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Otavalo Tour

Day trip to the world famous indigenous markets

Starting in Quito aboard the Quito Tour Bus, this day trip heads to the beautiful, world famous, indigenous markets of Otavalo located in the province of Imababura. 

 

Enjoy a day away from the city for a stop at the equator, a taste of the best bizcocho pastry in the country, shopping in South America's largest market, a visit to a sacred waterfall, and a boat tour on this action-packed day trip.

 

Highlights:

  • Pick up in Quito aboard the Quito Tour Bus

  • Quitsato Solar Clock located on the Equator

  • Overlook the beautiful Mirador de San Pablo Lago (San Pablo Lake)

  • Taste of the best bizcocho pastry cake in the country

  • Shop in the Otavalo Market

  • Experience the sacred Peguche waterfall

  • Visit the workshop of Ñanda Mañachi, makers of traditional instruments

  • Explore the Cuicocha Museum

  • Boat Tour before returning to Quito

Tour Destination: Otavalo, Ecuador

 

Tour Hours:

Every Wednesday and Saturday

from 8 am to 7:30 pm

11 hour total duration

Will confirm tour date upon booking

 

Pick up / Drop off Location:

Leave from Quito at the United Nations Blvd.

Corner of Avenida Naciones Unidas and Shyris
 

Price: $60 Adults

             $40 Seniors and Children

 

 

  • For this tour, meet at pick up place at least 15 minutes before appointed pickup time. You must bring an ID to validate your Viator ticket

  • Bring umbrella or rain jacket in case of rain

  • Do not forget to bring camera with enough memory and battery recharged, warm clothing, comfortable shoes andextra money for shopping in the market

Inclusions 

  • Bus Tour

  • Bilingual Guide - English and Spanish

  • Mini Lunch Box

  • Entrance and visit to Quitsato Solar Clock

  • Visit to Mirador del Lago San Pablo

  • Visit the Otavalo Market

  • Visit the waterfall Peguche

  • Workshop Tour Ñanda Mañachi

  • Boat trip to the Laguna de Cuicocha

  • Visit the Museum in Cuicocha

Exclusions

  • Meals

  • Personal expenses, shopping purchases

  • Tipping

  • Details not specified in the program

Attraction Tips

Tour Arrival

This tour provides transportation from Quito to all attractions on this day long tour to the Otavalo markets and surrounding areas. 

The tour begins in Quito with a pickup at the choice of 3 centralized locations:

  • 08:00 / Quinde Travel Center (Venezuela y Espejo)

  • 08:20 / Mariscal (Reina Victoria entre Calama y Foch)

  • 08:45 / Bulevar Naciones Unidas (Naciones Unidas y Shyris)

Note: Times are subject to change based on road conditions; however, if the transport arrives before the leaving time, it will wait until that time.

Make sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour departure.

 

Directions to Naciones Unidas Boulevard: You can get there by Taxi or Ecovía. If you take Ecovia, hop off the tram in stop "Naciones Unidas" and walk West on Naciones Unidas Avenue towards Shyris Av. Cross this avenue and a few feet away you will Quito Tour Bus' main station.

Schedule of Events

The tour pick up on Quito Tour Bus at 3 centralized locations between 8 - 9 am (listed above).
 

At 10:15, the tour arrives at the Quitsato Solar Clock located on the Equator. We will stay here for 45 minutes and board the bus again heading to the nearby Mirador de San Pablo Lago. Enjoy the view of the lake and after a short visit, we'll enjoy a taste of the best bizcocho pastry cake in the country.

At 11:45am, the tour arrives at the Otavalo market, the largest indigenous market in South America, where you will have 2 hours of free time for shopping and lunch (on your own). 
Otavalo is world famous for its craft fair, offering countless products created by the hands of skilled and experienced craftsmen. In this market you can find a variety of textiles, wood crafts, balsa, carved, key chains, jewelry, jewelry, paintings, antiques and more.

At 2:00pm, we will leave the market and go to the Peguche waterfall. It's a spiritual place where the inhabitants go for a sacred bath on the eve of Inti Raymi. Here we'll go for a walk until we reach the falls and visit the workshop of Ñanda Mañachi, a family that crafts traditional musical instruments, including panpipes, charangos. 

Around 4:00pm, the tour visits the Cuicocha Museum and then we'll enjoy a boat tour, traveling around the islands.

 

At 5:00 pm we'll start driving back to Quito where we'll arriving at 7:30 pm.

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