What to Do in Latacunga, Ecuador
Latacunga in Ecuador is not the most picturesque city in the country. Why should you visit Latacunga then? It is a great base for exploring Cotopaxi National Park, traditional markets, or Quilotoa Loop. Read our travel guide on Latacunga, including tips on the best things to do, how to get, or where to stay.
Latacunga is a mid-size city in Ecuador on the Pan-American Highway and the capital of Cotopaxi Province.
The position within less than two hours drive from the capital city of Ecuador, Quito, and the city itself, would not, under normal circumstances, have been enough for visiting it, hadn't it been for the wonderful landscape.
So what is the reason that almost all travelers have Latacunga on their Ecuador itinerary?
Well, Latacunga is a great city to base yourself before exploring Cotopaxi National Park and, more importantly, Ecuador's most popular one-day hike around Quilotoa Lagoon and multi-day trek called Quilotoa Loop.
Simply put, Latacunga's proximity to these destinations is the main reason to visit it.
It provides travelers with great accommodation options, plenty of restaurants, shopping possibilities, and a very valuable sneak-peek into the everyday life of a busy, market city.
Latacunga sits 2800 meters above sea level, but you should be already acclimatized if you've just arrived from Quito.
If you came directly from the Galapagos Islands or any other seaside destinations, consider taking your days in Latacunga a bit slower to give your body a chance to adjust to the elevation.
In this travel guide, we would like to inspire you to visit Latacunga, a gateway to some of the best places to visit in Ecuador.
We share with you tips on the best things to do in Latacunga, but also a few practical information, so you can start planning your trip.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN LATACUNGA
The truth is that the majority of top attractions in Latacunga actually lie outside the city limits. But it does not change the fact that you cannot find this city enjoyable.
Personally, we liked Latacunga.
It simply had a great vibe because of all the excited travelers around preparing for their trips, and the coexistence of local people living their lives with foreigners was something we really appreciated.
And we cannot even tell how excited we were to return to Latacunga after a three-day hike when we finally could take our boots off and spend a pleasant evening watching the sunset over Cotopaxi.
Here's our list of the best things you can do in Latacunga.
WALK AROUND THE CITY
Although Latacunga is surely not one of the most beautiful cities in Ecuador such as Cuenca that is a home to some of Ecuador’s most beautiful architecture, it does not mean this city is not worth your time.
It still has a few notable buildings, although the city was several times destroyed by earthquakes. Latacunga was one of those places where we did not need a map at all.
We had a feeling that we saw some of the highlights on the way from the bus terminal to our accommodation, and the rest when we were looking for a cheap local eatery.
There are a few photogenic churches within walking distance from the city center, so make sure you visit Iglesia Católica La Merced, Iglesia De Santo Domingo, or La Catedral.
Latacunga is also a market town to find scattered markets around the city on certain days.
WATCH THE SUNSET
When the day is clear, you can get unobscured views of the Cotopaxi volcano, which is, for many travelers, one of the main reasons to travel to this part of Ecuador.
The sunset over Cotopaxi, when the sun colors the snow on the top of the mountain yellow and pink, is a magical moment you should not miss.
What is good to know, you do not have to be in the national park to watch this show. It is enough when you book a hotel in Latacunga with a rooftop where you can just sit with a hot beverage in hand and enjoy the wonderful views.
To take perfect photos, you should have a telephoto lens, and as it gets colder in the evening in Latacunga, a down jacket is also a good idea.
LOCAL MARKETS
If you've visited Otavalo and think the market in this town close to the borders with Colombia lacks authenticity, then it is probably time to explore villages around Latacunga.
The area around Latacunga is the trading center, and you can find markets not only in the city itself but, more importantly, in the small settlements around.
We did not look for the markets intentionally. Still, we saw a market in Sigchos, where we started the Quilotoa Loop, and then in Zumbagua and Tigua.
These markets were incredible, even though we saw them only from the bus. But as the bus stopped there for a while as it waited for locals to finish their shopping, we had time to see the details.
What struck us the most is that this market is really for local people. In Zumbagua, it was one of the least touristy markets we've ever seen, which is nowadays pretty rare.
COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK
Cotopaxi, a 5897 meters high volcano, is a dominant of Cotopaxi National Park. When the day is clear, you can see Cotopaxi not only from Latacunga but even from Quito.
The thing is that the top is often covered in clouds, but we still think it is worth it to try your luck.
It is very easy to reach this popular landmark with a Cotopaxi Tour from Quito, but of course, many travel agencies offer a tour from Latacunga.
It is also possible to visit Cotopaxi independently, but then you need to arrange your own transport.
The park is perfect for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, as the scenery is simply stunning. Take into account that you'll be hiking at a high altitude, so acclimatization is essential.
More experienced outdoor lovers can hike to the top of the volcano (with a guide), and the rest can opt for a walk to a hut that sits in breathtaking 4500 meters above sea level.
Cotopaxi is still an active volcano, and the park was even closed from 2015 till 2017 because of eruptions. Always check with the local authorities that it is safe to visit the park.
QUILOTOA LAGOON
What is Latacunga's main selling point? It is the proximity to Quilotoa Lagoon, a water-filled crater lake that sits almost 4000 meters above sea level in the wonderful Ecuadorian countryside.
Unlike Laguna Cuicocha in northern Ecuador, Quilotoa Lagoon is one of Ecuador's most popular attractions, and the majority of travelers include it in their Ecuador travel itinerary.
It is possible to visit Quilotoa Lagoon on a one-day trip from Latacunga, but as this site is super-popular, it is possible to take a Quilotoa Tour from Quito as well.
QUILOTOA LOOP TREK
Even though Quilotoa Lagoon is surely a cherry on the top, we (same as many backpackers) have opted for a multi-day Quilotoa Loop Trek that leads through beautiful farmlands and several small villages.
This hike is possible to finish in two to four days, depending on the starting point and pace, we chose the three-day two-night alternative, and it was one of our favorite activities in Ecuador.
Sure, the deep, dark blue-green lagoon is very photogenic, but we would not have enjoyed it that much without the hiking experience.
There are some essential things to know about Quilotoa Trek, so make sure to read this blog post as well.
The beginning and the end of the trail are easily accessible from Latacunga by bus.
More importantly, many hostels in Latacunga offer storage for backpacks, so you do not have to carry everything with you. Don’t forget to check our blog post Quilotoa Loop packing list.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
WHERE TO STAY IN LATACUNGA
As we believe that most of you visit Latacunga either because of Cotopaxi or Quilotoa, it is worth it to stay close to the terminal, which is within walking distance to the city center.
When choosing a hotel, make sure it offers everything you need. For us was the most important the possibility to store luggage and the views of Cotopaxi.
Still, the selection of hotels in Latacunga is actually great for every type of traveler, even if you prefer a higher level of comfort.
We've handpicked the best three hotels in Latacunga for every budget.
Budget | Hostal Rosita Latacunga - Decent hostel for a great price is one of the top picks for budget travelers. Staff is helpful, breakfast tasty, and you can store your backpacks here safely before hiking the multi-day trek.
Mid-range | Hotel Endamo - Very well located hotel offers perfect services, rooms are clean and quite modern. It is probably the best bang for the buck you can get in Latacunga.
Mid-range | Hotel San Agustin Plaza - Latacunga lacks true luxury accommodation. Still, this hotel offers perfect services, in case you are looking for something more comfortable, and the price is also very reasonable.
HOW TO GET TO LATACUNGA
Because of the convenient location on Pan-American Highway, Latacunga is not a detour, and you can easily incorporate the visit into your itinerary.
Getting to Latacunga from Quito is the most common route.
In Quito, you need to get to the south terminal Quitumbe, where you can catch a very frequent bus to Latacunga. The ride takes less than two hours, and the ticket costs $1.5.
Be aware of pickpockets on the bus, and never leave your hand luggage out of sight, especially on this route.
It is, actually, one of the things to know before visiting Ecuador.
From Latacunga, we took a bus to another very popular destination Baños, which is only an hour and a half drive from Latacunga.
Overall, we found traveling in Ecuador very pleasant compared to, for example, Peru or Bolivia, because distances are much shorter and the quality of roads much better.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
