Quito in the rain, caldera lakes and market in Otavalo

Travelogue Ecuador: Market in Otavalo and the Laguna Cuicocha, Culture in Quito and the Caldera of the Laguna Quilotoa

Fritada at the Otavalo market
Fritada at the Otavalo market

In pouring rain, I walk up and down the alleys of Quito’s old town, telling myself that I’d rather have bad weather now, while I’m not yet acclimatised. This trip has a strange plan: South America in the footsteps of myself, I will cover almost the same distance as 11 years ago. However (even if I start with baroque churches in Quito) with a different focus: more mountains and less culture. I’m sure I’ll also take one or two photos for my book on orogenesis

Quito
Quito
Quito
Quito

As far as volcanoes are concerned, I start near Otavalo (north of Quito) with Laguna Cuicocha. Steep, densely forested lava domes rise out of the caldera lake, in which the dark grey clouds are reflected. Then culture again, I stroll through the Saturday market of Otavalo and find it a bit touristy…

Otavalo
Otavalo
Laguna Cuicocha
Laguna Cuicocha

The next caldera lake to the south is Laguna Quilotoa, south of Quito.


Read on

Travelogue Andes 2010
Laguna Quilotoa
Climbing Cotopaxi
Trekking at Chimborazo
Tungurahua and Baños
San Agustín
Bogotá