Otavalo & Cayambe

Shop till you drop! Stay in a 400-year old hacienda for a taste of life in colonial days admiring the snow-capped peak of the Cayambe Volcano. Next, it's shopping time, Ecuador style. Alpaca, leather, traditional weaving and handicrafts are all sold throughout the week, but twice a week the Otavalo market swells to become the largest indigenous market in South America. Pick up that goat you were looking for, maybe some vegetables or pretty much anything else you can think of—just don't forget your camera!

Day 1 Otavalo

You'll be picked up from your Quito hotel and head off to the hacienda. Scenic stops en route include "Mitad del Mundo" (the middle of the World), and the Calderon and Pululahua crater. This long-extinct volcano is now home to many farms. There are several optional activities available when you arrive in the hacienda, including horseback riding and hiking.

Day 2 Otavalo (B, D)

Today is a free day to explore. Take advantage of all that the landscape has to offer with the option to rent a 4-wheel drive to the Cayambe Volcano Refuge or go with your driver/guide to the Cochasaqui ruins before heading to Otavalo in the afternoon.

Day 3 Otavalo/Quito (B)

This morning, you'll enjoy a trip to the colourful handicrafts market at Otavalo. This is one of South America's biggest and most interesting markets, and you can find everything you need to live here, from fruit and veggies to household goods, not to mention the largest selection of woolies you could ever hope for! Bargain as much as possible before heading back to Quito this afternoon.