Cuicocha Lake Hike Guide

The beautiful Cuicocha crater lake is near Otavalo and can be hiked as a fun and easy day trip from here or from Quito.

I love easy hikes in stunning locations and Cuicocha Lake (Laguna Cuicocha) is one of the best in Ecuador.

The turquoise laguna fills a 3-km wide crater formed by a volcanic eruption around 3,000 years ago. And if that’s not cool enough, it sits at the foot of the imposing Cotacachi Volcano (4,944 m) towering above.

Practically anyone can enjoy the hike at Cuicocha Lake and, in this quick guide, I’ll explain how to get here, the trail conditions, and give you some practical tips.

Cuicocha Lake hike overview

Two islets sit in the middle of a lake-filled crater. This is Laguna de Cuicocha, Ecuador.

The trail is a 14-km loop around a crater.
It’s mostly flat, dirt underfoot, although there is one steep-ish section.
The hike takes roughly 3 h 30 – 5 h depending on your speed.
Cuicocha Lake is a 2 h 30 min drive from Quito and 30 min drive from Otavalo.
It’s free to hike and park a car at the lake.
There are restaurants at the car park which open on weekends.
You don’t need a guide, but if you want one, I recommend Tre Panchin: +593 99 572 7833. He’s based in Quito and highly experienced.

Trail conditions

The trail at Cuicocha Lake is really easy to follow and is also easy to tackle pretty much the whole way. At its highest point, the trail reaches 3,512 m. This isn’t usually high enough to cause altitude sickness, but it’ll be harder to breath if you’re not acclimatised.

Not only is the route signposted, but as it’s a loop without any side paths jutting off, you know where to go the whole time.

I’ve read online that you’re only allowed to hike in an anti-clockwise direction. This is the direction we hiked in, but people going in the opposite direction passed us, so I don’t know how true this is.

If going anti-clockwise, then around 20 or so min after starting there’s a fairly steep section. This is the hardest part of the hike, but it’s really not hard if you’ve got any sort of fitness.

Two islets sit in the middle of a lake-filled crater. This is Laguna Cuicocha, Ecuador.

The whole way round you have great views of the two islets at the centre of Lake Cuicocha’s crater. These are lava domes that formed when the lake was created by the volcanic eruption.

When the locals named the lake back in the day, they named it based on these islets. ‘Cuicocha’ comes from the word ‘cuy’, which, in English, means guinea pig. Cuy is a dish at the heart of Ecuadorean culture and locals believed that the islets looked like them.

While the lake itself is stunning, the surrounding area is incredible too. Cotacachi Volcano can be seen above and other peaks pop out of the vast green landscape, the closest being Imbabura Volcano (4,640 m).

At the far end of the lake from the car park there’s a viewpoint with a small hut. This is a good spot for lunch and ideal if you get caught in the rain.

Honestly, there’s not much else to say about the trail. I recommend taking it easy as it’s such an enjoyable hike with breathtaking views.

Because it’s such a straightforward trail, you could make it more challenging by running. When we finished the hike, we said if we ever came back we’d run it.

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Shortcut to a viewpoint of Cuicocha Lake

There’s a viewpoint on the eastern side of the lake around one third of the way into the hike which you can get to more quickly by driving. Instead of going into the car park, you need to head right onto Camino al Cotacachi, a road which brings you to just above the viewpoint. From here you need to walk a few minutes.

Where is Cuicocha Lake located?

The lake sits within Imbabura Province in the Central Andes, roughly 18 km from Otavalo, the famous outdoor market city, and 130 km from Quito, Ecuador’s capital. In a car it’ll take roughly 2 h 30 min to drive from Quito, but just 30 min from Otavalo.

A map showing the location of a lake called Cuicocha, near Otavalo in Ecuador.

How to get to the lake

From Otavalo

The easiest way to get to Cuicocha Lake is to stay in Otavalo and get a taxi from here. I read in this Tripadvisor forum that the ride should cost around $10 US each way.

I also read online that you can knock a few dollars off a taxi by first heading to Cotacachi on the bus from Otavalo, and then getting a taxi from Cotacachi. The bus should cost less than $1 US and the taxi around $6 each way.

In my opinion it’s not worth doing this unless you really want to save a few bucks. You can always get a group together to make the taxi cheaper too.

Wherever you get a taxi from, make sure to get the driver’s number and agree a pickup time before being dropped off. I’ve read that taxis don’t venture up here too often and there are no buses from the lake. I’d say give yourself at least 4 h at the lake to be safe.

However, I don’t recommend paying the driver for both legs, even if they insist. You never know if they’ll fob you off.

A flower with white petals, a green stem and a yellow, cylindrical thing growing out of it.

Where to stay in Otavalo

My accommodation recommendations based on personal experience or excellent ratings across major booking platforms.

Hostal Curiñan: A budget hostel with great views of Volcan Imbabura and breakfast is included.
Hostal Riviera Sucre: A more comfortable hostel with single and double rooms.
Hotel Sacha Golden: An excellently-located budget hotel with great facilities.
Las Palmeras Inn: A mid-range, chic hotel in a great location with volcano views.

From Quito

The most feasible way to hike Cuicocha Lake in a day from Quito is to have your own vehicle and drive. Parking at the lake is free but you need to register your vehicle at the entrance.

We drove from Quito, leaving around 8:00 and getting there around 11:00 after stopping for breakfast on the way – there are roadside restaurants throughout the drive.

If you don’t have a vehicle, then you’ll need to get a bus to Otavalo. I recommend getting a bus from Quitumbe, the south terminal in Quito, and not Carcelén, the north terminal.

I had a sketchy experience outside Carcelén when two guys tried to rob my friend in broad daylight. You can book bus tickets on BusBud or in person at the terminal.

All that said, I don’t recommend doing this in a day with public transport from Quito. It would be a really long day, so head up the day before and stay the night in Otavalo.

The towers of a large basilica. The tower has detailed architectural adornment and a clock face. Behind the tower a tall statue can be seen faintly atop a distant hill. This is the Basilica del Voto Nacional in Quito.

Where to stay in Quito

My accommodation recommendations based on personal experience or excellent ratings across major booking platforms.

Community Hostel: a budget hostel with a fun vibe. There are great views from the rooftop terrace.
Apartamento 32 Juana de Arco: a holiday apartment with all amenities in the historic centre.
Friends Hotel & Rooftop: A mid-range hotel in the historic centre offering veggie and vegan meals.
Hotel La Basílica: A centrally-located, higher-end hotel with beautiful rooms and church views.

Can you swim in Laguna Cuicocha?

It’s dangerous to swim at Cuicocha Lake and you’re not allowed. The water is extremely cold due to the high altitude and it’s also deep; 200 m at its deepest.

Boat trip

While you can’t swim at the lake, you can take a boat trip on it. When we were hiking here, we could see a small white boat every so often heading to the islets. I think you can book the tour from the restaurants at the car park.

And for a bite to eat, Achimama is one of the restaurants here and it has some decent reviews. It’s open 10:00-18:00 on weekends and a meal would be a nice way to end the hike.

When to visit Cuicocha Lake

The dry season in the Central Andes typically runs from June to October and is the best time to hike. During these months the weather is warmer and trails are in best condition.

The rainy season runs late October to May and it usually starts raining around midday. You could complete the hike and potentially avoid getting wet if you start early in the morning.

What to bring on the hike

A packed lunch or at least some snacks.
At least 2 L of water.
Waterproof layers.
Warm layers – especially during the rainy season.
Cash for buses, taxis and the restaurants.

An islet in the middle of a lake. The lake fills a crater and in the background mountains can be seen. This is Cuicocha Lake, Ecuador. — _{Andreas Kay CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.}

More Ecuador adventure travel guides on A World Over

Hiking at Cuicocha Lake is really fun and you’ll love the beautiful landscapes. It’s also a good hike to start acclimatising if you plan on tackling higher peaks in the country.

Have fun on this trail and, if you come by taxi, don’t forget to get your driver’s number to be picked up later.

More adventures in and near Quito:

Cuicocha Lake (Laguna Cuicocha) Hike Guide Ecuador