Laguna Cuicocha, Imbabura Province, Ecuador

5Shoell Ruiz 5:00 PM Oct 16, 2020

Magic place.
The Cuicocha lagoon is located south of the city of Cotacahi, passing a town called Quiroga, you can go by car or hire a truck in the town of Quiroga, the road to the lagoon is paved and in very good condition, the trip From the center of the city to the lagoon it takes about half an hour and about fifteen minutes from Quiroga, once there you can see the huge lagoon from different viewpoints, formerly it was called the lagoon of the gods by the natives, it is a crater volcanic located at the base of the main mountain of the city called Cotacachi volcano, its waters are beautiful and of a dark blue in the middle of the lagoon there are two islets. The first islet is called Teodoro Wolf, and the second is called Jose Maria Yerovi, in these two islets there is a great variety of native flowers of the area such as orchids and mosses there are also animals such as ducks, rabbits and foxes. Gas bubbles emerge from the depths of the lake due to volcanic activity. There is an earthen path that surrounds the lagoon it is possible to walk along the path and it takes about 3 hours to go around the lagoon, in this path you will be able to see a large number of unique flowers of the province and if you are lucky any animal, I would recommend you going with a guide in the area because the path has many ways and you can get lost in the mountains, there are many activities that you can do in the lagoon such as the boat ride, It is one of the most incredible experiences of this visit, because you can observe the purity of its waters, and feel the cold wind that circulates inside the crater, you can also appreciate the vegetation and wildlife up close. The two islets are covered in 25 minutes. In the smallest there is a Virgin, vestiges of an abandoned inn and a path that can be accessed with permission from the Ministry of the Environment. Upon entering the place you will find some craft stalls with leather items such as: wallets, purses, belts, suitcases, shoes, clothing, among others, woolen fabrics and more. There is also an interpretation center located 200 meters from the entrance of the Cuicocha lagoon, it has educational information about the Reserve. In addition, there is an auditorium, in which environmental education talks are given; a small botanical garden, where you can appreciate the different species of flora that the area has. If you want to eat there is a small restaurant where they offer typical dishes of the area, they also offer you hot drinks after returning from the boat, the weather is very cold so I would recommend you to wear warm clothes when you go there, however it is a wonderful experience and a beautiful place, hope to return very soon.

4Fernanda F 5:00 PM Aug 29, 2021

Beautiful Cuicocha Lake 40 minutes from Ibarra, located in Cotacachi
Beautiful Cuicocha Lake 40 minutes from Ibarra, located in Cotacachi, a small town full of color, clothes and handcrafted crafts. Its climate is warm but it is always good to wear a sweater to break the cold of the environment. Admission is free which gives you an additional point! You must register upon entry. Excellent place!