Cuicocha
Cuicocha is a volcano and volcanic crater lake situated in the Cordillera Occidental at an elevation of 3,246 m. It is one of the 10 most looked-up sights in Ecuador and ranks 9th among the country's sights on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The best time to visit is between July and September, when rainfall is at its lowest, with about 10 to 15 rainy days per month. Other months are wetter, particularly March and April, which see up to 246 mm of rain. Temperatures are consistent, with daily highs between 14 °C and 16 °C and lows between 5 °C and 6 °C.
Cuicocha is 60 km from the capital, Quito, and 47 km from Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO). Travelers can combine a visit here with a trip to Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, which is 35.2 km away.
Weather by month
Temperatures stay much the same all year, around 10 °C on average. The wettest is April, with about 246 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
| Average low, °C | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Rainfall, mm | 163 | 175 | 234 | 246 | 157 | 71 | 33 | 32 | 88 | 160 | 212 | 184 |
| Rainy days | 20 | 19 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 23 | 22 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
