by the operator and the official site uses online booking, so reserve ahead and expect cold air between the pools.

Pululahua crater

Pululahua is about 30 km north of Quito, just past Mitad del Mundo. It is a large volcanic caldera with farms on the floor, one of very few inhabited calderas in the world. The Ventanillas viewpoint gives free views down into the crater. The reserve was hit by a forest fire in August 2026 and reopened on 20 August, so confirm that it is open and whether a fee applies. The trail from the viewpoint to the crater floor is about 1.7 km, around 90 minutes for the round trip. Start in the morning, because cloud usually fills the crater later in the day. Register with the rangers at the gate. There is no bungee jumping here.

Booking a tour

A guided trip handles transport, which matters on Cotopaxi where there is no bus. Compare options through a search such as Quito day trips , and check the Cotopaxi conditions with the park first. Use a registered taxi or app ride for the start and end of the day.