Quilotoa

Quilotoa is a dormant volcano in Pujilí Canton in Ecuador, and its crater holds a mineral-rich lake. The water appears green and sits at roughly 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) elevation, while the lake reaches a depth of around 250 meters (820 feet).

The last major eruption occurred in 1280 and produced pyroclastic flows that reached the Pacific. Ash from this event spread across the northern Andes and shaped the crater landscape seen today.

Kichwa communities around the crater weave textiles using natural dyes drawn from plants of the region. These fabrics often show geometric patterns that represent elements of the landscape and sky.

You can reach the crater rim by bus from Latacunga, and from there a steep path leads down to the lake. The descent takes roughly 30 minutes, but the return climb requires one to two hours and demands some fitness.

Beneath the surface of the lake, fumaroles send gas bubbles up to the water occasionally. On the eastern side of the crater, thermal springs emerge that bring warm water into the cold highland environment.

Location: Pujilí Canton

Elevation above the sea: 3,800 m

GPS coordinates: -0.84915,-78.89708

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:40