Cuicocha

Cuicocha is a volcanic crater lake in Imbabura Province in northern Ecuador, set in the caldera of the Cotacachi volcano. The caldera is roughly 3 kilometers across and contains vegetated lava-dome islands.

The lake and its islands are the main attractions, with a short network of trails along the caldera rim and seasonal boat trips that approach the islands. Hikes to the main viewpoints are relatively short but can be steep; photographic viewpoints overlook the water and the surrounding Andean highlands.

The caldera formed by volcanic activity associated with the Cotacachi volcanic complex; the islands inside the lake are lava domes that rose after caldera formation. The site has local indigenous significance and has been part of conservation efforts within nearby protected areas.

Cuicocha sits within the Cotacachi-Cayapas protected area on the western slopes of the northern Andes, near the towns of Cotacachi and Otavalo in Imbabura Province. The landscape around the lake is alpine grassland and montane forest.

• Boat access: Boat trips operate on the lake seasonally and allow closer views of the islands and cliff faces.
• Rim viewpoints: A well-defined rim trail and several short paths give viewpoints over the caldera; sections are steep and exposed in places.

What to See #

• Islands (lava domes): A steep-walled caldera lake occupying the summit depression of the Cotacachi volcano, with two vegetated lava-dome islands formed inside the crater.
• Rim trail and viewpoints: A rim trail and several lookout points that give panoramas across the lake and into the surrounding Andean highlands, commonly used for short hikes and viewpoints.
• Crater lake: The caldera lake itself, a deep crater basin fed by rain and mountain streams and noted for its clear water and steep shoreline.