- Address: Ecuador, Imbabura province, Lake San Pablo;
- Height: 2760 m above sea level.
Lake San Pablo is a magnificent lake in the province of Imbabura, in northern Ecuador . Stunning local landscapes and location next to the famous Indian market of Otavalo attract thousands of tourists. The picturesque lake of San Pablo, located at an altitude of 2760 m, is considered the largest lake in Ecuador.
Lake San Pablo
The high-altitude lake of San Pablo is stretched at the foot of a huge volcano Imbabura. Eruptions have not been the last few thousand years, for this long time in the region of Imbabura and the lake a unique ecosystem has formed, the main place in which the herons occupy - there are a lot of them on the shores of the lake. If you're lucky, you can see a large condor, the largest Andean bird. The fauna is represented by typical representatives of the Ecuadorian fauna - llamas, alpacas, foxes, rodents, but due to the region's crowded nature, it is extremely difficult to see them in the daytime. Around the lake grows marsh reeds, an excellent material for weaving mats and mats. Such rugs local residents not only decorate their homes, but also trade in the local souvenir market.
What to see and do at Lake San Pablo?
The lake is excellent for water sports: swimming, water skiing and sailing. Guests of the lake receive several restaurants and hotels with a well-groomed territory and delicious food. In such establishments, there are own piers, services for the rental of boats, catamarans and other equipment for recreation. The surrounding restaurants serve delicious traditional Ecuadorian dishes . In their menu, you will certainly find a special, very tasty dish of roast guinea pig. Local residents are friendly to visitors, you can go to any wooden Indian hut, talk and look at their usual occupations and crafts. In Otavalo there is an observation deck, from which a wonderful view of the lake and the surrounding mountains opens. For a romantic weekend it is difficult to find a more suitable place than the lake of San Pablo, in the waters of which in mild weather reflects a majestic volcano. Also, the waters of the lake feed a small river, on which a few kilometers downstream there is one of the most beautiful waterfalls of Ecuador - Peguche.
How to get there?
Lake San Pablo is 60 km north of Quito and just 4 km from the tourist center of the northern part of the country - the town of Otavalo. A trip by bus or car from Quito will take no more than an hour and a half.
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