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Today I arranged to be taken to Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi Cayapas, a thirty minute drive from Otavalo, to view and walk the trails around Laguna de Cuicocha, a 3 km wide caldera and crater lake at the foot of Cotacachi Volcano in the Cordillera Occidental of the Ecuadorian Andes. The “sendero las orquideas” (orchid trail) is a 14 km trail that follow the ridge above the lake at altitudes between 3100 and 3450 meters. The following are some images from my hike.
The Trail Map
The trail follows the ridge.
Going up!
Laguna de Cuicocha with the two contained Islands.
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Great views from the trail of the surrounding countryside.
Many flowering bushes.
The day was overcast with many low clouds.
High up above the lake.
The islands are quite large.
There are several look-outs along the trail this one is Mirador El Arrayán.
The view from Mirador El Arrayán. Note the tour boat on the lake.
The Mirador is on the front ridge in the upper center of the image.
- The park has many many varieties of native plants. The following images are just a sample.
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This tiny orchid that was about 1/2″ across.
This Church was in Quiroga, a town along the way.
My driver returned to pick me up and take me back to my hotel and waited while I picked up my luggage and then took me to the bus terminal. Ten minutes later I was on my way back to Quito and the next event on my adventure where on Monday morning I was to meet some of my fellow travelers who would accompany me to the Galapagos and be my companions for the next 8 days.
Yes, I’m starting to get excited about the next part of my trip… The Galapagos!! Yaaa……hoo!!
Regards from Quito,
Wayne
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