Quilotoa Lake — Attraction in Chugchillan

Laguna Quilotoa: An Unforgettable Ecuadorian Marvel Laguna Quilotoa is not just a place; it's a breathtaking experience that will be etched in your memory forever. From the moment I first laid eyes on this water-filled caldera, surrounded by steep mountain slopes, I knew: this is one of the most incredible natural wonders I have ever seen. Without a doubt, it deserves 5 out of 5 stars! The Unspeakable Color The water in the lagoon shifts between shades of emerald green and vibrant turquoise, depending on the sun's position and the weather. This creates a truly otherworldly landscape. The view from the crater rim is simply unbelievable—the depth, the scale, and the color of the lake feel absolutely fantastic. The Altitude Adventure The descent to the water is a real adventure (and an excellent workout!). The trail is quite steep and sandy, but every step is worth the effort. Once you reach the shore, you can rent a kayak and paddle out onto the water, which allows you to truly feel the mystical atmosphere of this place. The climb back up, of course, is challenging due to the high altitude (nearly 3,900 meters above sea level!), but completing it is incredibly rewarding. Cultural Immersion A trip to Quilotoa is also an opportunity to connect with the life of the local indigenous Andean communities, their handicrafts, and traditions. This adds a valuable layer to the entire journey. Conclusion Quilotoa is a must-see destination in Ecuador. If you love mountains, incredible scenery, and are up for a physical challenge, you will be completely amazed. This is pure, undiluted...

Quilotoa Lagoon is actually a lake formed inside an old volcanic crater. It is one of the most interesting places in the whole of Ecuador. The viewpoint is located at 3,900 meters above sea level. The lake is about 400 below and has no intakes or outlets. According to the Lonely Planet, the lake is 250 meters deep. From the Mirador (viewpoint) you can see bright and spectacular colors. After havig taken some photos, I took the path that took us to the bottom of the lake in about 45 minutes. Here we found a small beach, with the possibility of renting canoes to navigate the lake. The most critical issue is how to regain the 400 meters in altitude, given that we were at 4.000 meters above sea level, and it is really difficult to breath due to the lack of oxygen. Fortunately, we saw that for € 10 it was possible to go back riding horses lead by local children. Moreover, the ride on horseback was fun and we could focus on the panorama, and on the colors of the lake that changed as the sun went down. Spectacular and highly...

Its better to get there from Latacunga Pujili instead from.sigchos the road is on excelent state yet beware on night there is no illumination and there is no gas station so go prepared.

Arriving there is a 2 dollar cost per person 1 dollar per child. If you go on the week there is a lot of restaurants closed they open on holiday or weekend. We ate on chukirawa was excellent and the almuerzo or lunch cost 4 dollars.

The hike down is nice but slippery cause the road is full of gravel and on a lot of places the is more than 45 degrees so needs caution.

At the bottom there is a boat 5 dollar per person and 3 dollar per person on a two person kayak for 30 minute.

The return you could take a donkey or a horse per 10 dollar per person. Or you can walk and be prepared for a nice hard hike and very slippery per gravel. And there is not handles.

Overall a must...yet i missed more information..a tour...and history...we were left to ourselves...