Ecuador Volcanoes Expedition Dispatch
November 7, 2011 – Guinea Pig Lake Hike
This is Leila Silveira from San Pablo. Today we had a 7am breakfast and then went off on our first hike.
The goal today was to hike around Cuicocha Lake (Guinea Pig Lake), at the foot of Cotacachi Volcano is a caldera created by a volcano eruption 3,100 years ago.
The elevation is 10,650ft/3,246m and the weather was really tough on the team. At the beginning of the trek, Joaquin decided to hike down to the lake border so that everyone could see that there was really a lake below them.
The wildflowers and vegetation in this area are amazing and quite unique. The team really enjoyed seeing how different the plants are and were amazed by the way that the flowers can survive in such harsh conditions.
The lake’s name comes from Kichwa indigenous language and means "Lago del Cuye" or Guinea Pig Lake in English. The guinea pig plays a big part on the daily life of the locals; they reproduce fast and they make a high protein meal for the populations living in high altitude.
We are planning to stop in a town famous for barbecuing guinea pig. Even Yuki, who is a vegetarian, is planning on trying this popular Andean food.
Andrew and Ana enjoying a romantic moment at Hacienda Cusin
Bill having a gourmet dinner with a soup that matches his shirt! We tried to figure out how the chef managed to keep both flavours of the soup separated…any guess? Up to moment they finished the soup both sides stay obediently separated…except Yuki’s, he immediately got his spoon and mixed them up!
Team by the lake in the rain
The rain is definitely not going to stop this team from their goal.
A moment of almost clear weather
Yuki enjoying the plants
Unique
Bill, always stylish, even in the rain
Finally when they reached the viewpoint the weather cleared up and they were able to see the lake.
The Guinea Pig Lake
Time for photo ops
Yuki having lunch at the viewpoint, protected from the elements
Mission accomplished
BAI bus was waiting for us