![Title image - BAI takes you to: Ecuador](/v3_assets/images/trip_images/south-america/SAEC00_title.jpg)
Ecuador Volcanoes Expedition Dispatch
November 1, 2016 – Guinea Pig Lake
We arrived yesterday at the Hacienda Cusin. This will be our home base for the next few days. It is a restored 17th-century Andean estate situated at 8,530ft/2,600m.
Today we hiked around the Guinea Pig Lake; it is a 3 km crater lake at the foot of Cotacachi Volcano. It is lush and tranquil here. The lake is formed in the caldera of a volcano that was last active 3000 year ago. The local name is Laguna Cuichcua or “Guinea Pig Lake”.
Now we return to the fireplaces and excellent food back at Hacienda Cusin tonight.
![Paule and Linda admiring the beautiful views of the lake at the trail head](assets/03-1-admiring-the-view-at-the-trail-head.jpg)
Paule and Linda admiring the beautiful views of the lake at the trail head
![The map of the Guinea Pig Lake](assets/03-2-guinea-pig-lake-map.jpg)
The map of the Guinea Pig Lake
![Linda and Paule](assets/03-3-linda-paule.jpg)
Linda and Paule
![Selfie of Joaquin, Paule and Linda](assets/03-4-selfie-guinea-pig-lake.jpg)
Selfie of Joaquin, Paule and Linda
![Back at the Hacienda Cusin](assets/03-5-6-7-hacienda-cusin.jpg)
Back at the Hacienda Cusin