Fuya means cloud in Kichwa the local indigenous language of the Otavalos people. Legend says that the clouds are born here on it’s twin peaks. When you hike the inactive volcano you will realise why as the clouds seem to form around the peaks then set off on their journey across the amazing landscape around Lagunas de Mojanda.
Situated in the north of Ecuador over looking the town of Otavalo the extinct stratovolcano blew itself out over two hundred thousand years ago and in the process formed three lakes the biggest of which Laguna de Mojanda is where the hike begins.
The hike can be done via a tour from Quito but the cost of the tour will be a lot more than staying a few days in Otavalo. We recommend Otavalo not only for this hike but others such as the Laguna de Cuicocha and you wouldn’t want to miss the craft market.
From Otovalo it’s about an hours taxi ride to the start of the hike, We organised the taxi through our Hostal. We were dropped off at the trailhead and arranged to be picked back up in five hours which would give us plenty of time to complete the hike. We paid $35 when we got back to the hostal.
It’s quite a rough road in places, there has been a couple of landslides and some of the cobbles have been washed away. With this in mind it would be better to hire a four by four not the usual yellow cab you see around town. The owner of our hostal ended up taking us himself which worked out quite well as we knew he would return for us.
The hike itself is just under 3.5 kilometres this doesn’t seem a big day but it’s straight up and down and with the thin air the hike is classed as challenging. I would say it’s more moderate to get up to the ridge between the two peaks and then perhaps slightly more difficult to reach the lower of the two peaks.
Looking right as you reach the ridge is the slightly lower peak. This is where most people call the top, it’s a steep slightly eroded path to a surprisingly flat top. There is a small scramble to get up just over head height with good hand and foot holds. It looks quite imposing but is not to difficult to overcome.
The slightly bigger of the two peaks is more of a test. You need to walk along the slightly exposed ridge to the base of the peak. There is then what looks like a quite technical scramble. I decided not to take it on but I have been assured it’s doable without specialist equipment. I wouldn’t take it on unless you’re confident you can manage the climb up and then of course are able to get yourself back down again.
After you’ve reached the top of one or both peaks you get back down to the track the same way as you went up, We were quite lucky with the weather we got a good amount of sun and clear skies but with enough cloud cover drifting in and out to make for great views.
We thought this was a fantastic day out for quite a small amount of money and wold highly recommend you avoid the cost of a tour and do the hike independently. I wouldn’t attempt it if you don’t have the correct clothing, good hiking boots are needed and layers to protect from the cold and the rain.
We got a strong burst of rain while waiting to be picked up and we were glad to have our waterproofs with us and a warm fleece. There is a shelter however, when it rains and the wind gets stronger it can get quite cold out of the sun. Also make sure you have sun protection a hat and sun scream and enough water to keep you hydrated for the full hike.
We have always tended to use Booking.com having said that if your on a tight budget another good site to try as a comparison is Hostelworld, If your looking to compare different sites you can do that on Hotellook, we tend to look on here first to make sure we are getting the best deal.
You can book your visits as you go at the entrance to your chosen attraction or site. Or you could use the following links to book in advance or just to find out what your choices are in the area. GetYourGuide and Tiqets are our go to choices you could try Viator to see how they compare.
For a full list check out our resources page. Don’t forget always shop around to find the best deal for you. What works for us should be good for you but it’s always reassuring to check.
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The Quilotoa loop three day hike is one of the most popular hikes in Ecuador mainly because of the spectacular countryside that walkers make their way through on dusty paths and lush green vegetation.
Cuenca or to give it its full name Santa Ana de los Cuatro Rios de Cuenca is located in the highlands of Ecuador and sits at 2560mtrs above sea level. It’s centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is visited by many tourists.
Isabela Island is the largest of the Galápagos Islands and is distinctly shaped like a horseshoe. It is made up of no less than 5 young volcanoes fused together with some of them still being active with the most recent eruption on Sierra Negro being only in 2018.
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