Gran Cascada del Rio Pita

While the crowds flock to Condor Machay, a nearby impressive cascade, you can enjoy the equally amazing Great Pita Waterfall to yourself.

The Great Pita Waterfall, La Gran Cascada del Rio Pita, is one of the most impressive waterfalls I’ve seen in my life. One of the many cascades fed by the Pita River, the thunderous falls crash from forest-clad cliffs into a shallow pool 60 m below.

Checking out this incredible waterfall is a must-do activity for anyone visiting Quito. The area combines fun, easy hiking, the 60-m giant falls and two other amazing cascades. What’s more, your views won’t be obscured by crowds of people like you’ll find at the nearby Condor Machay waterfall.

In this guide, I’ll cover how to get to the Great Pita Waterfall, how long you need to explore the area, and some practical tips to make the most of your day.

Where is the Great Pita Waterfall

The waterfall is located 1 h 30 min south of Quito within a private estate called Molinuco, itself near the town of Loreto. Molinuco is an ecological reserve with well-maintained hiking trails, access to the River Pita, primary forest, and several waterfalls of different sizes.

I’m not sure what kind of conservation they carry out at Molinuco to call themselves an ecological reserve, and it seems to me like they’re more of an eco-tourism attraction than anything. But the area is well kept, free of litter and, in general, a beautiful place to explore.

A silhouetted man stands in front f a big, powerful waterfall. This is the Great Pita Waterfall near Quito, Ecuador.

How to get to Molinuco

A map showing the location of a waterfall called Gran Cascada del Rio Pita, near Quito, Ecuador.

It’ll take you about an hour to drive to Molinuco from Quito city centre. Here’s the fastest route according to Google Maps.

You can get to Molinuco pretty easily with public transport too. First you need to get a bus to Loreto from El Playon de La Marin, the bus terminal just south of Quito city centre.

The bus company is Marco Polo and, although you’re going to Loreto, the bus should say Pashapampa. So, make sure to ask for Pashapampa. You need to stay on all the way until the final stop in Loreto which takes 1 h and costs $0.75 US.

A red tractor sits in a well-maintained grassy area. A large sign on the hillside behind it reads 'Molinuco'. — Molinuco Ecological Reserve Main Visitor Centre Area.

At Loreto you need to get a 4X4 pickup truck taxi to Molinuco. This costs $14 US for the return ride and takes around 25 min each way.

Here’s the corner where the taxis go from in Loreto and they pass fairly regularly. If you’re waiting a while, you can ask a local to call one for you. The village is small and everyone knows the taxi drivers.

You’ll need to agree on a time to be picked up from Molinuco as there’s no signal to call a taxi here. I recommend giving yourself at least 6 h to fully explore the waterfalls and hiking trails.

The towers of a large basilica. The tower has detailed architectural adornment and a clock face. Behind the tower a tall statue can be seen faintly atop a distant hill. This is the Basilica del Voto Nacional in Quito.

Where to stay in Quito

My accommodation recommendations based on personal experience or excellent ratings across major booking platforms.

Community Hostel: a budget hostel with a fun vibe. There are great views from the rooftop terrace.
Apartamento 32 Juana de Arco: a holiday apartment with all amenities in the historic centre.
Friends Hotel & Rooftop: A mid-range hotel in the historic centre offering veggie and vegan meals.
Hotel La Basílica: A centrally-located, higher-end hotel with beautiful rooms and church views.

Waterfalls and trails at Molinuco

There are three waterfalls at Molinuco and several kilometres of trails to walk. These are well maintained and well signposted making them easy for all fitness levels.

There are different points along the trails marked with the letter ‘P’ and a number. These tell you how far you are from P0 – the main visitor building.

A map highlighting location within a private ecological reserve called Molinuco near Quito, Ecuador.

Great Pita Waterfall

The gran cascada sits at the end of a canyon roughly 3 km from P0 and the walk will take you around 1 h.

While all trails in this direction lead to the waterfall, I recommend following the route that hugs the river. This is the most adventurous and beautiful.

A large waterfall crashes into a shallow pool. This is the Great Pita Waterfall near Quito, Ecuador.

The waterfall itself is incredible and roars like a lion. At its base is a small pool from which the Pita River regains volume and continues flowing.

I haven’t swum here and don’t know how deep it is nor if it’s safe. If you want to swim, I’d ask at the visitor centre.

A silhouetted man stands in front of a big, powerful waterfall with his arms outstretched. This is the Great Pita Waterfall near Quito, Ecuador.

Molinuco Waterfall (Cascada Molinuco)

This is a quaint waterfall in the opposite direction of the Great Pita Falls. It’s small, pretty and I’d say around 5 m tall. It sits between P6 and P7 roughly 2 km from P0. You can get to this waterfall on the way back from the Great Pita Falls before reaching P0.

A waterfall flows into a pool at its base. A long log lies in the water.

There’s an old flight of wooden steps next to this waterfall which you’ll either need to climb or come down depending on which direction you’re exploring Molinuco. Careful on these, they’re in bad conditions and slippery when wet.

Great Kimsa Waterfall (Cascada Gran Kimsa)

This is the other beast of a waterfall at Molinuco. It’s not as tall as the Gran Cascada de Pita, but it’s equally impressive. Kimsa Falls are at the opposite end of Molinuco’s grounds close to P10, around 3 km from P0.

A man sits at the ends of a cliff looking towards a waterfall flowing off the edge of the cliff to his side. This Kimsa Waterfall in Molinuco, near Quito, Ecuador.

I ran out of time and wasn’t able to get down to the base of Kimsa Waterfall before my taxi arrived, but I managed to see it from the top. Take care heading down to the falls; the stairs are steep and slippery when wet.

Fees and timings

It costs $5 per person to enter Molinuco and an extra $3 US for parking. Unfortunately, I can’t find information about opening times and I didn’t get them on the day I was here either.

It seems like at time of writing this guide, Molinuco doesn’t have a website or much information on their Facebook page. You can always contact them via Facebook to ask.

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When to visit the Great Pita Waterfall

I recommend going to Molinuco on a weekday when it’s quieter. It’s a family-friendly site meaning that, on weekends, there might be lots of people here, especially kids.

If you want to see the waterfall at its most powerful, then visit during the rainy season, which typically runs from November to May in the central highlands of Ecuador.

During the rainy season you’ll definitely want to bring waterproofs as it normally starts raining heavily around midday and can last a while.

There is a restaurant at Molinuco, but again, I can’t tell you its opening hours. Therefore, I recommend you bring at least some snacks and plenty of water too.

Enjoy the Great Pita Waterfall

It’s an incredible site and, unlike some of Ecuador’s other natural beauties, you don’t need to hike for hours along technical trails to reach it. I said it before, but give yourself at least 6 h to properly explore the three falls. You don’t want to run out of time like I did.

More Quito guides:

Great Pita Waterfall (Gran Cascada del Rio Pita): A Hidden Gem Near Quito