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Quilotoa Lagoon
Meilleur moment pour visiter
Visit on a clear weekday morning between June and September. Clouds and mist often roll in by early afternoon, obscuring the crater's color and the surrounding views.
Conseils budget
Entry costs $2 per person, and parking adds $1. Kayak rentals run $8 per hour; bring cash since credit cards are not accepted anywhere at the crater rim.
Recommandé pour
Photographers, Active travelers, Solo adventurers, Nature lovers
Planifiez votre visite
2-3 hours
À propos
Faits rapides: The crater lake reaches depths of 250 meters and its water shifts between turquoise, emerald, and deep blue depending on sunlight and mineral content. Volcanic activity formed the caldera about 800 years ago, creating a collapsed cone nearly 3 kilometers wide.
Points forts: At 3,800 meters above sea level, the lake sits inside a volcano that last erupted before the Spanish ever set foot in the Americas. Kayakers paddle across the crater's surface while Andean condors soar overhead, a 400-meter vertical climb above them.
Conseils d'initiés
- Hike down to the water rather than paying for a mule, the 45-minute descent lets you spot volcanic pumice and obsidian along the trail.
- Arrive by 8:30 AM to photograph the lake before tour buses from Latacunga arrive around 10 AM.
- The eastern rim offers the most vivid turquoise views in direct morning light, the opposite side shows deeper blue tones.
- Skip the kayak rental if winds are strong, afternoon gusts create choppy conditions that make paddling exhausting rather than enjoyable.
Infos pratiques
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