OTAVALO & CUICOCHA
1 day tour
Difficulty:
Duration: 1 day
Date: All year
Located less than an hour from Otavalo, the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve offers a totally nature-based complement for those who want to explore more of the Sierra region. The Cotachachi volcano erupted over 3000 years ago resulting in the Cuicocha Lagoon which features a 3km wide water filled caldera, a crater lake with incredible vivid blue waters, fringed with wild flowers and tall grass, creating two small islands. One of those islands is known as: ¨Guinea Pig Lake¨, its name comes from the local belief that the largest island resembles a guinea pig. The Cuicocha Lagoon is a very quiet place to connect with nature and be able to disconnect from routine.
DAY 1: Otavalo and Cuicocha
We will pick you up from your preferred place at 6:00 am, and we will have breakfast in Tabacundo; Later we will visit Lake San Pablo under the sight of the Imbabura Volcano, waiting for us in turn, Otavalo, where the best-known poncho plaza is located and you will have the opportunity to purchase a poncho. Later, we will hike to the Paguche Waterfall where we will have lunch in Cotacachi, this city known as the “leather city”, being an excellent option for a small shopping tour in the best-known places at an excellent price. ; In case we do not do the shopping tour we will go directly to the Cotacachi Cayapas Reserve, which is located in the famous Cuicocha lagoon. Here we will take a boat ride in the lagoon or we will be able to appreciate it from its shores. Finally, we will return to Quito, and you will be able to be at your place of stay after an incredible adventure.
What to wear?
The necessary equipment that we recommend that you carry so that you have a totally pleasant experience is:
Two layers of clothing for the legs and torso:
• Comfortable and warm jacket and pants.
• Backpack.
• Thin gloves. (avoid wool)
• Buff.
• Warm socks.
• An extra sweater (to be carried in the backpack in case of extreme cold).
• Sunscreen.
• Thermal hat.
• Sports shoes or comfortable shoes.
In case you do not have some of the clothing and extra equipment, we as Mauna Expeditions will guide you where you can rent or buy these accessories.
The services included in the cost of the program are:
✓ Registration and preparation for the best experience of your life.
✓ Guidance for the ascent with certified guides (ASEGUIM/UIAGM), one guide for every 4 people.
✓ Private door-to-door transportation for the entire day of the tour.
✓ Entry permits.
✓ Adventure video about the experience in the program.
✓ Necessary mountain equipment (specified above)
✓ Lunch on the way down on the day of the ascent.
✓ Take all of Mauna Expeditions.
✓ Buff Mauna Expeditions.
✓ Lunch Box and hydration for the ascent.
The following services are NOT included in the cost of the program:
X Clothing and personal equipment.
X Air tickets.
X Hotel or hostel in Quito or place of preference.
X Life insurance or against some type of accident.
X Other expenses NOT specified in our program.
X Tips.
The price varies depending on the number of members. For more information CONTACT US
PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION OF THE PROGRAM
To book the tour, Mauna Expeditions requires a payment of 25% of the cost of the program. Full payment must be made up to a maximum of two weeks before the start date of the tour. We do not send vouchers or confirmation messages until full payment for the program is made. Our team reserves the right to cancel the tour if the full payment is not made until the start date of the program.
The Mauna Expeditions team has put a lot of effort into organizing your program. Therefore, any cancellation must be made at least 21 days in advance. After 21 days, Mauna Expeditions may make a 50% refund depending on the cause of cancellation. Any cancellation notified less than 21 days from the start date of the program will be charged a penalty of 100% of the value of the program.
COSTS
Costs vary depending on the size of the group. A minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 24 are required to make the ascent. For cost information please CONTACT US.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Mountaineering is a high-risk sport, where we are exposed to conditions on extreme occasions. We do not recommend doing this activity for people with asthma or some kind of heart problem. The level of difficulty of the program is demanding and there is nothing that interests us more than your safety and that you enjoy our program without any external problem.
Duration: 1 day
Date: All year
Located less than two hours from the city of Quito, Otavalo and the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve offer a complete tour in northern Ecuador. This tour is totally dedicated to going through the cultural and landscape part for those who want to explore more of the Sierra region. The Cotachachi volcano erupted more than 3,100 years ago, resulting in the Cuicocha lagoon, which has a 3km-wide caldera, surrounded by wild flowers and tall grass, accompanied by two small islands in the center. On this 1-day tour we are going to enjoy the best that northern Ecuador has as well as trying the delicious typical gastronomy of the place. This trek is normally done in one day and every four passengers will have an ASEGUIM/UIAGM certified guide. If you travel alone, the trek will be carried out only by the certified guide with the passenger. Come to live this incredible experience touring the Andes of Ecuador with us and join us on this beautiful adventure.
DAY 1: Otavalo & Cuicocha Lagoon
We will pick you up from your hotel or place of your choice at 07h00 where we will have a trip of approximately two hours until we reach our first destination of the day, which will be Otavalo. This city is called ‘Intercultural capital of Ecuador’ where we will visit the largest indigenous artisan market in South America called La Plaza de Ponchos. Otavalo is very famous for being the place of origin of the Quichua people of the Otavalos, very skilled in the textile and commercial area. Leaving Otavalo, we will take a tour of the Cuicocha lagoon, a 3km long volcanic caldera that is located on the slopes of the Cotacachi volcano. The caldera was formed 3,100 years ago by a massive eruption, which made the land very fertile in the area. After some time enjoying the lagoon we will have lunch in a delicious typical food restaurant and then finish at our last stop of the day, San Pablo Lake. This lake is located at the foot of the Imbabura volcano, an emblematic mountain in the area which gave rise to the name of the province. In this lake we will enjoy the incredible views that we have around us in addition to the activities that we can to do in this place. At the end of our visit, we will prepare everything to return to Quito and end the day leaving you at your hotel or place of preference.
CLOTHING REQUIRED (NOT INCLUDED):
Three layers of clothing for the legs and torso:
• Base layer: Thermal clothing for body and pants (usually made of synthetic material).
• Second layer: Warm jacket and pants, preferably water repellent (goose down, fleece or polar type).
• Third layer: Waterproof jacket and pants (in case of rain).
• An extra thermal or jacket (in case of extreme cold).
• Backpack between 25L and 35L.
• Gloves.
• Factor 4 sunglasses (with UV protection).
• Buff.
• Thick socks.
• Sunscreen.
In case you do not have something from the list of personal clothing, Mauna Expeditions can provide you with the rental or sale of said accessories.
The services included in the cost of the trek are:
✓ Registration and preparation for the best experience of your life.
✓ Guidance for the trek with certified guides (ASEGUIM/UIAGM), one guide for every 4 people.
✓ Private door to door transportation for the entire day of the tour.
✓ Entry Permits.
✓ Adventure video about the experience in the trek.
✓ First aid service.
✓ Lunch.
✓ Thermo of Mauna Expeditions.
✓ Buff of Mauna Expeditions.
✓ Lunch Box and hydration for the day.
The following services are NOT included in the cost of the trek:
X Clothing and personal equipment.
X Airplane tickets.
X Hotel or hostel in Quito or place of preference.
X Life insurance or against some type of accident.
X Other expenses NOT specified in our program.
X Tips.
1 person: CONTACT US.
2 people: CONTACT US.
3-5 people: CONTACT US.
6-10 people: CONTACT US.
11-24 people: CONTACT US.
PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION OF THE PROGRAM
To book the tour, Mauna Expeditions requires a payment of 25% of the cost of the program. Full payment must be made up to a maximum of two weeks before the start date of the tour. We do not send vouchers or confirmation messages until full payment for the program is made. Our team reserves the right to cancel the tour if the full payment is not made until the start date of the program.
The Mauna Expeditions team has put a lot of effort into organizing your program. Therefore, any cancellation must be made at least 21 days in advance. After 21 days, Mauna Expeditions may make a 50% refund depending on the cause of cancellation. Any cancellation notified less than 21 days from the start date of the program will be charged a penalty of 100% of the value of the program.
COSTS
Costs vary depending on the size of the group. A minimum of 1 person and a maximum of 24 people are required to make the trek. For costs information please CONTACT US.
RECOMENDATIONS
Mountaineering is a high-risk sport, where we are exposed to conditions on extreme occasions. We do not recommend doing this activity for people with asthma or some kind of heart condition. The level of difficulty of this program is demanding and there is nothing that interests us more than your safety and that you enjoy our program without any external problem.
BOOK YOUR TRIP
Choose and reserve the date, then our team will contact you to confirm all the details.
