Combine Otavalo and Cotopaxi Adventures

Rates include: 1 night at Swissotel or LeParc in Quito and 3 nights at local hacienda

4 star accommodations: $1043 per person (min 2 guests)
5 star accommodations: $1331 per person (min 2 guests)

Departure Days: Every day

Program Description:

Day 1: Otavalo Market & Cotacachi Village
Just one and a half hours north of Quito among the lush volcanic highlands is the Otavalo village. This land is rich in friendly and colorfully attired indigenous people, historic working haciendas, and towering volcanoes with verdant slopes. As we pass into the highlands, we are treated to a sweeping view of Imbabura and Cotacachi Volcanoes rising above San Pablo Lake. Our first stop is the Otavalo market, famous throughout the Andes for its handicrafts, textiles and tapestries. We will follow to the food market to see the variety of products consumed daily by the local population. Overnight at. (breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Overnight at Hacienda Cusin / Hacienda Pinsaqui (4 stars) or La Mirage (5 stars).

Day 2: Cuicocha Lake and Peguche Village
After a relaxed breakfast we will go to Cuicocha for a wonderful partial hike around the crater lake or a ride in a motorized canoe to get a close look at the islets. This will give you the opportunity to see highland hummingbirds and orchids, besides the spectacular Andean scenery. From here we will head to Cotacachi for fine leather shopping, followed by a visit to the indigenous weavers of Peguche to witness the ancient back-strap weaving in process. We finish the day with a late lunch at a colonial hacienda or on the shores of San Pablo lake. This afternoon we travel to the Cotopaxi Area to spend the night at a local Hacienda.(breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Overnight at Hato Verde (4 stars) or San Agustin de Callo (5 stars).

Day 3: Saquisili Market
Early in the morning we will be visiting one of the non tourist indigenous markets in the area: a weekly gathering for sellers and buyers coming from the surrounding villages and mountains. Your senses will be overwhelmed by the variety of colors, textures, fragrances and noise of a typical Andean market and you will find an incredible variety of fruits, vegetables, roots, grains, herbs, spices, live small and large animals, forage, typical clothing and agricultural tools. Traditional prepared food lunch will be served at a local restaurant of the area. Spend the afternoon exploring the area, or relax at the hacienda. (breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Overnight at: Hato Verde (4 stars) or San Agustin de Callo (5 stars).

Day 4: Cotopaxi Volcano and National Park
After a relaxed breakfast at the hacienda we will go to nearby Cotopaxi volcano. Standing tall among the 'Avenue of the Volcanoes at 19,348 ft (5,897 m) above sea level, it is the highest active volcano in the world, and home to Cotopaxi National Park. The park offers a tundra-like environment and is surrounded by other volcanoes, both active and extinct. The area offers good hikes with the opportunity to study its geology and flora and chances to see local fauna, including wild horses, Andean birds and the possibility of seeing the Andean Condor, the world's largest flying bird. Lunch is included. After a relaxed stroll in the region we will return to Quito (breakfast and lunch included)
Overnight at Swissotel or LeParc (breakfast included).