Chota Trail was one of the first genuinely hard races I ran. I did it in 2024 in Valle del Chota. My watch recorded 33 km; the race is identified as the 30K Chota Cañón.
One of the hardest moments was a climb up a sand dune. Every step forward felt like two steps backward. The sand turned the climb into slow, frustrating progress.
I also remember something unexpected: a community dog ran with us for the entire course, all 33 km. It was not my dog; it simply joined the group.
The landscape was spectacular. A nearby volcano was visible from the route, although I do not know which one it was and do not want to name it without confirmation. The desert flora was also incredible and became an important part of what made this race different.
This is my personal memory of Chota Trail 2024. The 33 km distance comes from my watch and is not intended to replace the organizer’s official distance.
The race description on ITRA identifies Imbabura volcano as the course’s backdrop. It is the likely match for the view I remember.