Otavalo Multisport $960

Departure Date

Daily

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Views

1678

Maximum Seats

10
Overview

Immerse yourself into the Northern Ecuadorian Andean Mountains, bike and paddle in front if the sacred Imbabura volcano, explore the Otavalo Indiguenous market, trek around the Cuicocha Crater Lake, this multi-activity expedition will blow your mind, join us and learn about the culture and nature of this magical area.

Accommodation is provided at charming small hotels
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  • Bike with amazing views of the Andes

  • Stand up and Paddle San Pablo Lake in front of the Imbabura sacred volcano

  • Explore local Indigenous Markets

  • Trek the rim of the Cuicocha Crater Lake

  • Learn about the Culture of the Andes

  • Share time with the local indigenous people

  • Stay at unique places in every location

  • Be led by top Activexpedition experienced guides at every step you take

  • Support sustainable travel to preserve culture and nature

  • Biking

  • Trekking

  • Paddling

  • Culture

  • Wildlife

Moderate
  • Year around

  • 8 years old

Full Itinerary

Day 1

Biking To Otavalo Market

Northward bound we go through the mountains towards Otavalo; a bustling town home to a large indigenous population, noticeable by their traditional garb of wool hats, golden necklaces, intricately embroidered blouses and long black skirts. To charge up for the ride ahead we will stop to try a local delicacy of biscotti with cheese and caramel--a real sweet way to begin our adventure! Our ride takes us over the hills and through dirt-patched paths and roads used to connect the farms of local families, passing pastures of quinoa and other grains that are the way of life of the people in the region. Our final stop takes us to the colorful and captivating Otavalo Market. The largest indigenous market in Ecuador, let the aisles of locally crafted fabrics, sweaters, carvings, and jewelry inspire you to take a piece of Ecuador home with you in your heart and in your suitcase.

Overnight: Yellow Guest House or Similar
Meals included: Lunch
Day 2

Stand Up and Paddle San Pablo Lake

After a tasty breakfast, we go on the Panamerican Highway for few minutes towards San Pablo Lake. Here we will have a safety talk from our guide and then start paddling across this magical lake with views of the local towns and the ever-impressive Imbabura. For the local people this is a sacred volcano, so they respect it very much and have some interesting legends your guide will share with you, the San Pablo lake is also very important for the surrounding communities as they depend on its water to irrigate their farms, their main crops in the area are: corn, quinoa and straw berries. After our paddling adventure, we will have some delicious lunch and then go visit one of workshops where they make tapestries and all kinds of handicrafts.

Overnight: Yellow Guest House or Similar
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 3

Trekking the rim of Cuicocha

This morning we will head to the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological reserve, our challenge will be the 8 mile trek around the Cuicocha crater lake, along the trail we will view colorful orchids, Andean flowers and curios lizards, with some luck we might view the majestic Andean condor, the largest flying bird of the Andes. From the highest part of the trail, we will be able to see the whole crater and the two lava domes that where created from its last eruption. In the afternoon, we will go back to Quito.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Let's design your adventure

    • Experienced Certified English-Speaking Guide

    • Private Transport

    • Accommodation for two nights

    • Meals as listed in the Itinerary

    • Water and snacks available whenever

    • Water bottle

    • Biking gear: Trek quality bikes with front suspension, certified helmets and gloves.

    • Paddling gear: NRS inflatable sup boards, life jackets and paddles

    • Hiking gear: Black Diamond poles

    • All fees to reserves and museums

    • International or domestic flights

    • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary

    • Tips for guides and drivers

    • Travel insurance (mandatory)

    • Airport transfers

    • Itinerary Disclaimer: Even though we have a detailed itinerary, changes can be made by your guides, due to weather or safety reasons. Please also note that none of the wildlife sightings mentioned on the itinerary are guaranteed.

    • Visas and Passports: Make sure you check your visa and passport validity and requirements per country. It is important your passport is valid for at least 6 months before your travel.

    • Accommodation: We strive to use small and charming places that are unique and provide stellar service.

    • Single Supplement Costs: Generally this fee is not incurred as we match you with another person of the same gender in a twin room, but if you prefer not to share and have your own room, then there will be an associated fee

    • Transportation: Driving time can take more than expected in Ecuador, as it is a small country with roads meandering through the Andes mountains. We assure your comfort during transit no matter the size of the group.

    • Gear: At Activexpediton we always make sure our guests have top of the line gear from well-known and reputable international brands as we understand that the best gear gives extra confidence to our riders. For biking, we use Trek X-caliber and Marlin, Trek Fuel EX5, and for protection, we use Bontrager and Oneal, all water gear is from NRS certified brand.

    • Level of Activity: This trip is considered as 3 out of 5, meaning you don’t need to have much of experience, your guides will teach you every day how to ride, paddle and trek on the varying terrain or ecosystems. The bike ride is mostly downhill on dirt roads and single tracks, the paddling on the lake is done early the morning before the wind comes, during the trekking, the first uphill is a bit challenging but you can take as many breaks as you need or also the driver can take you to the halfway trail entrance.

    • Weather and Elevation: In Ecuador the weather can be very variable depending on which side of the Andes you are traveling to, so it is highly recommended to come ready for all kinds of weather. When they say “Ecuador, All in One Place” they mean it! The altitude determines the temperature and the higher you go the colder it gets. Don’t let the geographic location of the country fool you. Even at a mere 15,000 feet the temperatures can feel like those of a winter in the northern United States. The coastal lowlands in the western part of Ecuador are typically warm with temperatures in the region of 25 °C (77 °F). Coastal areas are affected by ocean currents and between January and April are hot and rainy. The weather in Quito is consistent with that of a subtropical highland climate. The average temperature during the day is 70 °F (21 °C), which generally falls to an average of 50 °F (10 °C) at night. The average temperature annually is 64 °F (17.8 °C). There are only really two seasons in the city: dry and wet. The dry season runs from June to September and the wet season is from October to May.

    • Sustainability: We do our best to not produce any trash; we believe that recycling is not enough so we try to avoid using any plastic or materials that pollute our environment. Every day we work towards being a zero waste tour operator and our staff is well trained to leave the least impact possible in our service areas. We also work with local indigenous communities in the different regions. By doing so, we are able to teach our guests about the rich culture Ecuador, all the while helping the people preserve their traditions and lands. By working directly with local peoples we are able to create a sustainable touristic income for the community.

    • Guides: All our guides have a professional background from the Tourism University, this means they have a degree in guiding, so their knowledge and skills when leading a group are top-notch. Each guide has many years of experience and they all have taken additional courses for other outdoor activities as well as have International First-Aid certifications. On top of all of this they are all extremely personable and strive to deliver travel experiences of a lifetime.

    • Heath Advisory: No vaccinations needed for this trip; However for this Pandemic time, to enter Ecuador you need your Covid19 vaccine certificate or a PCR negative test.

    We do recommend travelling light for this expedition.  A duffel bag of 50 litters for your luggage and a backpack of 20 litters for daily activities should be sufficient. In Ecuador, the weather can change drastically especially when you are moving from the Andes to the Amazon.

    • Passport

    • Credit card

    • Two pairs of lightweight hiking pants

    • Two pairs of shorts

    • One bathing suit

    • Two non-cotton T-shirts

    • One cotton T-shirts

    • One water T-shirt

    • One winter warm jacket

    • One fleece

    • One rain jacket

    • One pair of rain pants

    • Two buffs

    • One pair of hiking shoes

    • One pair of tennis shoes

    • One pair of water sandals

    • One- or two-night outfits

    • One cap or hat

    • Sunscreen

    • Sunglasses

    • Mosquito repellent

    • Camera

    • Head lamp

    • Optional binoculars

    NOTE: Laundry is available almost at every location and is quite cheap, this helps traveling light too.

    Price based on number of guests:

    2 - 3 guests

    $960/per person

    • All premium features

    • Daily departures

    4 or more guests

    $600/per person

    • All premium features

    • Daily departures

    Go private

    Contact us

    • We are ready to meet your needs and put together an unforgettable experience.

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    • 7 am - 4 pm Monday through Thursday.
    • 7 am to 1 pm Fridays (US central) toll free or by skype.
    Otherwise, email us anytime. On average we provide quotes within 6 hours during business hours and the next day during off business hours. Privately guided trips allow you to be in control of all the details of your trip - departure times, accommodations, extra nights, extra activities, extra experiences - what you want and how you want it. If you want to go private or customize this expedition, contact us.
    Phone

    US & CANADA: +1 (919) 400-5824 EC: +593 (09) 5955-5556

    Email

    christian@activexpedition.com