Short Guide for Quilotoa Loop: Transport, Accomodation & Food

By Connected Horizons

Organising Transport, Accomodation & Food on the Quilotoa loop can be quite hard as information about how and when are still difficult to find on the web. Here’s the most complete up-to-date information on bus schedules, hostel prices and food options we gathered from our beautiful 5 days hiking adventure. Let us know if there’s something to add!

Some hostels have Facebook pages, websites or phone numbers at which they can be reached, we hiked during high season and always been given the choice for either private or dorm room: no need to book in advance!


Sigchos

Accomodation
The best option in town is Hostal Dinos which offers great rooms at very competitive prices (10-12$/pp), also including breakfast. Wi-fi available.

Food
Many comedores around town offer lunch or dinner for just 2-2.5$. Should you wish to grab some street food such as fried chicken or grilled corn, expect to pay around 1.5$ per piece.

Transport
FROM LATACUNGA: Frequent buses leaving (6am and then from 9am every hour), the fare is 2$/pp and it takes around 2hours.
TO LATACUNGA: From Mon to Fri at 2.45am, 3am, 5am, 6am, 7am and 2.30pm; and Wed to Fri additional bus at 1.30pm. On weekends 5am, 8am, 10.15am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm but Saturday has additional buses at 2.45pm & 3.30pm.

Isinlivi

Accomodation
Currently, there are only two accomodation options in the village. Llullu Llama, the fanciest more expensive options offering yoga, spa, breakfast and dinner at the starting price of 19$/pp for a dorm bed (no Wi-fi). Hostal Taita Cristobal, more backpacker style offering breakfast and dinner at the price of 15$/pp for dorm or private rooms with crazy mountain views (Wi-fi available).

Food
Apart from a couple of local shops selling basic snacks, the village doesn’t really have many food options also because hostels all offer breakfast and dinner.

Transport
FROM LATACUNGA: There are only two daily buses that on Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri & Sun leave at 12.15pm and 1pm; on Thu and Sat buses leave earlier at 11am and 12.15pm.
TO LATACUNGA: Only one bus per day that leaves at 3.30am on Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri and Sat; on Wed leaves at 7am and on Sun leaves at 1pm. Better to hike till Sigchos for more frequent buses.

Chugchilan

Accomodation
Here there are several options for accomodation, varying in price, location and type of room. Before town the secluded Black Sheep Inn has rooms with views starting at 20$/pp; in town the Hostal Cloud Forest offers average dorms starting at 15$ and Hostal Mama Hilda offer a mix of privates/dorms for the same price. Outside town, enjoying breathtaking views over the valleys just next to the path for Quilotoa, you can find the Hostal El Vaquero (where we stayed) that offers dorms and privates at 15-20$. All hostels have breakfast and dinner included in the rate and also offer Wi-fi.

Food
Even though all hostels offer breakfast and dinner, street food can be found for just a dollar or so. Alternatively, local shops offer some homemade sweet pastries or light snacks all for less than a dollar.

Transport
FROM LATACUNGA: Only two daily buses leaving at 11.30am and 3.15pm on weekdays (Mon to Fri). On Sat two buses leaving at 3pm & 3.15pm and on Sun three buses leaving at 11.30am, 12pm and 3.15pm.
TO LATACUNGA: All days at 3.30am and 4am. On Fri three more buses leaving at 6am, 12pm and 2pm. On Sat one more bus leaving at 6am. On Sun five more buses leaving at 6am, 9am, 10am, 11am, 2pm.

Quilotoa

Accomodation
This tourist community (and not village as many would think so) has plenty of accomodation options that suit all needs. Fancier options include the Hosteria Runa Wasi (closer to the pier path) and Shalala Lodge (more tucked away) both offering breakfast and dinner at a starting nightly rate of 25-30$/pp. Hostal Chukirawa is a more budget-friendly option, offering rooms at 15-20$/pp also including half-board. Wi-fi is available in all places.

Food
On-site there are many restaurants and local comedores but prices are far from being low. Expect to pay at least 4-5$ per main in most places (even the most local ones) but keep an eye out for the cheap street food sometimes available for just 1-2$ per piece.

Transport
FROM LATACUNGA: All days there are two buses at 9.30am and 11.30am but on high season (Jun.-Sep.) there are two more buses running at 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
TO LATACUNGA: Direct buses from 9am to 2pm every day; also possible to catch a small truck to Zumbahua (20min-3$) and from there take one of the frequent buses to Latacunga.


PLANNING A TRIP TO ECUADOR? CHECK MORE GUIDES BELOW!


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