cotacachi
Discover the Magic of Cotacachi, a Natural Eden in Ecuador! This charming village, located in the foothills of the Andes, welcomes you to a haven of serenity and beauty. Cotacachi, famous for its leather handicrafts and dreamlike landscapes, is located only 95 km north of Quito, offering you a perfect getaway.
Come and see the beauty of Cotacachi!
Enjoy
COTACACHI
Before you start your next adventureWe want to make sure you're well prepared! Here are some key facts that might be helpful before visiting a new city - we hope you find them useful and exciting!
CLIMATE
what to pack
transportation
OUR ACTIVITY OPTIONS
We warmly welcome travelers from all over the world to this enchanting destination.
We invite you to explore our exciting activity options in Cotacachi and get ready to immerse yourself in an unforgettable experience. Remember that our options are designed to serve as the foundation of your personalized adventure planning, adjust them to your individual needs and tastes.
We are here to turn your travel dreams into an unforgettable reality.
HIKE TO THE CUICOCHA CRATER
Embark on a fascinating full day tour to the Cuicocha Crater, where the magnificence of this lake in an ancient volcano will captivate you. Enjoy a 4 to 5 hour panoramic hike in this unique destination of the Cotacachi Cayapas National Park, appreciating the natural wealth and the imposing presence of volcanoes such as Cotacachi, Imbabura and Cayambe on clear days. Start your journey at 08:00 am from Otavalo.
Come and enjoy this unforgettable experience!
- 8 hours
- From 8:00 a.m.
INCLUDES
- Tourist transportation
- Bilingual guide
- Lunch
NOT INCLUDED
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Unspecified foods
- Unspecified items
IMPORTANT NOTES
- All rates are in U.S. dollars and per person.
- Rates apply throughout the year, except on Ecuadorian holidays.
- Tours for 1 to 3 passengers are conducted with a guide-driver; in case a different service is required, a supplement applies.
- If local taxes change, rates will be updated and tour operators will be informed and itineraries updated.
- Outlet Viajes reserves the right to modify itineraries due to unforeseen events or national regulations. Tour operators will be informed and itineraries updated accordingly.
KICHWA AND CUICOCHA COMMUNITIES
Embark on an enriching cultural tour combined with a visit to the Cuicocha crater lake. From 09:00 am, we will explore local communities of Otavalo, visiting artisan workshops, indigenous families working with the natural fiber "totora" and a workshop of Andean musical instruments. Enjoy a short hike in the Cascada de Peguche Protected Forest and continue to Cotacachi for lunch and explore the town. Optionally, you can enjoy a coffee at one of the local coffee shops. Afterwards, we drive to the Cuicocha crater lake, located 20 minutes from the city, to explore the Cotacachi Cayapas National Park and walk along the edge of the crater. Your friendly guide will share information about the flora, fauna and history of the place. In the afternoon, we return to Otavalo or your hotel. End of service, with schedules subject to variations.
Would you like to live this unique and unforgettable experience?
- 8 hours
- 8h00 to 16h00
INCLUDES
- Tourist transportation
- Bilingual guide
- Lunch
NOT INCLUDED
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Unspecified foods
- Unspecified items
IMPORTANT NOTES
- All rates are in U.S. dollars and per person.
- Rates apply throughout the year, except on Ecuadorian holidays.
- Tours for 1 to 3 passengers are conducted with a guide-driver; in case a different service is required, a supplement applies.
- If local taxes change, rates will be updated and tour operators will be informed and itineraries updated.
- Outlet Viajes reserves the right to modify itineraries due to unforeseen events or national regulations. Tour operators will be informed and itineraries updated accordingly.
BICYCLE
ZULETA AND PEGUCHE WATERFALL
Embark on an exciting cycling adventure from Zuleta to Otavalo, exploring picturesque landscapes and visiting embroidery artisans in Zuleta. Starting at 08:00 am from Otavalo or your hotel, our tour takes us by vehicle to Zuleta, where we will explore artisan weaving centers. From an altitude of 3300masl, we will descend to 2600masl, passing through local indigenous communities of Otavalo, with the majestic presence of the Imbabura and Cayambe volcanoes, and the view of the San Pablo lagoon. The tour, of approximately 3 to 4 hours and 40 km, culminates at the Peguche waterfall, where we will enjoy lunch before returning to the hotel in the afternoon. End of service.
- 8 hours
- 8h00 to 16h00
INCLUDES
- Tourist transportation
- Bilingual guide
- Lunch
- Bicycle
- Helmet
NOT INCLUDED
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Unspecified foods
- Unspecified items
IMPORTANT NOTES
- All rates are in U.S. dollars and per person.
- Rates apply throughout the year, except on Ecuadorian holidays.
- Tours for 1 to 3 passengers are conducted with a guide-driver; in case a different service is required, a supplement applies.
- If local taxes change, rates will be updated and tour operators will be informed and itineraries updated.
- Outlet Viajes reserves the right to modify itineraries due to unforeseen events or national regulations. Tour operators will be informed and itineraries updated accordingly.
BICYCLE
CUICOCHA, COTACACHI AND CALERA
This exciting program is perfect for bike lovers looking for adventure and adrenaline. Starting at 08:00 am from Otavalo or your hotel, the bike tour through the Cuicocha volcanic crater takes you through third and second order roads around Cotacachi and its communities. The adventure begins in the community of Ugshapungo, about 45 minutes from Otavalo, descending from 3300masl to 2400masl in a 13 km ride. Along the way, you will visit the Cuicocha lagoon and the town of Cotacachi. After lunch in Cotacachi and free time to explore the town, you will continue to the community of La Calera, where you will meet an indigenous family dedicated to handicraft work with tagua seeds. The day concludes with a return to Otavalo or your hotel in the afternoon. End of services.
- 8 hours
- 8h00 to 16h00
INCLUDES
- Tourist transportation
- Bilingual guide
- Lunch
- Bicycle
- Helmet
NOT INCLUDED
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Unspecified foods
- Unspecified items
IMPORTANT NOTES
- All rates are in U.S. dollars and per person.
- Rates apply throughout the year, except on Ecuadorian holidays.
- Tours for 1 to 3 passengers are conducted with a guide-driver; in case a different service is required, a supplement applies.
- If local taxes change, rates will be updated and tour operators will be informed and itineraries updated.
- Outlet Viajes reserves the right to modify itineraries due to unforeseen events or national regulations. Tour operators will be informed and itineraries updated accordingly.
PIÑAN TREK
- 8 days
- 7 nights
This tour is a wonderful way to explore the Ecuadorian nature by bicycle. We can do the tour in the morning or in the afternoon, and we provide bicycles and helmets for your safety. We start our trip towards Puyo and on the way we will enjoy the impressive Agoyan Hydroelectric Dam and cross an exciting tunnel! Then, we continue our route to the longest tarabita of Ecuador and observe the Agoyan waterfall, El manto de la Novia and San Jorge. Finally, we will hike to the beautiful Pailon del Diablo waterfall. Don't worry about the return trip, we will take care of the transportation!
Explore the diversity of the Ecuadorian Andes, from high altitude paramos to subtropical valleys, in an experience that combines nature, culture and adventure.
INCLUDES
- Bilingual guide
- Tourist transportation
- Lunch
NOT INCLUDED
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Unspecified foods
- Unspecified items
PLACES TO VISIT
1
Otavalo
At the scheduled time, participants will be picked up in Otavalo. After receiving an introduction and recommendations from the guide, we will head by transport to El Churo, located at about 3500 meters above sea level. At this point, our mules or horses will assist us with the luggage. We will begin a hike of approximately 6 to 7 hours, exploring the diverse environments of the Andean highlands until we reach the Pantavi River, where, if we are lucky, we will be able to see condors. At the Pantavi River, the tents will be set up, dinner will be prepared and the night will be spent.
2
Piñan
After breakfast at 8:00 a.m., we will continue our hike for approximately 4 hours until we reach the community of Piñan. Along the way, we will cross beautiful pastures with breathtaking views of the mountains and rivers. In Piñan, the families will welcome us with an exquisite typical lunch. After lunch, we will check into the cozy cabins of the community, equipped with hot water and a small living room with a fireplace. In the afternoon, you will have free time to explore the community or take advantage of some of the services it offers, such as horseback riding to the lagoon. You can also choose to take a short 2-hour hike to visit the lagoon. Dinner will be served in the community dining room.
3
Intag
After breakfast at 8:00 a.m. in the community dining room, we will prepare our luggage to embark on a hike of approximately 5 to 6 hours, with descents and ascents along beautiful landscapes such as the Pitura River valley, rivers, mountains and a varied local flora. The trek will take us to the town of El Rosario, located in the subtropical zone of Intag. There, our vehicle will be waiting for us to take us to the Nangulvi recreational complex, where we will enjoy its hot springs. We will have lunch at the complex and, in the afternoon, we will return to the city of Otavalo.
IMPORTANT NOTES
- All rates are in U.S. dollars and per person.
- Rates apply throughout the year, except on Ecuadorian holidays.
- Tours for 1 to 3 passengers are conducted with a guide-driver; in case a different service is required, a supplement applies.
- If local taxes change, rates will be updated and tour operators will be informed and itineraries updated.
- Outlet Viajes reserves the right to modify itineraries due to unforeseen events or national regulations. Tour operators will be informed and itineraries updated accordingly.
A Perfect Trip with the
Expert Advice
Our highly qualified team is ready to deploy their knowledge and passion to make your Ecuador travel dreams come true, taking care of every detail of your itinerary to ensure that every moment is exceptional. Your perfect trip starts with us.
