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ACCOMMODATIONS:
Ali Shungu Hotel is located a short walk away from the
crafts market. The clean well furnished rooms are not
heated but are well insulated and there is lots of hot water and
plenty of blankets to keep guests cozy.
The hotel changed ownership shortly after
our visit and we do not know if there has been a name change.
The former owner retains the
Ali Shungu
Mountaintop Lodge (approximately 5km from Otavalo). |
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ARRANGEMENTS:
Hotel: Made reservations directly with Ali Shungu
Hotel through email.
Tours: We did a self guided walking tour around
central Otavalo and a taxi tour of sites around Otavalo.
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FOOD & DRINK:
BREAKFAST buffet at the hotel was ample with
juice, bread, eggs, bacon, tea and coffee.
Corn kernels are commonly served prior to lunch or dinner, much
like North Americans are served bread before a meal.
Hotel El Indio Restaurante - right next to
Plaza de Ponchos (craft market). Here you eat
with the locals; the food is simple and inexpensive.
The Pie Shop "Shanandoa" - faces Plaza de
Ponchos and serves yummy fresh made pies at inexpensive prices.
Owner Aide Garzon and her staff have been making pies here for
over twenty-five years. "The best in the Sierra's" say
those who drive two and a half hours from Quito just to buy
some. They are good and just to make sure we went there
twice! We are told their sandwiches are terrific as well,
but we were too full.
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PLACES TO GO:
Plaza de Ponchos - in the center of Otavalo.
Great shopping everyday and especially after the tourist buses
have left to return to Quito. On Saturday artisans from
farther out bring their crafts. Pssst - be aware of
pickpockets.
Animal & Livestock Market - on Saturday
only 1.5 km west of town. Arrive
early to see the activity.
Jose Cotacachi
- master weaver with two galleries just off the main square in
Peguche.
Cascada de Peguche (Peguche Waterfall) - not
spectacularly beautiful as waterfalls go, but taking a stroll
through an eighty year old forest and feeling fall's refreshing mist is
a pleasant break from town. Walk back to centre of
town takes about an hour.
Town of Cotacachi Known for its
leather goods (clothing, luggage, purses, shoes and
accessories), picturesque "Leather Street" is increasingly
becoming more elegant as prosperous shopkeepers vie for the
attention of affluent tourists.
Parque
Condor (Condor Park) is operated by a Dutch foundation
which is devoted to the protection, rescue, rehabilitation and
possible reintroduction to the wild of birds of prey, vultures (Andean
condor) and owls. They are quick to point out that "no
bird in Parque Condor was taken directly out of its
natural habitat". While we were there staff were educating classes of school children about the birds and their
work.
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TO & FROM:
From Quito
to Otavalo
via public bus.
From Otavalo to Quito
via van taxi.
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