Fuya Fuya

Hiking, National Park

By Christopher Sacco

Fuya Fuya is located 20 km south of the famous market town of Otavalo. It’s a straightforward climb that provides spectacular views of the Lagunas de Mojanda, three pristine lakes located at the base of the mountain, and wide expanses of páramo grasslands.

Getting to Fuya Fuya from Quito

From Quito, take the Pan American Highway north toward Otavalo. After you reach Lago San Pablo, you will pass a Repsol gas station on the right. Just past the gas station, turn left at the sign for Mojanda and follow the cobblestone road to the left for about 15 minutes until you come to the lakes. Fuya Fuya is easily visible from here. If you don’t have your own transportation, take a bus to Otavalo and hire a taxi up to Lagunas de Mojanda.

Hiking Fuya Fuya

You can follow any of the various footpaths up to the pass or to the peak at 4263 meters (13,986 feet). It takes only two to three hours to summit from the lakes, and the total elevation gain is approximately 550 meters, making Fuya Fuya a good, quick mountain for climbers hoping to acclimatize for some of Ecuador’s higher peaks.

It’s a good idea to take a topographic map of the region if you decide to hike in the areas beyond the lakes or trek to other mountains, such as Imbabura, in the area.