Lagunas de Ozogoche

About this place

The Lagunas de Ozogoche are a group of dozens of mountain lakes in Sangay National Park, in the Alausí canton of Chimborazo province in Ecuador's Andes, at around 3,700 metres above sea level and about 30 km east of the town of Alausí in a straight line. Sources put the number of lakes at between 45 and 55, the largest being Magtayán and Cubillín. Sangay National Park, which they belong to, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that stretches from lowland forest to the summit of Sangay volcano. The lakes sit in páramo, a cold high-altitude grassland, ringed by green and brown hills, and clouds race over the water so the scene keeps changing between light and shadow. Indigenous communities live in the area, some of them fishing in the lakes, and the water draws birdlife. The altitude is high and the weather is usually cold and wet, so bring warm, waterproof layers and take it slowly if you are not acclimatised. Parts of the access roads are unpaved, so a high-clearance vehicle or a guide helps. Visits to Sangay National Park were suspended during heavy rain in July 2026, so confirm that the park is open before you go.