Price per person based on 2 people.
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You will be picked up by a Spanish-speaking driver at the hotel (or airport) and transferred in a private car to the hotel in Otavalo. This drive through the Andes takes about 2 hours.
This market in the Plaza de Ponchos is without a doubt the most famous indigenous market in Ecuador. You will find a huge selection of artesanate. The best day to visit this market is on Saturday. There are 4 markets going on simultaneously in different parts of the city. But the artesanate market now also goes on the other days of the week - it is much quieter then. This in turn has its advantages.
The 18-meter-high Peguche waterfall is located 4 kilometers south of Otavalo. The Otavalo Indians celebrate the solar festival of Inti Raymi there on June 21. For several days purification rituals are held here. The waterfall is located in a small nature reserve.
Cuicocha is one of the most famous lakes in Ecuador. With a private car we drive to the entrance of the reserve Cotacachi-Cayapas, where we start a 5-hour hike that goes between 3100 and 3500 meters above sea level. Along the way we enjoy the biodiversity, the views of the picturesque Lake Cuicocha with its two islets and the view of the peaks Cotacachi, Imbabura and Cayambe.
Difficulty: moderate
Duration: approximately 7 hours
Included: English speaking local guide, private transport, meal or packed lunch
Required: good walking shoes, sun protection, mosquito repellent, fleece or pullover, water (min. 1 liter)
Recommended: camera, binoculars, rain jacket, reasonable physical condition also at altitude
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A tour of indigenous villages, visiting workshops, organic gardens, a school and Cuicocha Lake. We begin this tour with a brief explanation of the region of Cotacachi, then we visit a weaving workshop in the village of Carabuela. Then we will visit an organic garden and learn about the vegetables and medicinal plants of the Andean region. We continue to La Calera where we visit a small school and a family that makes embroidery. After lunch we finish with a visit to Lake Cuicocha where we take some time to walk or take a short boat trip (optional).
Difficulty: light
Duration: approx. 7 hours I
ncluded: Guide, private transportation, lunch, entrance
Recommended: camera, water, sun protection, fleece or pullover
You will be picked up by a Spanish-speaking driver at the hotel and taken in a private car to Cotopaxi. This ride through the Andes takes 3 to 4 hours.
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The driver will pick you up at the hotel in the morning. The National Park is an hour's drive from Quito. On cloudless days you can admire the mountain from afar. After a short stop at the Mariscal Sucre information point, where you get some information about the area and the volcano we drive
further to 4500 m altitude. From here we go to the refuge which is 365 meters higher. It is a very steep walk that takes us at least an hour considering the high altitude. Then we descend to the Limpiopungo lake which lies at the foot of the volcano. This lake is fed by a volcanic glacier; you often see wild horses grazing and Andean foxes hunting here. Then we return to the hotel by car.
Difficulty: light-moderate.
To bring: protection from the sun and rain, water, sport shoes, camera and warm clothes.
Duration: 6 hours
Includes: English speaking guide, transportation and lunch box
This is a sample trip. The order, hotels and excursions can be adapted to your wishes. You can also combine it with another trip or a Galápagos cruise.
