From Quito, out and back in a day

One-Day Mountain Bike Tours

Five great rides from the capital: volcano descents, hot springs, cloud forest and world-famous markets. A support jeep follows every trip, so you can ride as much — or as little — as you like.

Tour 1

Cotopaxi Volcano National Park

ModerateAltitudes: 4,500–3,200 m

Drive through páramo landscape to the highest point and enjoy stunning views of eight different volcanoes. Then the bike adventure on the world's highest active volcano begins: ride on dirt roads through volcanic ash and páramo to the Inca ruins at 3,700 m, with a packed lunch while you keep an eye on the sky — you might see a condor!

In the afternoon, bike on dirt roads and single track down from Lake Limpiopungo through pine forest. Altitudes: 4,500–3,200 m (15,000–10,600 ft).

More about our Cotopaxi bike tours →

Mountain biker descending volcanic dirt roads in Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador — Downhill from the snowline of Cotopaxi volcano

Biker riding the high pass above Papallacta hot springs toward the Amazon basin — The descent from the Papallacta pass

Tour 2

Quito – Papallacta – Amazon

ModerateAltitudes: 4,200–2,500 m

An excellent way to see a cross-section of Ecuador's ecosystems in a single day: the first part of the trip starts high up in the páramo — the Ecuadorian equivalent of the arctic tundra — and ends in low montane cloud forest at the edge of the Amazon basin.

Once we reach our first destination we throw the bikes on the jeep's roof and drive back up the pass to the Papallacta hot springs for a soothing swim in the natural thermal pools. If the day is clear, views of Antisana Volcano will bedazzle. After lunch we drive over the Papallacta pass at 4,200 m and remount our iron horses for the two-thousand-metre (over 6,000 ft) whiz downward to the Tumbaco valley just outside Quito. Altitudes: 4,200–2,500 m (13,900–8,300 ft).

Tour 3

Quito – Nono – Tandayapa

EasyAltitudes: 3,000–1,800 m

We drive northwest until we reach the highest point of the trip (3,000 m), then switch to our mountain bikes and start the descent. We pass the quaint village of Nono and watch the vegetation change from páramo to cloud forest to low montane forest as you whiz down the mountain to the small birding paradise of Tandayapa.

Keep one eye on the road and the other toward the sky: there's a good chance of seeing parrots, hummingbirds, toucans and caciques. After a picnic lunch we end the ride through desert-like badlands until we reach the Equatorial Line Monument, then drive back to Quito. Altitudes: 3,000–1,800 m (10,000–6,000 ft).

Our Cotopaxi day trip was the most fun that we've had since we got here! Bikes were great. Guide was the best! Great views, biking, food, everything! Best money I've spent.
Kyle La Palm USA

Technical downhill track on Guagua Pichincha volcano above Quito — One of the premier downhills in the country

Tour 4

Guagua Pichincha Volcano – Lloa

ChallengingAltitudes: 4,800–2,000 m

Even the jeep ride to the start of this biking journey is spectacular. Donning our gear near the top of the still-active Guagua Pichincha volcano, we descend a steep and technical mountainside that is surely one of the premier downhills in the entire country.

On a clear day we can see the sprawling metropolis of Quito back-dropped by snow-covered volcanoes; look towards the other three compass points and you'll be awed by great expanses of páramo — and, if you're lucky, a soaring condor. We trek to the edge of the crater to peer over the rim into the heart of the volcano, then mount our bikes and race down an abandoned dirt road to Lloa. At Lloa we head west into the cloud forest for a picnic boxed lunch, returning to Quito by jeep by late afternoon. Altitudes: 4,800–2,000 m (16,000–6,700 ft).

Tour 5

Otavalo One Day

Moderate

Single tracks, dirt and paved roads lead you on your bike through striking landscape in the area of the volcanoes Imbabura and Cotacachi. As we approach Otavalo you will notice an area rich with culture: indigenous people in local dress come from all over the country to sell their handmade wares.

Once we have had time to fill our bags with goods we drive to the impressive volcanic Cuicocha Lake for lunch. After a fortifying meal we bike on dirt roads through quaint Indian villages back to Otavalo, and return to Quito by jeep.

Otavalo street with indigenous market stalls in the highlands of Ecuador — Otavalo, South America's most famous Indian market

What riders say

One-Day Tour Reviews

Papallacta region was beautiful. Excellent descent. Well worth the money. The thermal springs are definitely worth the visit as they are very relaxing. Thanks to the team for a great tour.

Natalie Papallacta–Amazon tour

Fantastic trip! Well organized and to a great site.

Steve Slemjak Cairo, Egypt

Trip was amazing. Very fun. I can't remember when I had so much fun. Food was great and the baths were a highlight. The lunch was excellent as well.

Jonathan Atkings Papallacta hot springs

"Thanks very much for a splendid one-day bike tour to Cotopaxi. We had nine people and all had a good time."

Ready to ride?

One-day tours run with small groups from Quito, every day of the week. Tell us which ride fits your style and we'll save you a bike.

Reserve your day tour See two-day tours