Amazonia - May 21th
Cotopaxi - May 7th
Quilotoa - April 16th
Taking advantage of a long weekend, our group of 7 alpha males decided to go on the Quilotoa trek. This 3 day loop starts in Sigchos, then goes through Isinliví and Chucchilán to finally arrive at the huge crater of Quilotoa. In the Cotopaxi region, this volcano is almost 4000m high and it takes 5 hours to walk around it.
It was a great experience during which we ran into our Italian friends and met two cool Swiss guys. We also had great weather (which was not guaranteed) which made the adventure even more enjoyable. Good laughs, good hiking, good food, good friends, everything you need.
It was a great experience during which we ran into our Italian friends and met two cool Swiss guys. We also had great weather (which was not guaranteed) which made the adventure even more enjoyable. Good laughs, good hiking, good food, good friends, everything you need.
Guagua Pichincha - April 9th
Little brother of the famous rucu pichincha, the guagua has nothing to envy it. It is higher in altitude (4781m), is less often cloudy, and you can sleep in a refuge just below the summit. Well, sleeping is a big word, it's more like a series of naps (especially when some Ecuadorians decide to make a fire in a non-functioning chimney).
We got up early hoping to enjoy the sunrise, but instead we had a rather magical atmosphere with the morning mist. On the way back to the cable car, the clouds cleared and we could see a bit of the big city of Quito.
Baños - December 25th
Is there any better way to celebrate Christmas than in an open-air spa ? Spoiler : NO.
And that's why I decided to spend a few days in Baños, a small touristic town known for its waterfalls and sports activities. The weather was perfect, rafting was thrilling and I particularly enjoyed the bike tour which allows you to contemplate the beautiful landscapes while sliding down the slopes of the valley.
Laguna de Cuicocha - November 13th
Next stop on our journey : la Laguna de Cuicocha ! A crater located near Cotacachi, a small town at the north of Quito. After 12km in the back of a van, we finally arrived at the location, and we could start our walk around this huge lake. For once, the weather was okay and after a few hours and a nice picnic, we eventually came back to our starting point and jumped in the bus (literally) heading back to Quito. A great day !
Montañita - November 1st
In order to celebrate el dia de los muertos, we decided to head for the coast and most specificaly to Montañita, a small beach town known for its surfing spots, its bars and more importantly : its night life. And well... none of it was disappointing. The clubs would open at 3pm and won't stop until 7 in the morning. Nevertheless, the beach was great !
Rucu Pichincha - October 23th
The Rucu Pichincha is an extinct volcano that overhangs Quito. It peaks at 4,696m of altitude but you can start hiking at 3945m using the cable car. Weather is very changeable, we had sun, then fog, then rain and sun again. It's fascinating how many people you meet there. We've talked to more foreigners in 5 hours than we did in almost 2 weeks, always a pleasure.
Centro Historico - October 17th
The historical center of Quito is full of colours. We took the time to navigate through its streets, visiting some of the many museums you can find. We also climbed to la Virgen del Panecillo, which offered us a beautiful overview of the city.
The arrival - October 11th
After a 15h flight, we finally landed in Quito. We arrived in our new home at 10pm and met the owner of the building. We then got to experience our first jet lagged night in our new country...
Because it is so high in altitude (2800m), it's very hard to breath, every walk is exhausting. Nevertheless, we went out the next morning, visiting our neighbourhood, tasting our first empanadas, thrilled to start this new experience.
