Laguna Cuicocha is the best hike in Otavalo.

Laguna Cuicocha is an excellent one day hike near the well-known market town Otavalo. Visit one of the most underrated crater lakes in Ecuador with our travel guide. This post includes tips on the Laguna Cuicocha hike from Otavalo. How to get to the lagoon, how much things cost, acclimatization tips, or what to pack, it's all here.

Do you want to experience Otavalo, one of the best places in Ecuador, in a different way? Otavalo is not only a market town, but it's so much more.

We would even say that the best Otavalo has to offer lies outside the town's limits as the surrounding nature is just stunning. High in the Andes mountains, the possibility to find great hiking opportunities open up.

Hiking trails, volcanoes, lakes, and amazing scenery. This is what you can expect from Ecuador, or the Imbabura Province to be precise.

Although there were several possibilities to choose from, we decided to hike to Laguna Cuicocha, which is a pleasant day-trip from Otavalo.

The trailhead can be found only several kilometers away, and therefore, we could not believe how secluded it felt.

Despite the perfect location and the fact that the lake is very eye-pleasing, Laguna Cuicocha is still an underrated destination, especially when we compare it with Ecuador's top places such as Quilotoa Lagoon.

Most of the travelers usually arrive in Otavalo, a town in northern Ecuador near borders with Colombia (read our article: Things to know before visiting Colombia), to shop at traditional markets, and to take in the atmosphere of a town, where the most of locals are indigenous people.

It is also a traditional stop on Ecuador itinerary for those who just crossed borders from Colombia to Ecuador; therefore, Otavalo is for many the first stop in this rather small South American country.

But rather than just hanging around and watching people (we had enough time for doing that anyway), we ventured a bit further and decided that Laguna Cuicocha will be a perfect place to satisfy our hiking needs.

Despite the fact that the traditional markets are one of the best things to do in Otavalo, we didn't find them that authentic. Being said that, it's still worth seeing them.

Every Saturday (and also Wednesday), the town fills up with groups of tourists eager to buy some (more or less) original stuff. It is for sure an interesting experience, but once you get overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle, it'll be time to escape the crowds.

And Laguna Cuicocha has a lot to offer in many ways. The scenery is very picturesque and photogenic, and during our visit, we met less than ten people on the trail.

In this travel guide, we would like to share our tips on how to visit Laguna Cuicocha. How to make a day-trip from Otavalo to Laguna Cuicocha and what to expect from the hike? Keep on reading.

LAGUNA CUICOCHA

The word ‘cuicocha’ means in indigenous Kichwa language lake of guinea pigs, because of the shape of the iconic islands in the middle of the lake.

Well, maybe if you have a more vivid imagination that we have, you'll find your guinea pig there; we tried pretty hard, but with no luck.

Laguna Cuicocha is a 3 km wide crater lake with a Cotacachi volcano in the background.

Around 3100 years ago, the volcano erupted massively, leaving the caldera to fill up with water.

In the center of the lake are two forested islands, but people are prohibited on both.

If you would like to get closer, there is a possibility to rent a boat, but we believe that views are better from the rim above than from the water surface, but this is absolutely an option for those who cannot or don't want to walk the whole circuit.

Laguna Cuicocha is a stunning attraction in Ecuador.

HOW TO GET TO LAGUNA CUICOCHA

It is fairly easy to get from Otavalo to Laguna Cuicocha independently; there's certainly no need to take a tour. In Otavalo, go to the bus terminal and take a regular public bus to Cotacachi for $0.35.

The bus takes about 30 minutes with many stops along the way, so the locals can jump in and jump off the bus anywhere and anytime it is convenient for them.

At the bus terminal in Cotacachi, take a taxi to Laguna Cuicocha.

Unfortunately, unlike Cajas National Park, there's at the moment no public transport, and this is the best way how to get to the lake.

We paid $5, but at first, we were asked for $6, so always try to haggle down the price a bit.

If you want to save a dollar or two for the taxi, you can get off the bus in Quiroga, approximately five minutes drive before Cotacachi, but we did not see any drivers waiting there and did not want to be stuck in Quiroga.

So getting to Lake Cuicocha is quite easy.

HOW TO GET BACK TO OTAVALO FROM LAGUNA CUICOCHA

But how do you get back?

You can either ask a driver to wait for you at the lake (but it will costs you about an additional $10 per hour), or it is better to ask him to pick you up at a certain time.

We asked our driver to pick us up in five hours, and he was there on time. Sure, it is a bit hit or miss, so make sure you do not pay your return journey upfront.

We would not risk not pre-arranging the transport in advance because the lagoon is really still under the radar, and especially if you finish the hike late in the afternoon, the chance there will be a taxi waiting gets lower.

In that case, you would have to walk on your own for several kilometers to the nearest settlement or hitchhike - this would work better on weekends or public holidays than on regular days.

On the way back, the driver can now drop you off in Quiroga, and here you can get on the bus to Otavalo straight away, which saves you time and a few cents.

ENTRANCE FEE

Although Laguna Cuicocha lies in Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas, there is no entrance fee at the moment, which is great news for all backpackers and budget travelers.

When we arrived at the park gate, we only had to sign in, and that was it.

LAGUNA CUICOCHA HIKE

The whole circuit that walks around the crater lake is 14 km long and should take you 3 to 5 hours to finish.

We are usually a bit quicker than average, but this hike took us 4 hours and 50 minutes, mainly because the weather was warm, the views were stunning, and we took photos every now and then.

That's why we were glad we gave ourselves time and ask the driver to arrive for us in five hours.

The trek starts above 3000 meters, and the highest point on the trail is 3512 meters.

If you plan to climb some of Ecuador's volcanoes, this is a good way to start with your acclimatization.

You can walk Laguna Cuicocha trek either clockwise and counterclockwise, and to be honest; we do not think that one option would be distinctly better than the other one.

We took the counterclockwise one, and although it was a bit steeper at the beginning, the rest of the trek was quite easy with a few ups and downs. We had the lagoon all the time on our left-hand side.

The trail is well-marked, and both options start at the Visitor Center, holding a few exhibitions.

You might think that encircling the lake is not very exciting, well, the opposite is the truth. The trail allows you to walk on the rim of the crater and admire blue waters and islands in the middle from different angles.

Also, the flora around the lagoon is remarkable.

There are also astrological sites based on Incan models such as solar and lunar calendars near the trailhead, but unfortunately, without any further explanation.

While the start of the hike was quite remote, the last part led us around a few houses and gardens. There's also a possibility to get a coffee in a restaurant and rent a boat.

Travel Insurance

We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.

Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.

SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.

Travel smarter and safer!

You can finish the hike in less than five hours.

WHERE TO STAY IN OTAVALO

Because there are not many accommodation options in Cotacachi, there is a good chance you will be staying in Otavalo.

On the other hand, there are many hotels, but it is necessary to make a reservation in advance, especially when you are coming during the market days.

Otavalo is a compact town, so make sure you are within walking distance to the city center and bus station as well.

We've handpicked the best three hotels in Otavalo for every type of traveler.

Budget | Hostal La Rosa Otavalo - The location of this hostel is great, only two blocks from the main square, the staff friendly, the rooms are big and clean.

Mid-range | Hotel El Indio Inn - Perfect location for exploring all major sights, hot shower, clean rooms, and helpful staff.

Luxury | Dona Esther Otavalo - A charming hotel in the center of Otavalo, good breakfast and tasty food, excellent clean rooms, and a roof garden with amazing views.

WHAT TO PACK

Laguna Cuicocha is a half to one-day trek, so it is worth it not to underestimate what to take with you. Don't forget you are in the high Andes and the weather can change anytime, so dress properly.

Rule number one is to have a comfortable daypack for hiking in the mountains. Make sure you have a daypack where you can fit a water bottle, snack, sunscreen, and extra clothing layers.

Sunscreen is this altitude, especially in this equatorial country, super-important, even when it is cloudy.

Make sure you have a functional t-shirt, hiking boots, a fleece jacket, and we also never leave without a proper rain jacket, no matter what the weather forecast is.

We've also created an in-depth South America packing list where you will find more useful tips and advice on what to pack.

Travel Resources

Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.

Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.

Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.

We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.

Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.

Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.

Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.

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Laguna Cuicocha: Best Day Hike from Otavalo, Ecuador