A Traveler's Tip: Quilotoa Loop
Hiking Boots:
I read that some type of running shoe would suffice for this trek, and for the most part they did. However, if you are considering walking around the Quilotoa Laguna then I would recommend hiking boots. Perhaps due only to a lack of rain, the steep declines around the lake were extremely slippery. Combined with my tiring legs and slowing reaction time, it was a challenge. I am lucky that I never completely ate it because I was slipping and sliding the whole way down.
Treat yourself to Llulu Llama:
This hostel by no means a discovery, it is well known along the loop. However, it is worth a nights stay. I would say that I am on a relatively tight budget. I cook my meals when I can and rarely treat myself to a beer or coffee. However, staying at Llulu Llama was a really wonderful experience. At $19 a dorm bed it initially appears expensive. However, that includes a huge breakfast and dinner (with amazing bread!), and generally a really wonderful atmosphere to relax. The views are wonderful and I really loved that everyone ate dinner together. Highly recommend the splurge.
Take some snacks:
The meals at the hostels along the route are really great and include both breakfast and dinner. However, there are almost no places along the route to stop for a lunch or buy a snack. So bring a few things to keep your energy levels high and happy. I packed a little jar of peanut butter, some apples, a mango, carrots and made two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Though at times a drag to carry anything extra, these snacks saved me, especially on the final day of the trek.
Leave your bags in Latacunga:
At only one dollar a day, I highly recommend leaving your main bag behind so that you can enjoy the hike with only a light day pack. I left my bags at Hostel Cafe Tiana, which offers one day free if you stay there, so it was only $2 to store my backpacking backpack and a smaller backpack with valuables in a locker with my own lock.
Gotta have cash:
There are no ATMS along the way so make sure to bring plenty of cash with you. I brought $20/per night and then some extra incase of an emergency or something crazy happening.
Costs:
After reading about the loop I expected to pay between $70 - $100 for the whole experience. However, it ended up costing me just under $50. My first night cost $23 including a bed, towel, very large Pilsner accompanied by a frozen glass, dinner, a yoga class and breakfast, all with a beautiful view of the surrounding green hills. My second night was $16 including a bed, dinner, breakfast and another lovely view. Transportation included $4.5 for one bus ticket to Signos and $4 for one back to Latacunga. An additional $4-6 for snacks concluded my costs.