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The Quilotoa Loop is a bumpy dirt road that goes deep into the Andes. Being so isolated, indigenous communities still practice their centuries-old way of life.
Our first stop was the town of Zumbahua. We came for the market, but arrived a bit late - just in time to watch the locals packing up! We found a hotel on the market square, where a 7 year old girl kindly checked us in, took our money and showed us to our room - very efficient! After a quick walk around the town, the sun began to drop behind the mountain and the temperature plummeted. It's really cold up in the Andes at night so we put on all our clothes and tried to keep warm for the night.
After a chilly night we headed to our next destination on the loop - the tiny town of Quilotoa and it's famous crater lake. The crystal-blue lake (4000m above sea level) sits high up in a volcanic crater with breathtaking views of the neighbouring volcanoes. We hiked down 400m to the waters edge, but the hike back up was totally exhausting due to the steep slopes and lack of oxygen. Back at our hostel we got the wood burner going and slept well that night - shattered.
The following morning we got up early to begin a 10 mile walk to the tiny Andean village of Chugchilán. The 5-6 hour walk is one of the best day walks in Ecuador and it didn't disappoint. The views over the mountains and valleys were fantastic. Passing local farmers, working their land with traditional tools and animals, was like stepping back in time. The correct path can sometimes be tricky to find but the local people were so friendly, always pointing us in the right direction. Unfortunately, the weather turned on us for the final accent into Chugchilán and the heavy ran soaked us through. So upon arrival at our hostel, we spent most of the evening drying our clothes in front of the log burner!
A visit to the market town of Saquisili was the final destination on the loop. This time we arrived with plenty of time to browse the hundreds of stalls selling everything from fruit and veg to pigs and chickens. Upon arrival back at at hosel, we were advised to stay indoors for safety reasons. Bizarrely, the Ecuadorian president had been attacked by his own police force disputing benefit cuts - the streets were no longer safe! All part of our South American adventure!
Check out ‘Ecuador - Quilotoa Loop’ at http://gallery.me.com/peterjprice/101731
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