Bikepacking Ecuador – Quito to Banos via Quilotoa

We had been dreading leaving Quito. This is not due to the fact that we loved the city, but because we were worried about the long section of heavy traffic. The route that we provide here was surprisingly pleasant – a huge section of road was busy being constructed. It had been paved, but no cars were allowed on it yet. Furthermore, it was all downhill, meaning that we could fly down freely without a care. You might not be so lucky. We still think this is the best exit from town on any day that is not Sunday (Ciclovia day).

Cotapaxi by Bike

The departure from Quito is relatively uninspiring until you get well out of town. After you pass the Regufio de Vida Silvestre Pasochoa, you will start climbing into better scenery. The route is paved from Quito to just South of Barrio San Antonio / Barrio San Fernando. After that, you will be on rough cobbled terrain for much of the climb. A little before you reach the park entrance, the dirt becomes decent quality until a few miles after you pass the Laguna de Limpiopungo (inside Cotopaxi park). After this point (heading South), the pavement is superb, with wide bike lanes and no traffic!

As an alternative to climbing Cotopaxi, you may be satisfied with a hike up the peak of Rumiñahui. Access begins just past Laguna de Limpiopungo. See map below:

Cotopaxi erupted in August 2015, and since then, the peak has been closed to climbing. The park is still open in a partial state. We found the dirt route through the park to be beautiful and worth it. You cannot ride any closer to the volcano than we did.

Although this route is not ideal for bike packing (because you cannot camp inside the park), we found a couple of locations just outside of the park that would be ideal for wild camping. Alternatively, there is a lodge inside the park (two photos down) as well as the lodge mentioned above.

On the South side of the park, there seem to be fewer opportunities for camping. Furthermore, it wouldn’t be as safe due to the large swaths of mud flows (from glaciers melting due to previous eruptions).

Quilotoa circuit by Bike

Where our route crosses the PanAm, you can resupply with food. The route from here towards Quilotoa is mostly paved through farms and fields. There are some surprise climbs-descents. Because of the climbing, it’s a long day from Cotopaxi to Sigchos. You may consider splitting this into two days. There are at least 3 opportunities for accommodation in Sigchos. We were pleased with our hotel for (Jardin de los Andes $16) for two people.

From Sigchos to the town of Chugchilán, it is a long, unpaved climb. At the time we passed through (March 2016), there was a great deal of road construction, meaning dirt and rock roads, land slides, very difficult riding, and flat tires. In short time, I’d expect this section to be paved. In Chugchilán, there are 3 opportunities for accommodation Hostal Cloud Forest, Mama Hilda Hostel, and Black Sheep Inn (which gives a discount for cyclists). Camping and food are also available. From Chugchilán to Quilotoa, the road is paved, and well graded (until the end, where it pitches up steeply).

One thing we noticed while riding this route was the friendliness of the people. Everyone smiled and waved. Other regions of Ecuador had not been quite this friendly. I expected that the popular Quilotoa circuit would be less friendly (due to an imagined heavy presence of tourists), but really, the only tourist influence is in the town of Quilotoa proper. Everywhere outside of the town itself, we were greeted by very friendly locals. Sometimes, kids walking home from school would run alongside our bike for miles, making conversation with us.

The village of Quilotoa itself was a let down for us. As soon as we entered the town, there was a gate, and we were told that we needed to pay to enter the town. We were given a receipt (meaning it’s truly official). The purpose for the fee was so we could visit the artisan stalls, use bathrooms, and make use of the hotels and restaurants. Quilotoa was also the first region in Ecuador where children started asking me to take their photos for a dollar. Of course, this is a behavioral adaptation brought on by tourists who willingly dole out dollars in exchange for cute photos (I’m sure it stared by tourists asking to take photos, and then giving – now it has evolved into children asking people to take photos). I have mixed feelings about this situation. On one hand, it’s a fairly harmless way for money to enter the local economy. On the other hand, other communities seem to be doing much better with organic forms of commerce. To see two examples juxtaposed, check out the neighboring community of Zumbahua – it’s just a few miles away, but it seems to have thriving commerce. Meanwhile, Quilotoa (where all the foreign money comes) seems to be impoverished and dirty.

In spite of our concerns about the town itself, the lagoon is extraordinary. It absolutely merits a visit, and if you have the time, a lap around the perimeter. At a rapid pace, about 2 and a half hours; at a slow pace, up to 6 hours. You can also walk down to the lake itself.

Quilotoa to Baños by Bike

Our route to Baños is unique and takes you on some very quiet backroads. We saw only a few cars, and the majority of the section was paved. In return for the tranquility and beauty, though, you’re going to need to pay the high price of several steep climbs. We were able to find and excellent meal in the small aldea of Patate.

Baños is probably the most touristic place we went in all of Ecuador. Foreigners come here for vacation… Ecuadorians come here for vacation. Baños has it all: Adventure activities such as bungee jumping and zip lining, plenty of natural beauty, opportunities for cycling and rafting, and good dining options (from an international perspective, more varied options than most of Ecuador). There are hundreds of hotels (meaning a reservation is likely unnecessary). Nearly every building in town is meant to serve you, either by providing tours, dining, or lodging. There isn’t much else!

Our primary objective in coming to Baños was to see the Swing at the Edge of the World. (Linked Photo is from a National Geographic Photo contest, which probably made this site quite a bit more famous). Indeed, Tungurahua had JUST erupted a few days before our arrival – but we were not so lucky to have clear skies for our photos. In fact, there never really was a clear sky moment during our time near Baños. Such is life in the wet season of Ecuador (March is the peak of the wet season). The swing is a significant climb from town (3,800′ vertical) on a paved road that turns into cobblestones. Near the swing (our track from 3/22/2016) there are other swings that vie for your attention. The famous swing is the one at the end of our track. It costs a few dollars to get in. Once in, you wait in line to ride the swing. There is no one monitoring, but everyone was respectful and took a reasonable length turn swinging over the chasm. There are also some easy, self powered zip lines on the premises, and a few stalls to buy basic food.

Another popular route is to ride bicycles from Baños to Puyo. This is a very interesting route (even for the seasoned bike packer). It includes cliff views of many waterfalls, and plenty of small foot-excursions along the way. The most popular way for people to do it is to rent bicycles in Baños and ride (mostly) downhill to Puyo. From there, a shuttle brings you back to Baños. Indeed, we met several people doing this (in spite of the rain). We did notice that most people shuttled back from Rio Verde. This is where the “interesting stuff” ends. We kept going, and then returned to Baños in a downpour by bike because we love climbing!

Another attraction is to hike to the Pailon del Diablo. This is a steep hike that starts in Rio Verde. It costs a few dollars to enter. If you follow the first half of our track on 03/23/2016, you come to the official Pailon del Diablo entrance. After we rode downhill and climbed back up, you can see that we took an alternative (free) entrance to see the falls. This was quite a spectacular view as well.