Alegría

Alegría is a nice mountain village worth some days just to enjoy the quiet central plaza, restaurants, and a cool and pleasant climate. Perched on the mountainside, at about 1200 metres high, the village offers a few fantastic viewpoints on the plains around it. Moreover, only a few kilometres from the village, the Laguna Alegría offers some absolutely fantastic scenery.

This early in the year, the village is still in a festive mood with its numerous crafts and food stands, and is still decorated with splendid Christmas ornaments.

The mirador of Las Cien Gradas (mirador of the Hundred Steps) is a superb viewpoint on the village and the valley below.

I counted 99 steps.

View from a small restaurant.

View from a small restaurant.

Laguna Alegría

The Laguna Alegría is a magnificent crater lake with a green-emerald colour. Apparently, its water has some medicinal virtues, but as a downside, it has a rather strong and unpleasant sulphur smell (like a not so fresh egg smell).

A formidable activity to do around the laguna is to hike the trail around the crater rim. From above, the lake and crater become even more incredibly beautiful.

View from below.

There is sulphur all around.

I wasn't looking where I was stepping.

Another volcano far away.

The trail along the crater rim offers fantastic scenery.