Tourist attractions in Ecuador
Cuicocha Lagoon
Cuicocha Lagoon
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Reserva Cotacachi-Cayapas, km 13Nearby attractions
Places to visit within 30 km.
Cotacachi volcano
This volcano has been the subject of numerous visits and scientific studies by well-known geologists such as Wolf, Wimper, Stubel and La Condamine. It is the only volcano with the presence of snow in the province, it is called Huarmi Raso or Cerro Hembra by the Quechua people. This volcano currently shows small signs of activity that are visible on a boat tour. Its name is derived from a language of pre-Inca origin "Tsui cocha" or "lagoon of the gods". The waters of the Cuicocha volcano come from the melting of the Cotacachi. There is no appreciable activity in this volcano, the activity is currently limited only to the Cuicocha volcanic caldera, a few kilometers to the south. Where you can see gas emanations from the bottom of the lagoon. In the decades between 1960 and 1980, ice sellers from Cotacachi climbed the volcano with espadrilles and without any protection against the sun and cold looking for snow deposits. Location It is located in the northern highlands, in the western chain of the Andes mountain range. Recommendations It is recommended to wear warm clothes because of the weather, which is a bit cold. Bring drinking water, comfortable and strong shoes, preferably trekking shoes. Ecotourists are recommended to bring warm clothing for cold weather, rubber boots, repellent, raincoat, camping equipment, flashlight, and food with high energy content. Bring a first aid kit and disinfectant medications. It is important that before traveling you inform yourself about the Park, characteristic resources, conditions, stay recommendations, etc.
7.89 Km.
Otavalango Museum
Contributes to the conservation and revitalization of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Kichwa Otavalo people, through research, tourism development and cultural education. It shows the customs and traditions of the Otavaleño people, they demonstrate their ancestral clothing and indicate how the fabrics are, in addition they present their dance and music. You can enjoy how they perform the interpretations of the festivities of the Otavaleño people such as: the indigenous marriage, the wake, the music, among other native ceremonies. Location Located 5 minutes from downtown Otavalo. Barrio San Juan, via Antigua a Quiroga #1230, Old San Pedro factory. Entry price Adults $5.00 Children (up to 12 years old) $2.50 Seniors $2.50
11.27 Km.
Otavalo Indigenous Market
The most famous indigenous market of Ecuador is the one of Otavalo canton, northern of Quito city. Its unique beauty in South America lies in the kindness of the Otavaleños indigenous, the extraordinary offer of traditional products and the experience of the Ecuadorian Andean culture, full of tradition frozen in time. Saturday is a unique day to visit Otavalo, because its market spreads all over the city, having the “Plaza de los Ponchos” as its center, where the traditional market is located. It is the only day of the week in which lots of diversity in the production of clothes and fabrics can be appreciated, since the rest of the days the commercial activity is reduced to the Plaza and the shops that are around it. At the market you can find: ponchos, sweaters, armadillo charangos, paintings, jewelry, craftworks, tapestries, etc. The best offers and prices are achieved by haggling and walking up the distant streets, as Otavalo is a single market. The modern economic and textile boom of the Otavaleños dates back to 1960. Otavalo products are now found in the markets of the world, in South America, the United States, Europe or Asia. The surroundings of Otavalo also offer much to the visitor. It is easy to go to Peguche, San José de la Bolsa, Selva Alegre, Cotama, Agato and Ilumán, to appreciate the textile skills of the indigenous people directly or to buy their productions directly from the artisans. In Cotacachi there is a large leather industry and in San Antonio there is the wood carving. The enumeration continues with the Waterfall of Peguche, or the lakes where moments of distraction can be spent at: Mojanda, San Pablo, Cuicocha and Yaguarcocha lakes.For the photography enthusiast, a great option is the Animal Market, early in the morning and also on Saturday. From Otavalo it is easy to admire the beauty of its imposing mountains such us the Imbabura and its telluric couple, the Mama Cotacachi.
12.48 Km.
Ponchos Square
The Centennial Market or also called "Plaza de Ponchos", is one of the most visited places by national and foreign tourists. Thousands of artisans and merchants, most of them from Otavaleño, gather in this plaza, who go out every day of the week to exhibit their crafts, especially on Saturdays when the fair extends to the nearby streets due to its magnitude and importance. Here you can find everything from fabrics, hats, jewelry, embroidery, bracelets to works made of wood or clay. You can also find traditional handicrafts where their design, raw material and quality have changed, but still reflect the work of the Otavaleño people. In this place you can see paintings from Tigua, tapestries from the Salasacas, carvings from San Antonio de Ibarra, leather goods from Cotacachi, handicrafts from the Saraguros, from the Kichwa from the east; with this Otavalo becomes a cultural center. How to get? From Otavalo, it is located on Antonio José de Sucre and Quiroga streets, 3 blocks from the terminal, towards the southern end of Otavalo.
12.51 Km.
Taxopamba Waterfall
This waterfall is made up of 2 jumps, the first jump is 15 m long, where it forms a small ford of 1 m and the second jump is 10 m long with a width of 1.50 m and forms a second ford of 8 m. The waters of this waterfall are transparent and cloudless and have a temperature of 9°C. The area of the waterfall is surrounded by natural vegetation and on the way to it we will find crops of the inhabitants of the area. How to get? We must go by car to the community of Mojandita, which is 20 minutes from Otavalo. Once there we can park the vehicle in the town to start a walk of approximately another 20 minutes until we reach the waterfall, since there are no roads for cars. If we do not have our own vehicle, we can hire a taxi or a van to take us to the Mojandita community, but the return to Otavalo will be on foot. Ticket cost: USD 3
12.99 Km.
Ñanda Mañachi Musical Instruments Workshop
Ñanda Mañachi is a philosophy of life. They are two words that express solidarity in the Andean world. Connected with the "randi randi", the giving and giving or collaboration in the villages of the Ecuadorian highlands. Ñanda Mañachi is translated into Spanish as "lend me the road". It is the name of the gallery-workshop of handicrafts of the Pichamba family, community of Peguche, canton Otavalo, province of Imbabura, in the north of Ecuador. José Luis Pichamba is about to complete 5 decades dedicated to the making of Andean musical instruments. He transmitted his knowledge, or rather inherited it, to his 8 children. The family enterprise has now diversified its offer. His daughters make earrings and necklaces with native designs and dream catchers against nightmares. The Otavalos are an indigenous group from Imbabura. They are a people of musicians, artisans and merchants. Their culture, known internationally, attracts tourists to Peguche. The Pichamba take advantage of this to also offer traditional food and music in their workshop-gallery. The palla, a small rondador typical of Otavalo, takes shape and sound in the skillful hands of José Luis. The workshop is also an exhibition centre for musical instruments from Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, the Andean area. From its walls hang rondadores, quenas, toyos, charangos, bandolines, guitars. Pichamba as a musician plays various wind, string and percussion instruments. In his business he also sells records of the group Ñanda Mañachi. Ñanda Mañachi is a musical group of internationally famous Otavalan Indians. They are about to celebrate 50 years of career. José Pichamba was a founding member. In 1973, with the participation of 18 indigenous communities of Peguche, Zuleta and Angochagua, 70 indigenous people received training as musicians with Professor Alfonso Cachiguango.
13.06 Km.