Chugchilan and Quilotoa

I spent two days and two nights on the Chugchilan loop just south of Quito. Chugchilan is a very small Andean town with three competing hostels and plenty of young gringos searching for the experience that comes so very highly recommended in every Ecuadorian guidebook. The guidebooks are right though. I would definitely say the hike near Chugchilan at Laguna Quilotoa is one of the most beautiful I've ever done. These photos almost do it justice. The light was better when I was there...


Laguna Quilotoa. It's in the crater of an old volcano. This is the start of the hike. You can also kayak around for pretty cheap, which I did, and it was awesome.


View near Chugchilan. Lots of gulleys and valleys in this area. We had to cross a landslide that was still sliding.

Cuenca

Cuenca is a very nicely-kept city also in the south of Ecuador. It was my next stop after Loja, and I spent about three days there, admiring all the buildings, watching a local soccer game, and visiting museums, including one exhibit on the shrunken heads of the Shuar people in the Amazon. Very cool. Cuenca is also the cultural center of Ecuador, the home of panama hats and free hippie concerts in the plaza where Colombianas dance around and throw flower petals at the crowd in overly emotive gestures.


Cuenca corner, not too far from the modern art museum.


The top of Cuenca's cathedral, which was HUGE and gorgeous.