Cotopaxi & the Quilotoa Crater

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First full day in Ecuador and I set off with two Dutch (Onno and Angela) and two Italians (Andrea and Laura) to see the highest volcano in Ecuador called Cotopaxi, about 80km south of Quito. We drove with our local guide in our 4WD truck through the stunning ´Avenue of Volcanos´to get there and then drove up the side of the snow capped volcano to 4500m. We then trekked up 300m to 4800m where the climbers´refuge is located. Whilst not the toughest climb I have done on my travels it got me to the highest altitude I have ever been.

That night we stayed in a small cosy hostel near to the volcano. For dinner we, by complete fluke, ended up at a very swanky local hacienda (Spanish stately home) called Cienega which dated back to 1660. Two courses plus wine set me back US$25, which by Ecuadorian standards is vastly expensive!

The following day we set out with Fernando, our guide, to the Quilotoa Crater. A stunning sight, where the crater of an extinct large volcano has filled with water to form a beautiful lake. The trek down to the water was a pleasure, however the schlep back up to the top was not!

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