Quilotoa

Quilotoa is a water-filled volcanic caldera in the Ecuadorian Andes and is considered one of the country's most spectacular natural attractions. Its turquoise-green crater lake, colored by dissolved minerals and changing light conditions, lies about 400 m below the crater rim, which is encircled by a hiking trail that most visitors complete in four to five hours. A steep switchback path descends to the lakeshore, where kayaks are often available for rent to explore the calm waters. Quilotoa is the scenic highlight of the popular Quilotoa Loop, a multi-day trekking route through indigenous Andean villages, patchwork farmland, and cloud forest. The crater rim reaches an elevation of 3,914 m (12,841 ft), offering breathtaking views while the high altitude and thin air make proper acclimatization advisable.