OTAVALO INDIGENOUS MARKET & WATCHING THE SPECTACLED BEAR (2 DAYS)

Otavalo Indigenous Market

 

Otavalo Indigenous Market

DAY 1:

Morning departure through the towns of Calderon, Guayllabamba, Tabacundo arrived in two hours to the viewpoint of San Pablo lake, where we will taste coffee and biscuits own site with a view of the volcano Imbabura. Then we continue 20 minutes to get to Otavalo one of the biggest handicraft markets in South America.

 

 

CuicochaThen we will do a hike to the “Peguche” Waterfall knowing some plants and birds of this sacred place to the indigenous cosmovision. (Optional we can climb a rock to be next to the waterfall and feel the splashing of the sacred water of this waterfall). Then we descend to the town of Cotacachi where we have lunch and then time to visit the famous leather shops (bags, wallets, belts, hats, boots, jackets, etc.), and then we will drive 2 hours approx. To get to “San José de Sigsipamba” at 9448 feet. This afternoon we will watch the Spectacled Bear in the “Pisque” River Canyon, we will have dinner and stay in a local house of this community.

 

 

 

 

Optional, instead of Peguche or  Cotacachi, we can visit the Condor Park Bird Rescue Center.

Peguche waterfall  Parque del Condor

DAY 2:

(Option 1)

Gray Breasted Mountain Toucan (Andigena_hypoglauca)We will get up at 06h00 AM to go up for 15 minutes by car to the town of Shanshipamba to make the journey in a small reserve where there is cloud forest to watch Thrushes, Caciques, Tanagers, Hummingbirds, Flowerpiercer, Cotinga, Toucans, and others.

After that, we will come back to the viewpoint to watch the Spectacled Bear who lives on the other side of the canyon, for bear watching we will use binoculars, telescope, and we can see the bears as they feed “achupallas”, “higuerón”, “aguacate”, “aguacatillo” or sleeping on the steep walls of the canyon.

NOTE: Depending on the weather conditions, we can switch the order of the visits (First the Bear Watching and then the Birdwatching)

 

Spectacled Bear with Cubs
Spectacled Bear with Cubs

This bear species is the only one in South America that is in danger of extinction due to poaching and because man is invading its territory through agriculture.

In this area thanks to the conservation project you can see bears with their young, adult male bears, which are very good climbers and sit on vertical walls to rest and feed.

 

 

Sanson Spectacled BearAfter observing this Andean mammal we will have lunch at the house of Danilo Vasquez (nicknamed “The Bear”), who will provide us with local lunch. And then he will explain to us how he began his noble work of protecting the bears from glasses and we will see some videos of the bears and the species of the area.

 

 

 

 

In the afternoon at 14h00 approximately we will return to Quito to arrive at 19h00.

Includes Bilingual Certified Naturalist Driver Guide, Private Transportation, Accommodation, Breakfast, Lunch (second day), and Water. If you don’t have binoculars we can provide it.

Not included: Any donation to BMC, Entrance fee to the Bird Reserve, Extras expenses and tips, etc.

 

Number of passengers:1 Pax2 Pax3 Pax4 Pax or More
$550$300 Per Pax$270 Per Pax$230 Per Pax

Trip Advisor Reviews

  • star rating  Un d��a completo y muy divertido. Fuimos a la cascada, al lugar de las aves enormes, al lugar de las mariposas, a la clase de caf�� y al lugar de... read more

    avatar thumb Christopher K
    January 31, 2023
  • star rating  ¡Josue fue un guía turístico fantástico! Tuvimos un día maravilloso observando colibríes, tirolesa y caminatas por el bosque nuboso.

    avatar thumb M4430AHmattm
    January 28, 2023
  • star rating  Gran experiencia - Tuve una gran experiencia con Josue. Él estaba muy bien informado y servicial y adaptó el itinerario para satisfacer nuestras necesidades. El bosque nuboso también era hermoso, y los colibríes... read more

    avatar thumb 956samh
    January 28, 2023
  • star rating  Excelente excursión y muy completa guía y compañía del guía Josué Santamaria.
    Visitamos lugares muy interesantes y paisajes memorables.
    Muy recomendable experiencia y la seriedad , puntualidad y... read more

    avatar thumb 842gabrielk
    January 15, 2023
  • star rating  Mi esposo y yo tuvimos una escala inesperada en Quito debido a la cancelación de nuestro viaje a Perú. Durante nuestra estadía en el Marriott, reservamos este tour privado. Juan... read more

    avatar thumb sarahbG5248WE
    January 13, 2023
  • star rating  Gran recorrido - Mi esposo y yo tuvimos una escala inesperada en Quito debido a la cancelación de nuestro viaje a Perú. Reservé este tour privado y Juan fue nuestro guía turístico. Él... read more

    avatar thumb sarahbG5248WE
    January 13, 2023
  • star rating  ¡Juan es fantástico! - Juan fue un gran guía. Nuestro hotel organiza nuestro tour de un día en Quito. Estábamos tan contentos que reservamos un día adicional con Juan en el bosque nuboso. Fue... read more

    avatar thumb Expedition422566
    October 22, 2022
  • star rating  La mejor manera de visitar Mindo - Durante nuestra estadía de 3 noches en Quito, queríamos visitar el bosque nuboso y observar aves, pero nuestra idea era aprovechar al máximo una visita de medio día. Nuestro hotel... read more

    avatar thumb Carlos B
    October 10, 2022
  • star rating  ¡Gran día! - Roberto fue mi guía turístico privado para esta excursión de un día en Mindo. Es un tipo muy cálido y acogedor y me sentí muy cómodo. Tuve un muy buen... read more

    avatar thumb Danny S
    July 21, 2022
  • star rating  El mejor guía turístico privado local NUNCA - En el último minuto, el conserje de nuestro hotel en JW Marriott Quito nos ayudó a reservar un recorrido de un día por el casco antiguo de Quito y los... read more

    avatar thumb cassiehs
    July 13, 2022