At 32km from Otavalo, you can reach Cuicocha by shared taxi and go on a hike around some amazing countryside.
My suggestion
Being in the Andes, at 3,000m alttitude, the weather can be unpredictable. Even if the walk itself isn't hard, do check out the weather conditions before you leave.
Julie Olagnol
Seasoned Traveller
4
You can take a boat trip on Lake Cuicocha which is a still active crater of Cotacachi!
My suggestion
For lunch I had a trio of sweetcorn (on the cob, white and grilled) with pork, which is typical of the region and delicious!
Anonymous traveller
Seasoned Traveller
4
Cuicocha lagoon is part of the Cotacatchi Volcano ecological reserve. In Quecha, "cuycocha" means "guinea pig" (cuy) and "lake" (cocha). Because one of the two islands in the middle of the lake is shaped like a guinea pig.
My suggestion
Rather than arriving direct from Otavalo, it's better to have a break in the town of Cotacachi. The promenade is nice and there is an interesting museum.
Humidity, blasts of hot air, heavy traffic... Embark for Guayaquil, the largest city of Ecuador even though Quito is the capital. We're off for a visit of the "Pearl of the Pacific", from its landscaped river promenade (the Malecón 2000) to the cerro Santa Ana, not to mention the city centre!
Ecuadorian Amazonia possesses the densest biodiversity in the world. With its 6034 square kilometres, the reserve is an incredible mix of rivers and flooded forests (due to the large quantities of annual rainfall in the Amazon). The result? A part of the Amazon that is unique and which will not leave you unaffected...