What if one of Ecuador’s most breathtaking landscapes were hidden inside a volcano? Quilotoa’s turquoise crater lake is the kind of view that makes you slow down and take it all in.
Hi, I’m Marco Herrera, a licensed National Tour Guide. Join me on a private tour from Quito to discover Andean viewpoints, the art of Tigua, and the spectacular Quilotoa Crater Lake. I personally coordinate your experience, with private transportation, local insight, and a pace tailored to your interests. Contact me directly to plan your visit; depending on availability, I’ll guide you myself or arrange for a trusted member of my team to accompany you.
A memorable day is about more than the destination: beautiful scenery, meaningful stories, and time to enjoy both. We plan scenic stops, explore local culture, and choose activities at the crater according to your preferences.
We stop where it matters, unrushed. You decide how long to linger at each point.
Stories behind Tigua art and Kichwa culture. Not just photos — meaning too.
Private transport, permits, road safety, and weather-friendly alternates.
The road to Quilotoa is part of the experience. In the Tigua area, local families keep Andean traditions visible through art, farming and everyday life. When the opportunity is available, we can slow down, meet local people and add human context to the landscapes we are crossing.
For me, a private tour guide is not only someone who takes you to the viewpoint. It is also someone who helps connect the places, the people and the stories behind the journey.
Order adapts to weather, traffic and group energy.
Drive time: Quito → Quilotoa ~3–3.5 h each way (traffic & weather dependent), with scenic stops.
What to bring: good-sole footwear, wind/rain jacket, hat, sunscreen, water and cash.
Difficulty: your choice. Rim option (easy) or down & up (moderate–challenging due to slope and altitude).
Quilotoa is the visual centerpiece of the day. From the rim, the open view helps you understand the scale of the crater and why the color of the lake can look so different as light, clouds and weather change across the Andes.
About 3 to 3.5 hours each way. We include scenic stops at viewpoints and Tigua so the journey becomes part of the experience.
No. If you prefer to avoid steep slopes, we can do a short, flatter rim walk with excellent viewpoints.
Yes. These are optional, local services paid on site and subject to weather and availability. I help coordinate on the day.
Private door-to-door transportation, a licensed bilingual guide, and legal permits to enter national parks.
Meals, tips, and optional activities (kayak, mules) or any specific entrance fees if applicable. I'll advise you in advance of any extra costs.
