In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Ecuador
Chugchilán
Chugchilán is the best base for the Quilotoa Loop: stay 2 nights, hike the crater lake and canyons, then move on.
Chugchilán is a small Andean village at the centre of the Quilotoa Loop, a circuit of high-altitude hikes, crater lakes and deep canyons. It is not a destination on its own but the most practical place to sleep, eat and arrange guides for the loop. Most travellers stay two nights: one to arrive and settle, one full day to hike to Laguna Quilotoa or the Toachi canyon, then leave the next morning.
- Country
- Ecuador
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (dry, clear skies)
- Avoid
- Feb–Apr (rainy, trails muddy)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Bring small notes: $50 and $100 bills are often refused.
- Daily spend
- Budget $25–40 (includes meals and dorm bed) · Mid $50–80 (private room with meals) · High $100+ (guided hikes, private transport) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro and Movistar (plus CNT) sell prepaid SIMs in malls and shops with a passport; Claro has the widest coverage.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US plugs work without adapters.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% service often included; add a little for good service.; Galápagos naturalists and crew: US$10–20 per person per day in total, split per the boat's guidance.; Drivers and day guides: US$5–10 a day.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap in most places (Quito and Cuenca's water is treated but pipes vary); drink bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin, not the bowl; bus terminal toilets charge a few cents.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at a lodge (set menu) | $5–8 |
| Bus Chugchilán–Latacunga | $3–5 |
| Guide for a day hike | $15–25 per person |
| Cheese from the factory | $3–5 per wheel |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- UIO · Mariscal Sucre International Airport (Quito)
- About 4–5 h by bus and taxi via Latacunga; no direct public transport.
Typical fares
- Bus Chugchilán → Latacunga
- about $3–5, about 3 h (check)
- Taxi Chugchilán → Quilotoa viewpoint
- about $20–30 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is walkable. For the loop, hire a guide or join a group from your lodge. Buses to Latacunga leave from the main square a few times a day (check).
See and do
Known for
- Quilotoa Loop hiking
- Laguna Quilotoa crater lake
- Toachi River canyon
- Swiss-style cheese factory
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Laguna Quilotoa | Hike from Chugchilán, about 3–4 h one way; or take a bus to Zumbahua and walk 1 h | About 4–5 h one way on foot |
| Sigchos | Bus from Chugchilán, about 1 h | About 1 h |
| Latacunga | Bus via Zumbahua or Sigchos, about 3 h | About 3 h |
Sleep
- Village centre
- Most lodges and hostels are within a 5-minute walk of the main square; all include meals.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Buenos díasBWEH-nohs DEE-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is the bus? | ¿Dónde está el bus?DOHN-deh es-TAH el boos |
| I need a guide | Necesito un guíaneh-seh-SEE-toh oon GEE-ah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; women often one cheek kiss; avoid: Skipping the greeting before a question
- Time: Allow for 'hora ecuatoriana' socially; avoid: Assuming tours leave late — they do not
- Photos: Ask people first; avoid: Photographing children without permission
- Dress: Layers in the Andes; avoid: Beachwear in city centres
Scams and watch-outs
- Altitude: the village sits at about 3,200 m; the hike to Quilotoa reaches 3,900 m. Acclimatise in Quito or Latacunga first.
- Rain gear is essential even in the dry season; weather changes fast.
- No ATM in Chugchilán. Bring enough cash from Latacunga or Quito.
- Mobile reception is patchy; download offline maps.
Chugchilán is safe for tourists; the main risks are altitude sickness, slippery trails and cold nights. Carry a headlamp and rain jacket.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chugchilán yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Quilotoa Loop hiking
- Laguna Quilotoa crater lake
- Toachi River canyon
- Swiss-style cheese factory
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Chugchilán, revision 5178643 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5178643
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Chugchilán
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
The US embassy is in Quito; most other countries have embassies there as well. No consulate in Chugchilán.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/chugchilan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.