The Quilotoa is a volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes whose crater has accumulated what is commonly called a crater lake. It is 3 km in diameter and about 250 meters deep, making it one of the largest and most spectacular volcano lakes in the world.
It is the westernmost volcano in Ecuador and is part of the Cotopaxi National Park. The lush turquoise blue color of its waters is due to the large amount of minerals present in the lake.
It is a sinking caldera, the cooling of it and the lava has gradually caused it to become impermeable and to form a lake due to the inactivity of the volcano and the accumulation of rains, such as that of Quilotoa. Most of the lake-volcanoes are in the American continent, in Europe we can find them in Iceland and Portugal.
It is one of the most attractive and essential excursions in Ecuador. Every route through the Andean country must include a visit to this spectacle of nature.
How to get to Quilotoa?
Usually the fastest way is from the town of Latacunga, about 75Km (1 hour and a half by road). You can also go from Ambato, about 120Km, through Latacunga and even from the capital of the country, Quito. I think the distance from Quito is too long to travel the area without missing the most important thing.
There are two ways to get to the volcano: by car (either private or agency with local guide) or by public bus From the main bus terminal in Latacunga, right now there is 1 direct daily bus passing through the town of Zumbahua or buses every hour to this town and once there by taxi to Quilotoa.
In my case, I hired a local guide with a car from Latacunga to be able to visit indigenous peoples and understand the origin and history of the volcano and the culture of the area.
In the same way that I said it for the Cotopaxi volcano, it is important to know that we will be at almost 4000 meters of altitude. If we are not used to it, we can have headaches and mountain sickness. It is necessary to adapt to the altitudes of the country little by little, not to go directly from the coast to the high zone of the Andes because it can be harmful to health.
I also recommend that you bring warm, mountain or sports clothing and appropriate footwear. The path to the lake is slippery.
The road to Quilotoa runs through an Andean mountainous area of great beauty. It is an area where the predominant population is indigenous. On Thursdays the interesting local market is held in Saquisilí. This town is halfway to Quilotoa.
It's an excursion that It can be done in the same day starting from Latacunga. In any case, in the area of the lake and in the neighboring towns there are small lodgings and the Ecuadorian government allows camping on the volcano with prior permission.
I recommend you make 1 or 2 stops along the way before reaching the volcano to discover and enjoy the indigenous art and culture of the region. It is very beautiful and interesting to see how the people of the area live.
Once there, you have to pay for access to the parking area and indigenous shops.
What to do in Quilotoa?
Contrary to what one might think, the car park is at the top of the volcano and not at the bottom. The first thing we see is the lake from afar, from above all. It is a volcano that to visit it you have to go down and not go up.
Es one of the most impressive images of Ecuador: park the car, walk towards the railing (at the moment you can't see anything) and suddenly see the immensity of the volcano and the lake. It leaves you speechless. At no time does it give you the feeling that just after the railing there is the ravine towards the lake 3 km wide and 250 meters deep.
Once there, it is interesting go down to the lake. For that there is a path with a considerable slope that descends to the crater.
In about half an hour the entire journey to the lake is done. You have to be careful as the floor is quite slippery. The way up is quite hard and requires more than 1 hour or an hour and a half to do it, although once down you can hire the service to get you up on horseback.
There you can take a closer look at the volcano's fumaroles, which although inactive, still emits gases from the bottom of the lake. A part of the shore of the lake can be easily covered.
Latacunga, starting point for Quilotoa
I also recommend that you visit the center of Latacunga, stay in this city and take the excursion the next day. It is considered the largest city in the "Quilotoa circuit" and the main departure point for Quilotoa and the Cotopaxi National Park. It is a strategic point in the Andes (it even has an important airport for the country).
The main attractions of the population are all its downtown churches and its cathedral, from the XNUMXth century. It is not a very tourist town and that helps to contemplate the way of life of the Andean Ecuadorians.
Without a doubt, Quilotoa is one of those places that you will never forget if you visit it. A huge volcano and lake of extraordinary beauty. I totally recommend being able to see this spectacle of nature if you can.