Otavalo Biking Adventure 3D/2N

Transfer from Quito to Otavalo

Altitude 2,532 metres

Region: North-Andes

Today you will be picked up from your accommodation in Quito and brought to Otavalo in private transport. Surrounded by the peaks of Imbabura, Cotacachi and Mojanda volcanoes, Otavalo is the capital of this Canton and is a largely indigenous town in the Imbabura province of Ecuador. Here you can feel the old culture! The Otavaleños have a lot of pride in their traditional Kichwa culture and still wear their traditional clothing to this day. You will notice that men wear white trousers, a blue poncho and a black hat and that the women wear a white blouse with beautiful embroidered flowers on it, a long black skirt, sometimes with a white stripe on it and often they braid colourful materials in their hair. The music is important for them, when you walk through the city you may find musicians or farmers selling food and textiles. Otavalo has many things to discover!

Bike ride through the ecological reserve (L)

In the Kichwa culture, the Cuicocha lake is known as “the lake of guinea pigs”. It was given this name due to the guinea pig shape of the largest island in the middle of the lake. At an altitude of 3,246 metres, the lake is located at the foot of the Cotacachi volcano.

Today you will explore the lake of Cuicocha and the ecological reserve. You will get picked up from the accommodation in Otavalo at 07.30 am and be transferred to the Community of Ucshapungo, where the altitude is 3250 meters. From here the bike trip will start going downhill through the ecological reserve. We have a stop at Cuicocha and will continue cycling downhill to an altitude of 2500 meters and visit the indigenous community of Cotacachi. The duration of the bike trip is approximately 4 to 5 hours. By transfer you travel to the city of Cotacachi to enjoy a well-deserved lunch before you will return to Otavalo.

Transfer to Quito

Transfer from your accommodation to the bus station in Otavalo with assistance of buying bus ticket. Transfer from Carcelen bus station to your accommodation in Quito.