Hiking is one of my favorite things to do while visiting a scenic destination, and Ecuador is full of incredible hiking spots! The longest and most intense hike I completed while visiting was one I discovered last minute: Cuicocha Lake. Here’s my experience hiking Cuicocha, Ecuador.
The stunning crater lake is one of many in Ecuador, created thousands of years ago from a massive eruption of a volcano. In this case, the Cotacachi Volcano. Cuicocha gets its name from the guinea pig (cuy) shaped island in the middle of the lake. Guinea pigs are a huge part of Ecuadorian culture, and their local name sounds like the noises they make! (Cuy cuy cuy!) If you’ve never heard a guinea pig, check out their cute noises here!
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Hiking Cuicocha, Ecuador
I read about Cuicocha when my fiancé and I decided last minute to stay in Otavalo longer, and our plans one day fell through. We read that it was a fairly easy hike, only 14 kilometers (8.6 miles), which is a length we’ve done dozens of times before. However, we did not account for the 550m (1800 ft) elevation gain. That’s what really exhausted us! The air in Ecuador is already much thinner than we’re used to living at sea level in Florida, and the quick elevation gain, quite literally, took our breath away. It didn’t help that about a third of the way through the hike I dropped my inhaler somewhere on the trail…
What Went Wrong for Us Hiking Cuicocha, Ecuador
A shorter answer would be, what DIDN’T go wrong for us! As embarrassing as this is, I’m telling you about our own hike so you don’t make the same mistakes as us.
For starters, we each only brought one large bottle of water. Being so used to hiking on flat land in Florida, and it being a cool day, we thought it would be enough. It was absolutely not, and we ran out of water about halfway through the hike.
Tip 1: Bring plenty of water
If you have asthma like me, make sure to hold onto your inhaler for dear life. I discovered after climbing a few dozen stairs on a crazy steep incline that my fanny pack was open, and my inhaler had fallen out somewhere at the bottom. Thinking that we were over halfway done (we were not!!!), I decided to just leave it rather than go back for it. Yes, I’m that stupid.
Tip 2: Keep close track of your belongings
Tip 3: The trail is longer than you think
Finally, remember sunscreen and wind protection. Due to the massive incline and decline in elevation of the hike, the environment around you also rapidly changes. On the same trail, we walked through arid desert-like surroundings with a hot sun beating down on us, through farmland, and shivering as freezing cold wind beat us around tall green trees. We had forgotten sunscreen and did not even think about bringing protection from the wind. Locals laughed at the glowing pair of red gringos for the next few days!
Tip 4: Bring sun and wind protection
Why the Hike around Cuicocha is Worth it
Even though we fought for our breath after every set of stairs, ran out of water, and lost an inhaler, the hike was well worth it. We just should have prepared a bit more. The views are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen! We also saw some wildlife and some stunning wildflowers throughout the trail.
Cuicocha: What to Expect
For experienced hikers, Cuicocha should be a fairly easy hike. However, if you are used to flat land, short hikes, or have asthma, this hike can be a challenge. It is definitely doable with the right preparation!
Expect massive elevation changes and temperature changes. Make sure to bring extra water and maybe some altitude sickness medication. Local coca candy definitely helped us throughout our hike with the altitude! Be sure to bring a windbreaker, some great hiking boots, and sunscreen. The trail is not well labeled, but as long as you stay on the trail you will not get lost…there is only one trail! The hike should take between 4 to 6 hours, depending on your skill level. There are plenty of spots to sit, rest, and admire the views throughout the hike. Take it at your own pace!
Finally, make sure to bring a camera. You will definitely want to snap some pictures of the stunning scenery!
La Laguna Cuicocha is located just outside Otavalo, Ecuador. This city is one of my favorites in the country. I highly recommend staying at the Rose Cottage Hostel for a relaxing visit, beautiful views, and of course, a cab ride to Cuicocha!
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