Loop the loop

Quilatoa Crater

Next on the itinerary, now we were back in Ecuador, was the Quilotoa loop.

First stop was Latacunga, a cute town with beautiful town squares and a very enthusiastic brass band. We lucked out finding a little Italian that did the absolute best pasta.....yummm I can still remember it now! So, stocked up on carbs we set out early the next morning for the first section of the loop.

Quilotoa (pronounced 'kilo toa') is a water filled caldera 2 miles wide that was formed by the collapse of a volcano following a catastrophic eruption about 800 years ago. The Quilotoa loop is the journey between a series of villages around it -about 200km. You can do this journey by bus, bike, horse, milk truck or by foot. We did a bit of a combo.

First stop was a dusty little town, with chickens everywhere you looked, called Isinlivi, by bus. The bus ride itself was an experience. Amazing scenery and everyone from the very old to toddlers wearing amazing fedora hats. We stayed in a gorgeous little hostel called Llulu Llama.

Greenhouse toilet at Hostal Llulu Llama

View from said toilet

The next day was a walking day - which was lovely and a little bit like a treasure hunt. We had a page of instructions including things like ' turn right at the green bushes'! About five hours later, we arrived at Chugchilán another very small and dusty town. We found a lovely hostal - hostal Mama Hilda and sat down - for a long time! Food was very welcomed and plentiful - four courses with pizza as a starter! As all good meals should start!

Lesa standing on a log

Not to be out-done, Gio standing on a log

Evening entertainment at Chugchilan

Next day, next stage of the loop. Back of a truck to the crater rim (having been told it was 7 hours straight up to walk it). The scenery continued to amaze us but nothing prepared us for how glorious the crater would be.

Lesa on the back of a truck

The Quilatoa trail

We finally finished the loop about 5.5 hours later. Found a little shop for drinks, where the lady there told us that the locals do the walk in 3 hours! She arranged a ride for us to get to Zumbagua and the bus home. Poor old Gio had to stand for the next 2 hours on the bus home, whilst I got a front seat and the driver slowing the bus to show me the best views of the volcanoes we passed!

Quilotoa Loop local record holder (3 hours, 2 mins, 14 seconds)

And so, a few days later, loop looped, we sat with pizzas back in Latacunga discussing the absolute beauty of Ecuador, how amazing it was to see how the local indigenous people existed in pretty tough conditions - harvesting almost vertical slopes, oh and how happy we were to be going to lie down!!

Not wanting to be out-done, Gio on the back of a truck.

Cotopaxi Volcano