Hiking in Ecuador means steep Andean trails, volcanic rims, and highland villages linked by old footpaths. The Quilotoa Loop threads through the central sierra above Latacunga, while Laguna Quilotoa delivers a dramatic crater-lake descent. Near Cotacachi, the Laguna Cuicocha Trek circles a deep blue caldera beneath the slopes of the Cotacachi-Cayapas region, with big altitude and bigger views.