Lake Quilotoa is the result of a volcano that blew up 800 years ago and had such a massive lava flow that it reached the Pacific. The remaining crater has filled with beautiful blue/green water and there is a trail that encircles the 2 mile wide lake. The hike around the crater goes through an important Andean ecosystem called the paramo, which soaks up water from the clouds rolling by, and slowly leaks it into the country's river systems. We walked through meadows of purple and yellow wildflowers, and brushed past tall grasses. A shouted and pointed at lots of sheep and their fairly agressive companion dogs. When we got to the highest, most craggy crater peaks, the dense clouds started to rain and even hail a bit. Luckily A had the good sense to go right to sleep and stay covered under a rain jacket, while everyone else got soaked. Then the long ride home up the Pan Americana norte. An exhausting family outing, but worth every minute.
We stayed in a local eco lodge with composting toilets (and manuals about how to build your own next to the throne) and enough animals for A to freak out at every turn. The piggy encounter was a little bit frightening even for K, though A just giggled.
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