Quilotoa

 

With Cotopaxi out of the question, Quilotoa was the recommended alternative. And a wonderful one it was. The manager of the Tacvnga Hotel recommended that I do not bother with a tour but told me that there was each morning one bus that went straight there, eliminating a time consuming walk or transfer to the crater. In the afternoon, that same bus would also return and stop at Quilotoa and then continue to Latacunga. Excellent advice, but only if you can live with the reduced time on site. For a solitary traveler that is a good option, since you would not be sharing rides as others (like the group of French travelers) did. The third option would be a tour, arranged by Tiana Cafe's (Hostel) tour desk, or any number of tour operators around town. They usually stop at another village for various commercial reasons.

 

A few sights shot from the bus on the way there

 

What's a man without a bench? You can invite friends for a sit and chat, or, when going uphill, stop and take a break.

 

This is how we roll high up in the Andes

 

 

And then, after a good walk uphill that leaves you breathkess at this altitude, shivering in the icy breeze that tears over the rim, before you lies the spectacular caldera of Quilotoa

 

Did you get the hint? Dress appropriately. I wasn't. I desperately needed my windbreaker. Some, as the group of French hikers, immediately set off to hike around the edge. That can be done in about 5 hours, give or take, but not possible if you want to catch the bus back from here. The (much warmer) alternative is to go down into the crater.

 

The first thing you notice is, once the steps end, that you are walking in very fine and slippery sand. Then you notice people coming up on mules. So, realizing that getting out will be tough and I had a bus to catch, I gave myself and hour to go down as far as I could and 90 minutes back up.

 

 

 

 

 

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