If you are thinking of traveling to Ecuador, you cannot miss visiting the Quilotoa LagoonThis lagoon was formed after a volcanic eruption over 800 years ago. Since then, it has literally been a caldera filled with water.
The minerals that were dissolved and melted in the lake, after the eruption, have given it an incredible emerald green tone that captivates our eyes (you can see more info at wiki).
Added to this spectacle, the fact that it's easy to get there on your own and at a low cost makes this a must-see.
En este articulo les contaré como ir y volver a la Laguna de Quilotoa, desde la ciudad de Lacatunga, por nuestros medios. Pero si desean salir desde Quito en un tour con guía, que además incluye una visita por el Parque Nacional Cotopaxi, pueden reserve it from here.
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City of Latacunga
Latacunga, por su cercanía, suele ser el lugar base para hacer esta y otras excursiones por la zona. La ciudad en sí me resultó una de las mejores para visitar. Digamos que no ha sido mucho de mi agrado. Me resultó un poco sucia y sus calles media caóticas…perooo, así y todo, nos sirve para alojarnos, comer y tomar los buses que necesitemos para incursionar por los atractivos de la zona.
The best thing I saw in Latacunga was the hostel where I stayed. I stayed in the Latacunga Hostel for $10 a night. The rooms are standard, but the hostel has a very colonial feel. It has a patio and a restaurant inside that give it a certain charm.
How to get to Quilotoa Lagoon
To get to the lagoon, we have to go early to the city's bus terminal and take the one that takes us directly to Quilotoa. They leave every hour, if I remember correctly. But if you're just visiting for the day, I recommend leaving early, around 9:00 or 10:00 am, to explore the area at your leisure.
The trip takes approximately two hours and costs $2.50 (in 2016). The bus makes several stops in the towns along the route to the volcano. People are constantly getting on and off.
What to do in Quilotoa Lagoon
Once we arrive, we have to walk a few meters to pay an entrance fee of $2. (Note: I read that admission has been free since 2017, thanks to an agreement with the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism.)
It's not a remote place in the middle of nowhere. Hostels, restaurants, and a few shops have been established at the base of the volcano, mainly to serve the daily flow of tourists.
Once we cross the entrance, we have to advance a few more meters to reach the viewing points built on the edges of the volcano and thus see the full majesty of the volcanic lake.
I can assure you that the view is incredible!!
We can spend hours and hours observing the lake, with its perfect shape outlined by the crater and even reflect on how small we are on this ancient planet...yes, I know, one's mind can go crazy with these things :D.
Once we return to reality, we begin to notice other details that had previously eluded us. We can see a path leading down into the extinct volcano to the shores of the lake. We can also see another path that runs around the entire crater if we want to go around it. We see tiny people paddling the lake in what appear to be kayaks.
In short, we have a range of activities to do here, as long as we get past the initial charm.
It'll take you approximately five hours to get around the crater. It's supposedly well-marked, but since I didn't do it, I can't vouch for it.
See the Quilotoa Lagoon from the inside
To descend to the lake, you can walk or rent mules. The descent isn't that difficult; it can take 1 or 2 hours, depending on your pace. The ascent, however, can be a bit more difficult. It can take between 1 and 3 hours of constant climbing.
From inside, you can now enjoy other views. The water (very cold, by the way) is at your feet. You feel like you're trapped in a giant pot.
Once we reach the lake shore, there's a small kiosk if we want to buy water or a drink, or even something to eat (prices aren't cheap down there). There's a small hostel if you want to sleep there. And as I mentioned before, you can rent kayaks to navigate the lake or mules to take you back up.
Staying in Quilotoa Lagoon
In the Quilotoa, Zumbahua, Tigua, Shalalá, Chugchilán, Itupungo and Guayama San Pedro communities, different types of accommodation are offered, such as inns, hotels, cabins, hostels and inns. Here you can see accommodations in the Quilotoa community, for example.
They also rent horses and water transportation such as kayaks and boats for excursions in the surrounding area.
Reflexiones finales de la visita a la Laguna de Quilotoa
I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this trek. Everywhere you look, whether going up or down, from inside or outside the crater, everything felt immense. It's like seeing our planet as it was millions of years ago and witnessing a small part of its history. You can't see this anywhere. I insist that if you're in the area of Ecuador, you have to make a day of it.
Seeing it in photos isn't the same as actually being there. You have to see it for yourself.
To finish our tour, if you don't want to stay overnight there, we have to wait for the bus in the exact same place where we got off to return to the Latacunga terminal. Make sure you check which one is the last one so we don't miss it. Otherwise, we'll have no choice but to spend the night there ;).
If you like the images in the article, remember that I have a gallery full of photographs of Ecuador.
See you on the next travel adventure!