South America
Ecuador
Esmeraldas Province
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Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve

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Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve
4.5
About
This large reserve extends from the Sierra Mountains to the western edge of the rainforest in the Esmeraldas region and features a crater lake that is located more than 3,000 meters in elevation.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
38 reviews
Excellent
27
Very good
9
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
historyfanatic99
New York City, NY145 contributions
Great hike
Dec 2022
This is a beautiful place to visit. There are several things to do. There is a boat ride on the lake, restaurants to enjoy and hiking around the lake. The hike is very long but even a short hike is great.
Written December 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Fred G
Milton, Canada589 contributions
Beautiful park
Sep 2022
We were a group of sixteen travelers from Canada, and visited this beautiful area on our travels. The highest altitude, at the top of the volcano was 14,832 feet but we only went to 11,000 feet. At the end of our trek up, after many stops due to the altitude, we saw the lake that is in the caldera. The lake is called Laguna Cuicocha, beautiful. They say that when you take a boat around the domes (islands) in the lake you can see bubbles coming up because it is still an active volcano. Worth the visit!
Written October 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
John M
Raleigh, NC1,845 contributions
Beautiful views of a crater lake
Feb 2019 • Friends
The ride into this park is lovely. The views around the rim of the crater lake are spectacular. You can ride out to an island in a launch. And you can hike around the rim, some 14 kilometers.
Written March 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
jennywinter23
Bracknell, UK351 contributions
Great Day Out
Mar 2017 • Couples
This is an amazing and beautiful location. It is moderate to difficult walk depending on you ability, it is undulating with some steep but not lengthy up hills. Worth it as the views all around and over the lake are excellent. The paths are very good so you can not go wrong. There re birds, trees and wild flowers galore so a real nature lovers area. It is worth noting you are altitude so firstly that makes walking a bit more difficult, secondly it means it can get cold but much easier to get sun burnt. Take water and food with you are there isn't cafes on route.
Written March 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Fred B
Montreal, Canada695 contributions
A beautiful park with stunning lake
Feb 2017 • Couples
A wonderful site out in nature surrounded by beauty. The trail up and up around the rim of the former volcano overlooks a stunning lake and has many beautiful flowers. The views across the plains also very fine.
Written February 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JoshandCharlotte
London, UK39 contributions
Bring plenty of suncream & water!
Oct 2015
Amazing views but a reasonably difficult trek - we did it all in about 5 hours walking fairly quickly. Last bit of the trek bizarrely takes you on to a main road, which was a bit less enjoyable but don't think you are lost - keep walking down the road!

Stunning views - bring plenty of water and suncream - it can get very hot in the middle of the day.
Written January 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MaryG_from_Toronto
Toronto, Canada158 contributions
Nice view and boat ride. Bring a sweater.
Nov 2015 • Couples
This is a lake created in the second crater of an active volcano. Apparently, on some days you can see the water bubbling. Entry to the national park is free but you can take a boat for $3.25 that goes into the lake where you can see some ducks and reeds. No bubbles for us, but the ticket did include a cinnamon tea called Canelazo.

Bring a sweater because it's pretty high up and the boat goes pretty fast and the wind cuts into you.
Written November 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Peter B
Clevedon, UK1,630 contributions
Andean crater lake.
Oct 2015 • Friends
Our visit to the crater lake on a bright sunny day was nature perfectly in harmony with itself as we strolled along the banks attempting to take in the enormity of the scene.
Written October 5, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Aurora B.
San Diego, CA54 contributions
Beautiful hike
Dec 2014 • Couples
The trail starts with an uphill climb. Take it slowly to acclimate to the altitude. The lake view and volcano view are amazing. Very rewarding. However, the hike takes you to a road at the end which is very far from the starting place. It is an ugly walk back to where you started. Arrange for transportation to pick you up higher on the road. The hike is nowhere near as long that way and you miss the ugly, tiring part at the end. We were lucky but others were less so. We stopped on the way down with our taxi to pick up some French girls on the way down. Be generous that way.
Written January 6, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
PnRoyce
Silver Spring, MD362 contributions
Beautiful laguna
Jun 2014 • Friends
Laguna de Quicocha is one of my favorite places to visit in Ecuador. My mom is from the small town of Cotacachi nearby. I've never hiked around the laguna before but do love to go and take a a little boat ride around the laguna. It's a very beautiful and tranquil place to visit.
Written November 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve (Esmeraldas Province) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve
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