Meet / Depart

Quito – Ecuador

Includes

Transportation

English speaking guide

Cayambe traditional biscuits Not Included Meals Guided tours of the market or surrounding villages.

Anything not specified

Where to get lunch There are many restaurants around the market square that offer set meal menu's for $4 or less. A set meal may consist of: appetizer, soup of the day, main course, and dessert.

Recommendation You are expected to bargain when you shop, and this is a popular tourist site, so make sure to watch your belongings!

Activity Level

Easy

We pick you up at your hotel in Quito at about 8:00 am, from where we head north and pass the small town of Calderon, the Guayllamba Valley, and the city of Cayambe, hurdle below the snow capped volcano with the same name. Along the way, we will see valleys full of rose plantations.

We then enter into the Imbabura Province, and soon we will pass by the San Pablo Lake and the Imbabura Volcano situated right by it.

At the market, we will find a large gathering of indigenous from the 17 + surrounding communities that compose the Otavalo ethnic group. Learn to bargain for ponchos, sweaters, and local handcrafted goods produced in different small villages, all specializing in their own type of craft.

Return transfer departs from the market at 17:00 (5pm). We take an alternate route passing by Tabacundo; this is a very scenic route as we will traverse large canyons and cliffs going through the North Andes Corridor.

Andean Valleys The irregular topography of the Andes creates a beautiful backdrop for the passing rivers and snow-capped mountains.

Cayambe Volcano If the weather is good, we will be able to view one of the most beautiful mountains in the country with its perfect cone shaped summit, covered by eternal snow and crossed by the Equator line.

Imbabura Volcano and the San Pablo Lake Two of the most picturesque ingredients in Ecuador’s landscape, the scene of local legends, and with small rural villages that have established themselves by their side.

The Otavalo Market A famous indigenous gathering, where local communities get together and share their social life and bring out their goods - such as woodcarvings, tapestries, wool sweaters, ponchos, Andean musical instruments, paintings, etc - for sale and trade. Many different forms of folk art can be appreciated and bought at very low prices.

Passport, comfortable walking shoes/tennis shoes, warm clothing, windbreaker, rain ponchos in winter months, hat or cap, plastic water bottle, sun-block, sunglasses, waterproof small backpack, camera, cash and ATM card.

We reserve the right to modify the itinerary - due to weather conditions, etc. - in the best interest of our clients.