Dayhikes and tours

General information
Hiking the Quilotoa Loop
Important to know
Hikers advise

General information

In a small region you have paramo highlands (4000 m.), Andean farmland (we are at 2900 m.) and the lower (and warmer) river bed of the Toachi (2600 m.), so you can experience three different climate zones within a few hours walking distance. In Llullu Llama we have a book with free maps and descriptions of dayhikes. We can also organize complete trekkings from one day up to 5 days around the Quilotoa Loop, see our touroperator TribuTrek.

Hiking the Quilotoa Loop

The small town of Isinliví is a great place to start or end the beautiful Quilotoa Loop. It takes you anywhere between 3 or 5 days and you can hike from hostal to hostal, so you don’t have to bring a lot of luggage. All hostals have blankets and towels. If you do have lots of luggage, you can leave this in Latacunga in our Hostal Tiana. If you like we can also help you with hiring a horse to carry your luggage to Sigchos or Chugchilan.

Please let us know if you like to receive our detailed hiking directions from and to Chugchilan or to and from Sigchos per e-mail.

1. Stay one night in Latacunga in our Hostal Tiana, so you can leave your luggage. From Latacunga take a bus to Isinlivi. Stay 1 day extra in Isinlivi to enjoy one of the dayhikes and hike to Chugchilan the next day. In Chugchilan you can also stay one day extra to enjoy the cloud forest or go horse riding. Move on to Quilotoa by foot or pick-up truck and make your way back to Latacunga. From Quilotoa there is a bus everyday at 13.00 or you can take a pick-up truck to Zumbahua and catch a bus from there. This suggestion will take you 5 days and 4 nights, but it is also possible in 3 days and 2 nights.
2. Stay one night in Latacunga in our Hostal Tiana, so you can leave your luggage. From Latacunga take a bus to Quilotoa in the morning and walk down to Chugchilan. Stay one night extra in Chugchilan to go horse riding or to enjoy the Cloud Forest. From here hike to Isinlivi. Stay one more night to do one of the beautiful dayhikes in the area. From here hike to Sigchos and take the bus in the afternoon at 14.30 to get back to Latacunga.

• In the guide 'Trekking in Ecuador' by Robert & Daisy Kunstaetter the first possibility is described rather well. They call it 'Hostal Hopping to Quilotoa'.
• If you don´t speak Spanish we advise you to hire local guides along the way. They won't speak English, but they do know the way. You can arrange a guide in the hostals. Don't accept small kids to guide you, they might know the way, but probably won't be of much help in case of emergency.
• If you do speak Spanish you can ask around, but be aware that locals always send you on the shortest way, not necessarily the nicest or most scenic.
• If you want to be on the safe side, make reservations beforehand, if you like we can help you!
• If you want someone to organise everything for you, take a look at our touroperator http://www.tributrek.com/, we are specialized in guided tours around the Quilotoa Loop and can help you make any tour you like!
• You might enjoy the trail more if you stay over in Isinlivi for an extra night and do a short dayhike and/or take a rest. Especially if you are not well trained or not (yet) adjusted to the altitude this might be a good idea. Why rush and exhaust yourself in one of the most beautiful landscapes of the world if you don't have to?
• Read the hikers advise below before you start.

Hikers advise

Some people who are not from this region don't know exactly how to deal with locals, especially if they ask for money, 'caramelos' (candy) or 'regalos' (gifts). You probably will meet local people when you are hiking around. These people obviously have less money then most western travellers. Our experience is that handing out change, pens, or candies to kids or grown ups along the way is not a very wise thing. Giving out of guilt or pity is a lose-lose situation, giving out of respect and friendship is a win-win.

Some thoughts and our experiences: 

• People in this area do appreciate a smile, a handshake, a short chat about 'where are you from' or 'where do you go to'. Taking your time for that also is a small gift.
• If people get used to begging, it will make them even more depending and pitiful.
• In some areas kids are kept from school to beg, it's more rewarding.
• If you give to one individual, another one might get jealous.
• If you give a kid a dollar and the next tourist doesn't, this tourist might be treated badly, since you taught the kid to expect foreigners to give with no reason.
• If someone offers to walk along for free, don't press him or her to take money, but share your food, or go have a drink together.
• If people ask money for taking pictures don't take them, or sometimes instead you can promise to send the picture.
• If you promise people to send pictures, note their address and their name and keep your promise.
• If you really do want to do something for the poor or for the community ask us for suggestions. A donation to the schools, communal projects or health clinics will do good for everyone in the community.
• Another question is what to do with your garbage. You will see empty plastic bags, wrappers and other garbage everywhere. Your one wrapper won't make the difference, but a good example might help! We will be happy to bring your plastics to the city dump, and to feed our pigs or dogs with your food scraps.