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Voykit pocket guide · Ecuador
Isinliví
One night on the Quilotoa Loop: hike in from the Guingopana Pass (3 h) or take a bus from Latacunga; stay at a hostel that includes meals.
Isinliví is a tiny Andean village on the Quilotoa Loop, a multi-day hiking trail. Most visitors come for the mountain scenery and the quiet. There is no bank, no ATM and no shop worth the name — you carry everything you need. The two hostels include dinner and breakfast, so you eat where you sleep.
- Country
- Ecuador
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (dry), Dec–Feb (milder rain)
- Avoid
- Mar–May (heavy rain, trails muddy)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 $25–35 (hostel dorm with meals) · Mid $40–55 (private room with meals) · High $60+ (private room, horse ride) (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 (ECU 911) 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 |
|---|---|
| Hostel dorm bed (with breakfast and dinner) | $18–28 |
| Private double room (with breakfast and dinner) | $42–60 |
| Lunch packet from hostel | $3 |
| Bus Latacunga–Isinliví, one way | $3 (check) |
| Horse ride (half day) | $25 (check) |
| Coffee or tea in a hostel | $1–2 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- UIO · Mariscal Sucre International Airport (Quito)
- Then bus to Latacunga (about 2 h) and a second bus to Isinliví (about 2 h).
Typical fares
- Bus Latacunga → Isinliví
- about $3, about 2 h (check)
- Private taxi Latacunga → Isinliví
- about $50
- Private taxi Quito → Isinliví
- about $100
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
On foot. The village is a cluster of houses; everything is within a 5-minute walk.
See and do
Known for
- Quilotoa Loop
- Mountain landscapes
- Horse rides
- Hostal Llullu Llama
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Quilotoa Lagoon | Hike from Isinliví (about 4–5 h one way) or bus via Latacunga | 4–6 h |
| Latacunga | Bus from Isinliví (about 2 h) | 2 h |
| Quito | Bus via Latacunga (about 4 h total) | 4 h |
Sleep
- Village centre
- Both hostels are a short walk from the plaza. No other options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Buenos díasBWEH-nos DEE-ahs |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is the hostel? | ¿Dónde está el hostal?DOHN-deh es-TAH el hos-TAL |
| I would like a room | Quisiera una habitaciónkee-SYEH-rah OO-nah ah-bee-tah-SYOHN |
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
- No ATM or bank: bring enough cash from Latacunga or Quito.
- Mobile signal is weak or absent; download maps and bus schedules before you arrive.
- Trail conditions change with weather: ask your hostel about the route before setting out.
- Last bus from Latacunga leaves around 13:00 (11:00 on Saturday); confirm the schedule at the terminal.
Isinliví is safe; the main risks are altitude (about 3,500 m), muddy trails and cold nights. Bring warm layers and a headlamp.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Isinliví yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Quilotoa Loop
- Mountain landscapes
- Horse rides
- Hostal Llullu Llama
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: Isinliví, revision 5097717 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5097717
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Isinliví
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance (ECU 911)911
Spanish is the main language; Kichwa is also spoken. English is limited.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/isinlivi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.