Volcano Quilotoa lake (4 days):

Quilotoa (Quiro = tooth; Toa in honor to the Princess Toa)

Located in the crater of the Quilotoa Volcano, this lake has crystalline waters of a turquoise green color. Its beauty inspires an inner peace that remains with you as you visit surrounding indigenous communities whose inhabitants still conserve their ancestral lifestyle, including traditional foods, music, and shamanistic healing rites. The lake can be visited every day of the year.

Day 1: (4 to 6 hours)

At 07:00h we leave from Latacunga and after a 2 hour drive arrive in the town of Zumbahua (3400m). From Zumbahua we descend for 2 hours into Toachi Canyon (3100m) and then ascend 3 hours until we arrive at Shalala (ten minutes from the crater). Indigenous people welcome us and we spend the night in traditional cabins (with basic services) or we camp.

Day 2: (4 to 6 hours)

In the morning we go down to the crater to touch the lake’s water. Then we ascend to the community of Quilotoa (3700m) where we visit the handicrafts market. We return to Shalala (3600m) to spend another night in which we enjoy Andean music and dances. Those interested in shamanism can experience a body cleansing conducted by a local shaman.

Day 3: (5 to 7 hours)

We begin with a walk to the high part of the crater (3980m) and then descend to the community of Chucchilan, (3200m) where we will spend the night in a hotel

Day 4: (4 to 6 hours)

We begin by hiking up to a cloud forest (3500m) from which we can see part of the Ecuadorian coast. From the forest we return to the hotel and then drive back to Latacunga