Emerald water
In the crater.
Stitched by Seattle Skier, photos by Martini — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Gideoraielgave — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gideoraielgave — CC BY-SA 4.0
A stunning crater lake of emerald green that shifts with the light, at the bottom of a wide dormant volcanic crater nearly three kilometres across, about 3,900 metres up in the Andes. The view from the rim is among Ecuador's finest. You reach a small Kichwa village on the crater rim, and from the lookout the wide lake opens below the stepped crater walls. Many walk down a steep sandy path to the shore in about half an hour, where you can paddle a small boat. Climbing back up is far harder at this altitude, taking one to one and a half hours, and locals rent mules for the ascent. Others walk the whole crater rim in five to six hours, with changing views all the way. It is cold and windy, and cloud can cover the lake in the afternoon, so mornings are best. Villagers sell textiles and colourful folk paintings.
In the crater.
Five to six hours.
A small boat.
Quilotoa village, Cotopaxi province, about four hours' drive south of Quito
Going down takes about half an hour, but climbing back is very tiring at this altitude, one to one and a half hours; you can rent a mule.