Day 17 - Cotopaxi to Chimborazo

The hotel remained pretty chilly, so the heaters in our room were welcome, but eating breakfast while cold was a new experience.  Having got used to buffets, having it served is a new experience. Having missed seeing Cotapaxi yesterday, it was fabulously clear today so we got lots of pictures to justify our passport stamp.

We headed west from the Pan American highway with good views of Volcan Ilininza most of the way.  In the far distance we could also see the Volcanos nearer to Quito in the distance.

The road was incredibly twisty with endless hair pin bends as we drove up and down mountains and through fertile valleys as we headed towards Quilotoa.  Quilotoa is a fabulous crater lake which is almost 4000m above sea level and is just beautiful.  The skies remained clear so we got fabulous views back towards the Valley of the Volcanos.  A path goes down to the lake and the locals have cleverly spotted a business opportunity bringing people back up by donkey.

We headed back on a better road down toward Pujili, where we stopped to look at the local market and have a snack.


Then it was back to the Pan American highway with views of the symmetrical cone of Volcan Tungurahau to our hotel at the foot of Chimborazo, which we had seen in the distance but by the time we arrived was shrouded in cloud.

Dinner is the hotel dining room was very nice, tonight we sat next to the patio heater.  Glynis has sirloin served on a volcanic rock, so she could cook it herself and Pete has a local dish in a bowl with chicken, sausage, potatoes, cheese, onions and peppers.  All very nice indeed.

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