Quilotoa Crater

The westernmost volcano in Ecuador's Andes, Quilotoa, has a two-mile wide caldera with a lake that is green and turquoise. This creates a beautiful view. The 250-meter-deep crater lake gets its distinctive color from the dissolved volcanic materials left over from previous eruptions. The crater, which was created by volcanic activity in the thirteenth century AD, has lain inactive for a significant portion of Ecuador's history. However, the lake floor has fumaroles, and the eastern rim has a number of hot springs, both of which are evidence of the lake's ongoing geological activity.

The Quilotoa Loop has gained popularity thanks to Quilotoa's Crater Lake. The loop leads visitors into the heart of Ecuador's indigenous Quichua-speaking peoples and into their everyday customs, traditions, and beliefs. The loop passes through a number of tiny Andean settlements, as well as the more well-known communities of Quilotoa and Latacunga. The Ilinizas Reserve, which includes the Ilinizas Twin Peaks volcanos, some stretches of cloud forest, as well as a close-up look at local artists and indigenous markets that preserve the centuries-old culture, are also included in the loop's attractions. However, the crater lake's azure waters may be its most well-known draw. The Quilotoa Loop is a rare chance to stroll over old roads capped by ice volcanoes in Ecuadorian exploration, where many myths were created and a great deal of history was lost.

Country: Ecuador