The Land of Volcanoes (Day 8)

After a successful concert in Cotacachi, Peru, the group returned to Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. We learned from our Ecuadorian guide that Ecuador is known as the “land of volcanoes.”  In a country the size of Colorado, there are as many as 55 volcanoes in the country, many of them still active. We also learned that Quito is the highest capital city in the world at a height of over nine-thousand square-feet above sea level!

We first stopped at a home of local musicians. We were given a great presentation of the musical instruments of the indigenous people of the region. The hosts gave us a short concert using all the instruments in the lecture. Afterwards, we were offered an opportunity to purchase the Ecuadorian instruments that were made at the property.  

Our major excursion for the day was to hike up the side of the Cotacachi Volcano to see Cuicocha or Lago del Cuy which is translated as “lake of guinea pigs.” It is called this because the shape of the largest island is in the shape of a guinea pig. After almost a week in the high altitudes of the Peru/Ecuador region, the entire group was becoming more acclimated and breathing much easier in the higher altitude. We hiked up the side of the mountain, which is approximately two-thousand feet higher than the town of Cotacachi, to see an absolutely stunning lagoon at the base of the mountain. We could see spots in the lake where the water was bubbling from the hot springs below, suggesting volcanic activity. Our guide believed that one of the volcanoes in the immediate area is due to erupt in the next one-hundred years. Our guide was impressed that we were able to walk to one of the highest points of the mountain, with relative ease compared to other groups.

After the hike, we went to another hacienda for lunch. This hacienda was the site where Simón Bolivar, the 18th-century political leader, liked to stay when he visited Ecuador in an attempt to unite Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia into one united country.  We once again were served several foods of the region. As we ate, we were entertained by local musicians. We then had a more than two-hour drive back to Quito to check into our hotel for the evening.

Days 1 and 2 / Destination: Sold out Performance in Lima, Peru

Days 3 and 4 / High Altitudes

Day 5 / Guinea Pigs, Alpacas, and a Sold-Out Concert!

Days 6 and 7 / Ecuador, Mi Ecuador

Day 9 / Concert in the Clouds