Day 12: July 1, 2007 Cotopaxi to Quito

  Quito, Ecuador
Sunday, July 1, 2007

Day 12: July 1, 2007 Cotopaxi to Quito

This day was actually a back-up plan. We had originally intended to spend the previous night in Baños but lahars from Tungurahua volcano had blocked the roads making access impossible.

Todd and I were in the dining room for a good breakfast by 7:30. We ate and were underway by 8:15. We drove south on the highway to the Pujili where we went to the native market. It was a typical market offering everything imaginable for sale-except things tourists would want. We wandered around for an hour and a half not buying much. Larry, Russ, and I walked down to the nice central plaza which looks like that of every other town of that size in Latin America.

Peatonal in Pujili

Pujili Municipal Building

Next, we drove back to Cotopaxi and took the ~15 km dirt road across lahars and pumice plains to the national park entrance where there was a small tourist market. I was in desperate need of a sweater and bought a nice alpaca pullover for $18. I also got an Andean cap for $2.

Cotopaxi in the Clouds

We drove on until we reached the park restaurant at well above 13,000′. As we waited for our meal, someone spotted a couple of Andean condors gliding low over the plains in the distance.

Cotopaxi Summit

We had a good lunch. The summit clouds over the volcano began to clear when we stepped outside so most of us started walking along the road back toward the gate. The bus collected us about 20 minutes later. We passed a small herd of wild horses on our way out.

Wild horses on an ignimbrite.

Once we got to the Pan American Highway it was a straight shot into Quito. Since the next day was free, several people inquired about going to the textile market in Otovalo, one of the biggest in Latin America. Ivan arranged that Humberto would take us for $10/person although Ivan would not be able to join us.

It seemed like we drove forever from the outskirts of Quito to get to the Hotel Dann Carlton. Todd and I got a room on the first floor. We waited until after 7:00 for Margarita to call. She said she would leave instructions for our final night at the desk but she would be unable to meet with us this evening.

Todd and I watched Ecuador lose to Mexico in the Americas's Cup and then went down to the hotel restaurant. I had an excellent shrimp ceviche. We then returned to our room and got our fill of CNN before watching "Man on Fire." It was after midnight when it ended. But I took a shower before going to bed.