Description

The Cuicocha Lagoon is located inside an ancient volcanic crater of about 3.5 kilometers in diameter. Tourists usually include in their trip a visit to the attractive town of Cotacachi, famous for its leather crafts, and later they go to the nearby Cuicocha Lagoon where they can do some outdoor activities. One of the favorites is to take the boats that leave from the pier and go through the two islets in the center of the lagoon, it's; very common to watch ducks swimming on the mirror of deep blue waters. The other common activity is to hike the picturesque trail around the lagoon crater, which offers wonderful views, especially of the lagoon, the Cotacachi Volcano, Imbabura Volcano, San Pablo Lake and the traditional Otavalo and Atuntaqui valleys. This trail is excellent to admire a great variety of wild flowers and the native vegetation of this andean zone.

Elevation Table
PlaceElevation
Cuicocha Access Control3109m
Highest viewpoint3498m

Photos

Visitor Center

Visitor Center

Trail around Cuicocha

Trail around Cuicocha

Cuicocha Lagoon

Cuicocha Lagoon

Flora

Phaedranassa dubia

Phaedranassa dubia

How to get

Western Cordillera; 10 kilometers in a straight line west of Cotacachi; 60 kilometers north of Quito.

  1. “Cotacachi” Approach: From Quito take the Panamerican HW Northwards, pass Otavalo for a few kilometers and then turn left to the Cotacachi town. In Cotacachi you can find signs that indicate the direction to Cuicocha Lagoon.

Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological ReserveIbarraNorth SierraOtavalo