Highlands And The Lakes Of Piñan

Enjoy four days full of adventure visiting the highlands and lakes of Piñan. The trek traverses three major ecosystems at different altitudes: the high páramos from 4000 to 3200 meters (13000 to 10500 feet), the mist-shrouded cloud forest from 3200 to 2000 meters (10500 to 6500 feet), and the subtropical forest at 1500 meters (5000 feet). You will experience a taste of the magical contrast and variety that Nature has to offer.

The Piñan highlands are located Northwest of Otavalo, just behind the snow covered volcano Cotacahi at an altitude ranging between 3500 to 4000 meters (10000 to 1300 feet).

This beautiful place is protected by the "Cotacachi Cayapas" Ecological Reserve. The area has much to offer, lots of lagoons, herds of wild horses, spectacular páramo vegetation, and trout fishing in the streams. There is a great variety of wild flowers and there is a chance of seeing wildlife such as white-tailed deer and condors. There are about 36 small lagoons in this area. In this same place is located the volcano Yanahurco (Black Mountain) which is easy to climb and the views at the top are some of the best in Ecuador. After four hours walking one arrives at the delightful community of Piñan, a very interesting place due to the old and original construction of its thatched roofed houses and the friendly people, who live there. Close to this small community there is a lake by the name of Donoso or Piñan. All around this lake there are beautiful samples of highland vegetation.

In short the Piñan highlands are not well known to visitors. With its tranquility and easy hiking it is recommended to anyone who likes walking in nature. A few-hours walk from the lake, the descent approaches a cloud forest and then leads to the more populated areas of the Intag Valley.

Or take a look at other excursions with OSI:

-Indigenous Markets & Lakes of Imbabura
-Lakes of Mojanda
-Ciucocha Lake
-Volcano Imbabura
-Volcano Cotacachi