Otovalo Cultural Immersion
The lake district in the Northern Andes is a beautiful area to explore, not only for its scenic beauty and interconnected valleys but also for the worldwide famous indigenous market of Otavalo and its fascinating community of local entrepreneurs. Here, under the majestic Mount Imbabura, visitors will find the quiet and harmony typical of this primarily Quichua speaking region.
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Note: the itinerary can be adjusted to suit families
Day 1:Quito- Otavalo - Cuicocha Today we will drive to the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve for a five hour hike at Lake Cuicocha, a deep-blue crater lake on the lower southern flanks of Mount Cotacachi. We will enjoy more views of the surrounding volcanoes Cayambe, Imbabura and Cuicocha while learning about the local flora and fauna. For bird watchers there will be the chance to see ruddy ducks, giant hummingbirds, silvery grebes, and more. Start of the trail: 3071 m.s.n.m Highest point trekking: 3512 m.s.n.m Crater Lake: 3068 m.s.n.m After the hike we will stop at the picturesque colonial town of Cotacachi, famous for its leather work before we head back to your hotel. Night at hotel Las Palmeras Inn Included: transportation, english speaking guide , excursion , box lunch, accommodation and dinner 
Day 2: Cultural Immersion at Otavalo
What better way to understand a culture than by learning about their food! We will explore the market and learn about the different crops which are produced in the surrounding farmlands which we will be exploring over the next few days. Our expert guides will inspire you with information on the colorful, tasteful fruits and vegetables while interacting with the “caseras”. From the food market, we head into the heart of this bustling city market - the Plaza de Ponchos, the biggest Indian market famous for its craft work. Our recommendation: wander and explore it on your own, interact and get a feeling for it. Our guides will be there to assist you in your exploration. After Otavalo, we will travel back in time to the small communities that surround this big busy commercial town and whose farmers, ranchers and craftspeople make the Otavalo market what it is. First we will explore the community of Peguche and then continue along the path to a a beautiful 50 ft. (18 m) waterfall which is also an Indigenous Ceremonial Site due to the purification baths held here a couple days prior the Inti Raymi celebration. Then the hike continue to the town of Agato where we will be hosted by an incredible family that preserves the tradition of weaving on a backstrap loom. Sadly, this art form is slowly dying so be inspired and help us support the conservation of this art! The quality of the items produced at the workshop is clearly superior to many of the machine-woven products you may find in the market and your purchase goes direct into the efforts of this community to revive this ancient art. 
In the second part of the day we will explore a more rural area as we hike above these communities learning about small-scale agriculture, an important part of life in the valley. Meet people that continue to farm their land and learn about the products you saw earlier in the market, especially grain crops, like quinoa. The scenery is gorgeous and from this vantage point in the foothills of Imbabura, you can see all the places we hiked through in the morning. If it's a clear day you can even see Cotacachi Volcano. At the end of the trail, our supporting vehicle will be waiting for us. Altitudes: • Otavalo Market: 2582 m.s.n.m • Peguche Waterfall: 2612 m.s.n.m • Highest Point Trekking: 2832 m.s.n.m Night at Medina del Lago (Standard) or Hacienda Cusin Included: breakfast, transportation , English speaking guide , excursion , lunch , accommodation , dinner 
Day 3: Otavalo - Zuleta - Quito
We leave towards another indigenous valley with an interesting story of a Hacienda that became a community. After a quick transfer to the beginning of our trail, we will trek for around 4-5 hours, witnessing what a son of a liberal reformer and a wealthy, land-owning mother did during his lifetime that no landowner in Ecuador had ever done before and perhaps has never done since. Our guide will teach us about the amazing and inspiring Plaza family story and our work with the local community of Zuleta to help develop one of the best ecotourism destinations in the northern Andes of Ecuador. This agricultural area is famed for its traditional embroidery, dairy products, alpaca farming and highland crops such as wheat, maize, potatoes, lentils and quinoa. “Zuletenos” and “Zuletenas” are known to keep their culture and traditions - keep an eye out for the way the locals dress here and how different it is from the traditional Otavalo clothing.Lunch - Cooking Class at Zuleta community - Lunch will be prepared in a local’s home that kindly accepted to share his home and life with us and give us a cooking class! We will be using the different ingredients we have been learning about for the past few days. Private transportation from Otavalo to Quito. Included: breakfast , excursion , English speaking guide , lunch , transportation Add a night at Hacienda Zuleta to make 4 daysZuleta is a colonial working farm of 4,000 acres (2,000 hectares) that belongs to the family of Mr. Galo Plaza lasso, a former president of Ecuador, for more than 100 years. It was chosen as one of the world’s “Top Ten Finds” by Outside magazine and named as one of the best Ecuador Hotel by National Geographic Traveler.
The hacienda has 14 beautifully decorated bedrooms, all with their own fire place; Antique gardens along with cozy living and reading rooms offer a peaceful atmosphere. Delicious home Ecuadorian cuisine among other types of gastronomic adventures are offered daily, prepared with organic vegetables, trout and dairy products produced on the Hacienda. Hacienda Zuleta offers a great variety of activities and places to visit . With horseback riding in Ecuador being their speciality, they also offer mountain bikes and a horse drawn carriage for trips on hacienda grounds to observe the milking, the agriculture, mountain views and the tranquil life of the community. Day 4: Zuleta-Quito At the Zuleta hacienda, once home of an Ecuadorian President, we will hike for two hours in the spectacular Andean mountain scenery to the hacienda’s condor reintroduction project, stopping along the way to see some pre-Inca mounds. The hacienda is a 4,000-acre working hacienda with general agriculture, forestation and dairy farming operations. The remainder of the day is free to relax or visit the beautiful grounds of the hacienda. At Zuleta you may visit the organic garden, feed baby calves, count sheep, talk to the vaqueros, enjoy the embroidery museum, or relax in the garden and visit the hacienda surroundings Back to Quito in the afternoon Included: breakfast, transportation, English speaking guide , excursion and lunch 2020 prices per person for 4 days, double occupancy, in US$:
Why not add a hiking extension to the Cotopaxi area? |
2025 prices per person, double occupancy, in US$: (can also price without excursions on day 1)
Included: Accommodation, Meals as per itinerary, English speaking guide, Private transportation, Entrance fees, Activity and visit detailed in the itinerary
Not Included: Beverages, Personal Expenses, Tips, Meals not described in the itinerary, Insurance (prior to your journey please ensure your travel insurance is valid in your country of origin) What to bring - clothes and mountain equipment: High ankle hiking boots (please do not bring new boots) and walking sticks. Long sleeve, synthetic, waterproof thermal jacket. A warm impermeable jacket with fleece (goretex or similar). Quick drying walking pants. Waterproof pants. Gloves, warm hat, sun hat and kerchief. A small towel. A flashlight lantern, water bottle, knife, sun glasses. Deposits and Payments:
• Full payment must be received in our bank account at least 35 days before the arrival of the passengers. Cancellation Policies: Cancellations received 16 or more days before the arrival date: • No charges on the Promotional Programs until December 2021 if COVID-19 related**! Cancellations received 15 days before arrival date: • We will not apply charges for date changes on the Promotional Programs until December 2021 if COVID-19 related**! • 100% penalty will be applied for cancellations Services booked with suppliers under Special Policies with specific cancellation policies will be sent with the corresponding quote for the requested program for your approval. ** Covid-19 specific terms: These revised cancellation terms only apply to COVID-19 related reasons for cancellation, these include: - The World Health Organization has not revised the pandemic status - The government in the guest’s country of residence restricts all but essential travel - Level 3 travel restrictions are imposed on the destination by the guest country of residence - The destination(s) the guest is traveling to are under official government sanctioned lock-down that prohibits guest from traveling. - If some but not all of the destinations are impacted, the guest will be offered the option to re-route into other destinations and lodges or held as a credit according to the revised policy as in place. - The destinations have no formal lock-down but have closed their border either to international travelers or to travelers from the guest’s country of residence. - International flights are cancelled with no alternative routings available for guest to use to reach the destinations in the itinerary. - The guest has contracted COVID-19 and under treatment or is in quarantine or under medical treatment up to 48 hours prior to travel. EST reserves the right to ask for any reasonable evidence, written statements and or documents to support the reasons for cancellation that are given. 
The architecture of this 150 year-old hacienda, represents the traditional vintage andean house with roaring log-fires, adobe walls, wooden beams and tile roofs. At 8,500 ft (2,750 m.), the valley has a climate of perpetual spring. By day 65-75 F/17-21 C° and by night 55-60 F/11-14 C°, propitious for ever-blooming perennial gardens with hibiscus, bougainvillea, orchids, cholan, eucalyptus, avocado, black-current, etc., which attract a profusion of birds including hummingbirds, vermilion fly-catchers, etc. The sun rises on the sacred Imbabura volcano and sets on the sometimes snow-capped Cotacachi, for epic sunrises and sunsets.
Hotel Medina Del Lago is set in Otavalo, 18 km from Ibarra. The hotel has a spa centre and hot tub, and guests can enjoy a meal at the restaurant or a drink at the bar. Free private parking is available on site. Some units feature a private bathroom with a spa bath, while others have bathrobes and slippers. Certain rooms have a seating area where you can relax. Some rooms include views of the mountain or lake. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer. Hotel Medina Del Lago features free WiFi throughout the property. A flat-screen TV with satellite channels is available. There is a 24-hour front desk.
Hacienda Cusin is a restored, 400-year-old Spanish colonial estate at 8,000 ft / 2,600 m, among the finest haciendas in Ecuador. Furnished with fine antiques, select Andean crafts and intriguing curiosities, its delightful perennial gardens and activities for all ages provide the perfect setting for your Andean adventure. With its roaring fires, sumptuous tapestries, louche saints and antiques, the hacienda is itself a collection of the culture, art and people of the Andes. |
