Laguna del Quilotoa

The Laguna del Quilotoa is one of the 15 lagoons of volcanic origin appreciated as the most beautiful in the world according to Twistedsifter.
The Quilotoa Lagoon and the beauty inside a crater

The Quilotoa is the westernmost volcano of the Ecuadorian Andes, within its crater has formed a caldera with a diameter of almost 9 km. This is the product of the collapse of the volcano, which occurred about 800 years ago. According to studies, the volcanic flow managed to reach the Pacific Ocean.

In the boiler of 250 m of depth, a lagoon has formed. The minerals have given the surface a greenish and bluish tone when it receives the impact of sunlight. Inside, there are springs that from the shore, can be perceived as bubbling stelae ascending to the surface.

Visiting Quilotoa is an amazing experience approximately 4 thousand meters above sea level.
Tourists visiting the volcano and Quilotoa lagoon use the bus frequencies that daily and at different times depart for Latacunga and from this city, use the services that link Latacunga, Pujilí, Zumbahua (64.33 km) and from this town to Quilotoa (12.67 km). The approximate time of arrival from Latacunga to the Mirador de Quilota is 1 hour.

x

Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve

Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve

There are so many wonders distributed in the different protected areas of Ecuador, visiting them is a good option to know exotic animals, imposing volcanoes, mountains, immense waterfalls and a great variety of flora and fauna.

There are 49 protected areas in the country, in the Andes there are 16, including the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve, located just 17 kilometers from Quito, near the Middle of the World, in the parishes of Calacalí and San Antonio de Pichincha.

The reserve has a pear shape, when you visit it you can find species of plants such as pumamaqui, chilca, shanshi, ferns, orchids and bromeliads. The fauna includes mountain peas, guajalitos, torcazas, foxes, among the most important. Its climate is moderately cold in the upper parts, the north-west is temperate and subtropical, with temperatures varying between 13 and 15 ° C.

The reserve was created with the purpose of protecting this unique place, which was formed when the Pululahua volcano collapsed after having emptied its magma chamber during eruptions of the past.

From the viewpoint of the Volcano, in the sector of Caspigasí, via Calacalí, at 2,840 meters of altitude, you can see the domes, a kind of hills that form the edge of the crater and that in case of eruption they would be the first to crack .

In addition, the volcano includes its semi-destroyed boiler, the domes that are inside the boiler, alluvial and lacustrine deposits, which are remnants of rains and ancient lagoons.

The Pululahua is one of the few volcanoes where human beings live inside. How is it possible? First by the large caldera, which allows the presence of flat areas, where people can settle their houses, crops and animals.

Another reason is the soil, as a result of volcanic activity, is very productive for agricultural activity. Likewise, when they disappear, they leave extremely rich soils in nutrients.

To get to the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve you must take the bus to the Half of the World in the Terminal of the Ofelia, to the north of Quito. There are routes that arrive until the entrance of the viewpoint and others only arrive until the Half of the World.

The entrance is free to visit this natural attraction and it is advisable to go well sheltered, to withstand the effects of the strong winds that run in the viewpoint.