Highlights
- Get lost in Quito's bustling Otavalo Market
- Paddle across beautiful San Pablo Lake
- Take in spectacular views of Cuicocha Lagoon
- See how coffee beans are grown and processed in the Intag Valley
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Quito, City Tour | Quito |
| Day 2 | Transfer to Otavalo, Paddle San Pablo Lake & Visit Otavalo Market | Otavalo |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Apuela via Cotacachi Town & Cuicocha Lagoon | Apuela |
| Day 4 | Hike in the Intag Valley | Apuela |
| Day 5 | Explore the Intag Valley on a Coffee Tour | Apuela |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Quito, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Quito, City Tour
Welcome to Quito! You'll arrive at the airport and meet your driver, who will transfer you to your hotel in the city center. After taking some time to get settled in, explore the historic center today on a guided city tour. This UNESCO World Heritage Site stands at an altitude of 9,350 feet (2,850 m) and welcomes visitors with its picturesque plazas between mountain peaks.
Stroll through its narrow streets and visit some of the city's most important churches, such as the Baroque La Compañía, with its incredible gold-covered interior, and the neo-Gothic La Basílica. Take a walk down La Ronda, one of the oldest streets in the city, then head to Panecillo Hill for incredible panoramic views.
Day 2: Transfer to Otavalo, Paddle San Pablo Lake & Visit Otavalo Market
This morning, your driver will pick you up at your hotel in Quito and take you to Otavalo, an Andean town located in the northern province of Imbabura. The drive takes around 1.5 hours. A day of adventure starts when you arrive at San Pablo Lake near Otavalo. Receive a safety talk from your guide and start paddling across the beautiful lake, enjoying views of local towns and the impressive Imbabura Volcano.
After approximately one hour of paddling, the group will continue to the famous Otavalo Market, where you can spend some time shopping for locally made handicrafts. Lose yourself in the sights and sounds of the market, where the past is preserved through native language and local traditions.
Day 3: Transfer to Apuela via Cotacachi Town & Cuicocha Lagoon
Visit the beautiful Cuicocha Lagoon at the foot of Cotacachi Volcano today. On the way there, stop in Cotacachi, a picturesque town famous for its leather production and shops.
Continue to the lagoon. It was formed by a massive eruption approximately 3,100 years ago and contains two forested islands in the middle of the lake. With your guide, follow the trail along the crater rim that leads to various viewpoints. If you're up for it, you can hike around the lake, which takes between four and five hours. The journey leads you into the lush green Intag Valley in the afternoon. You'll spend the night in Apuela.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Hike in the Intag Valley
Wake up in the Intag Valley, a beautiful, biodiverse, and off-the-beaten-path destination in the heart of the Ecuadorian cloud forest. It's part of the South American Chocó Biological Reserve, one of the most biologically important zones in the world.
During a hike in this area, observe different ecosystems and wildlife. Keep your eyes open for toucans, mountain tapirs, jaguars, and spectacled bears that call this region home. Hikes vary in length and difficulty level, so the activity can be adjusted to personal preferences.
Day 5: Explore the Intag Valley on a Coffee Tour
Today's excursion features picturesque landscapes, scenic farms, and Ecuador's coffee culture. The Intag Valley is known for its coffee production, home to many small coffee farms that are part of the AACRI organization (the region's coffee cooperative). While driving through the valley, you might see coffee beans drying by the streets or next to small houses.
Visiting one of these farms, you'll learn more about how coffee is grown in the region and how important it is to local agriculture. Afterward, visit a coffee processing site to see how coffee is weighed, examined, and roasted.
Day 6: Transfer to Quito, Depart
More Great Ecuador Itineraries
Map
