In a landscape so defined by volcanic activity, it would be a crime to visit Ecuador and not see at least one of the many beautiful crater lakes.

Staying in Otavalo we dedicated a day to hiking around Laguna de Cuicocha, mostly because it seemed the easiest to access but also because the track is very clear and you don’t need a guide.

How to get there

Bus to the town of Cotacachi ($0.35) and then get a taxi to the lake ($6). The taxi drivers are used to this arrangement and will ask what time you would like to be picked up. They might also request a deposit for the return journey – they won’t let you down.

As reasonably fit hikers we did the 14km loop in four hours and ten minutes, including a 20 minute lunch break and lots of little photo stops.

There is no entry fee to the Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi Cayapas but you will be asked for identification.

The hike

If you want to take the more challenging route and start with the stairs (recommended), you need to hike anticlockwise which means starting at the point closest to the park entrance. Make sure your driver doesn’t overshoot the mark and take you to the end of the road as it’s a bit harder to find the track here.

This is not a flat hike! For the next four hours you’ll enjoy/endure lots of ups and downs as you hike around la laguna. But there are plenty of reasons to stop – mostly to admire the lake and its two little islands but also the changing terrain (alpine, lush blush, farmland) and the huge variety of colourful wild flowers.

See the trail along the ridge line

Beautiful local flora

For those that aren’t keen hikers, if there are enough of you to fill a small boat you can admire the scenery from the water for a small price or simply enjoy the views from the restaurant over your beverage of choice. There is also a small museum on site near the entrance.