Sightseeing: Otavalo Animal Market, El Angel Ecological Reserve, Polylepis Lodge tour 2d/1n, Magical Polylepis Forest and Cuicocha Lagoon. All in 2 days!
We offer pickup and drop off from all centrally situated hotels in Quito, in historic center or modern part of the city, as well as in Otavalo town.
Pickup in Quito or Otavalo. In the morning you will visit the Otavalo Animal Market. The animal market dates back to pre-Inca times when jungle products were brought up from the Amazon and traded for highland goods. The animal market is a veritable menagerie of animals to eat and buy like cuyes (guinea pigs), goat heards and skinned calf heads mingling with the sound of andean pipes, and the indigenous sound of Quichua, the native tongue. Locals arrive to buy chickens, pigs and vegetables.
Then we will continue to El Angel Ecological Reserve. Located in El Angel-Carchi, a village two hours from Ibarra, it has a natural vegetation adapted to cold climates, a real sponge water that supplies the entire province of Carchi. It is one of the most humid highlands of Ecuador, which offers a variety of flora especially frailejones (endemic to the Andes), polylepis trees and typical landscape of the moorlands. Its fauna is diverse and we can find deer, wolves, rabbits, ducks, moor doves that inhabit in the three lagoons.
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning you can take a walk around the Polylepis Forest. This forest is considered to be the only one of its type in the world as it is millennial and primary composed ofpolylepis "paper" trees.
Then we will continue to visit Cuicocha Lagoon. The Cuicocha Lagoon is located 12 km southwest site of Cotacachi town, it is part of the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve, occupies part of the provinces of Imbabura and Esmeraldas. Cuicocha is a collapsed volcanic crater, but still shows signs of activity. Inside the lagoon are two islets called Teodoro Wolf and Jose Maria Yerovi, its midst is separated by narrow water passage which only can be crossed by kayak or paddle- boat. The lagoon has a beautiful crystal waters and has a depth of approximately 200 m. Transfer to Otavalo or Quito.
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
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This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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