
Laguna de Cuicocha
Ecuador, south-america
3 km
3,133 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, buckle up, adventure seekers! We're heading to Laguna de Cuicocha, a stunning crater lake nestled high in the Ecuadorian Andes at a whopping 10,278 feet!
The road, known as Vía Cotacachi - Quiroga – Cuicocha, is paved the whole way, so no need for a monster truck. It’s a climb, no doubt about it, but the pavement is in great shape. Trust me, you'll want to take your time anyway to soak in the incredible views.
Lake Cuicocha itself? Absolutely mind-blowing! Imagine a massive caldera lake, formed inside an old collapsed volcano. And get this: there's an island in the middle that seriously resembles a giant guinea pig! The lake is a beast, nearly two miles wide and over 650 feet deep, with two mounded islands that popped up from more recent eruptions. You might even spot some gas bubbling up in spots – a reminder that this volcano is still kicking!
Where is it?
Laguna de Cuicocha is located in Ecuador (south-america). Coordinates: -1.5538, -77.2285
Road Details
- Country
- Ecuador
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 3 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,133 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -1.5538, -77.2285
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