anyone know of where Happy Gringo is based in quito or other agencies, as I would like to do the quilotoa trip in one day to save time. How much does it cost.
Or if it is possible to do, how can u get there on your own...sounds complicated...so far i´ve figured that u need to go to latacunga, but then what?? could possibly spare 2 days getting there to an from quito...
Hi,
Happy Gringo is based in the Mariscal Sucre (new town - aka Gringolandia) part of Quito:
Happy Gringo Travel
Lizardo Garcia E7-11 & Reina Victoria
La Mariscal, Quito
Ecuador
telf. 593-2-2906077 / 096222545
Skype: happygringo_eva
www.happygringo.com
We caught a taxi there from the old town, just ask Eva how much the trip costs, as she is very helpful. We did the loop on our own.
From Latacunga you have the choice of catching the bus clockwise or anticlockwise, around the loop. There is only one bus per day each way. This bus will drop you wherever you want. If you went clockwise you could get off at Laguna Quilitoa and stay overnight there and catch the bus back the next day. But there isn't really much to do and depending when you are going, you could be fairly on your own there. We went anticlockwise and stayed over in Saquisili to catch the market and then onto the Black Sheep Inn.
Most people (I would say) go to Chugchilihan, where most of the accommodation is - Black Sheep Inn, Mama Hildas and Cloudforest Hostel.
The getting back from here is not a problem, it just means getting up really early, as the only buses leave at 3.00 or 4.00 am depending on which way you go back.
Edited by: GrahamK
if you qre going clockwise from Chugchilihan, last year there was a milk pickup truck which left around 9 am. you stand up in the back and the truck stops wherever a peasant is standing with a liter or two of milk. i was first in so was by the cab and able to hold on. all in all a pleasant few hours and was able to see the countryside.