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Cotacachi volcano view from La Calera Kichwa community on an Otavalo tour

2-Day Otavalo Tour with A Kichwa Homestay Near Cotacachi

Days Icon 2 Days
Location icon Ecuador
Budget icon From USD 613 p.p.
Request a quote Book now

Otavalo Tour Summary

This private Otavalo tour from Quito gives you two days in the lake and volcano country of Imbabura province, with the families who live there. You paddle across San Pablo Lake below Imbabura volcano, then continue to La Calera, a Kichwa community in Cotacachi, near Otavalo, where artisans open their embroidery, tagua and weaving workshops and a local family hosts you for the night. On day two you cycle the farm roads above the lake, past quinoa fields and pastures, and finish at the Otavalo Market before your transfer back to Quito.

Highlights

  • check Paddle San Pablo Lake

    An hour on calm water with Imbabura volcano above you, guided and with all equipment included.

  • check A night with a Kichwa family

    Dinner, conversation and a homestay in La Calera, after visiting three family-run artisan workshops.

  • check Bike the farm roads

    Ride the dirt roads that connect local farms, with views over the lake and Imbabura.

  • check Otavalo Market

    Finish among ponchos, textiles and tagua jewelry in Plaza de los Ponchos. Saturday is the biggest market day.

Reviews

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Jennifer F 
 
12/09/2025
 
 
 
 
 Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5 
Beautiful, Safe, Ecuador! Get your cameras ready!!
Rebecca Adventure Travel worked with us to customize a 15 day, self-driven tour from the top of the country to the bottom of the country within the Ecuadorian Andes mountains. It’s was a fast paced trip but so worth being able to see the center of the country as well as some of own adventures. We planned the trip well in advance and selected each destination with purpose. Rebecca Adventure Travel did the rest. Fine hotels, excellent guides, car rental, attractions, some meals, and they provided FULL TIME guidance throughout the trip. We are well pleased with the team, communication was excellent and the hotels were beyond our expectations. We will use Rebecca Adventure Travel again and highly recommend their services. Many thanks to Maggie, Guillermo, Miguel, Katie!!
  
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 petinab2017 
 
02/09/2025
 
 
 
 
 Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5 
A trip to remember!
We booked the 23-Day Complete Ecuador & Galapagos tour through Juan in the Rebecca office. From the start there was clear communication and a helpful attitude, nothing was a problem. This continued throughout the whole trip. The guides were awesome and Carlos and the Operations team were always on call to help us if we needed it. This was a fantastic tour which covered all the main attractions including a week in the Galapagos islands which was amazing. I highly recommend Rebecca Adventure Travel!
  
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Experience254329 
 
13/08/2025
 
 
 
 
 Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5 
Zorgeloos reizen in Ecuador!
Met Rebbeca’s Adventure traveling een individuele reis geboekt. 26 dagen Ecuador en de Galapagos eilanden en o.a. Quito, Mindo, Amazone, heetwaterbronnen, Cuenca, Baños en nog veel meer. Wat een fantastische reis hadden we. Eerst met ons gezin en halverwege sloten onze vrienden vanuit Aruba aan. Alles was perfect geregeld. Eigen busje met vaste gids en chauffeur. Bij iedere volgende locatie een update vanaf kantoor met de details voor de volgende bestemming. Hierdoor hadden we een zorgeloze tijd en hebben we Ecuador echt mogen leren kennen en beleven! Een volgende keer weten we jullie weer te vinden!
  
 
 Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Tripadvisor rating score: 4.9 of 5, 
based on 586 reviews

2027 Rates

Prices, based on number of guests, start at:
1 guestUSD 1,241 p.p.
2-5 guestsUSD 755 p.p.
6 or more guestsUSD 613 p.p.
This Tour can only be booked in combination with Multiple-Day packages. Inquire Now

Otavalo Tour: Day-by-Day Itinerary

Download Itinerary

  • DAY 1: Paddling San Pablo Lake and La Calera, Cotacachi

    Rebecca Adventure Travel A La Calera artisan spins wool on a wooden wheel inside a traditional workshop in Cotacachi

    Early in the morning, you depart from Quito and head north on the Pan-American highway. The two-hour drive passes rolling hills, snow-capped volcanoes and farmland on the way to San Pablo Lake. Here, you will have a safety talk from our guide and then tart paddling across the lake with views of the local towns and the ever-impressive Imbabura volcano. The paddling difficulty is medium intensity. After an hour of paddling, you will continue to the La Calera community for a delicious local lunch.

    After lunch, join the community for these activities:

    • Visit the Alli Maki workshop (hand embroidery)
    • Visit the Sumak Muyo workshop (tagua necklaces)
    • Visit Milma Wasi workshop (weaving ponchos, shawls and scarves)
    • Visit the native garden
    • Activity Activity:Paddling. Exploring.
    • Transport Transport:Bus, Car.
    • Meal Meal:Lunch. Dinner.
    • Accommodations Accommodation:Homestay in La Calera, Cotacachi

  • DAY 2: Biking above San Pablo Lake to the Otavalo Market

    Rebecca Adventure Travel Local artisan displaying colorful handmade textiles and woven ponchos at Otavalo Market in Plaza de los Ponchos

    After breakfast, you will enjoy an adventurous biking day. Biking intensity is medium. 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. Along the way, you will have amazing views of the Imbabura Volcano and the Lago San Pablo.

    Our final stop is the colorful Otavalo Market in Plaza de los Ponchos. It is the largest indigenous market in Ecuador, so let the aisles of locally crafted fabrics, sweaters, carvings, and jewelry inspire you to take a piece of Ecuador home with you in your suitcase.

    Late in the afternoon, you will be transferred back to Quito.

    • Activity Activity:Biking.
    • Transport Transport:Bus. Car.
    • Meal Meal:Breakfast. Lunch.

2 Day Otavalo Tour Route Map

Map of the 2-day Otavalo tour from Quito showing the travel route to Otavalo and La Calera Kichwa community

Inclusions

  • Private transportation from and to your hotel in Quito
  • Accommodation in a single, double or triple room.
  • Meals as described in the itinerary.
  • English speaking local guide.
  • Activities and excursions as described in the itinerary.
  • Paddling equipment and life jacket, mountain bike and helmet
  • 24/7 assistance in English, Dutch and Spanish.

Exclusions

  • Extra food and beverages.
  • Optional tips for the guide.
  • Any extra purchases/personal expenses.
  • Contribution to the Community

Accommodations

Kichwa family home that hosts travelers in La Calera near Otavalo

Homestay in La Calera, Cotacachi

Otavalo Tour from Quito FAQs

  • How far is Otavalo from Quito?

    Otavalo is about two hours north of Quito by road on the Pan-American Highway. On this tour a private vehicle collects you from your Quito hotel early in the morning and returns you on day two.

  • Can I book this Otavalo tour on its own?

    No. We offer it as part of a multi-day Ecuador itinerary. Our travel designers add these two days to your Andes, Amazon or Galápagos trip and adjust dates and activities to your plans.

  • Where is La Calera?

    La Calera is a Kichwa community in Cotacachi canton, Imbabura province, close to Otavalo. Families there run artisan workshops and host travelers overnight in their homes.

  • How hard are the paddling and biking?

    Both are medium intensity and need no previous experience. You paddle for about an hour on calm water and cycle rural farm roads with some climbs. Your guide adapts the pace and route to the group.

  • Is the Otavalo Market open every day?

    Yes. Stalls in Plaza de los Ponchos open daily, and Saturday is the largest market day. Tell us if you want day two of your tour to fall on a Saturday.

  • What is the altitude in Otavalo?

    Otavalo sits at about 2,530 m (8,300 ft) and San Pablo Lake at around 2,660 m. Most travelers arrive from Quito, at roughly 2,850 m, already acclimatized.

  • What should I pack for this tour?

    Bring layers, a rain jacket, quick-dry clothes, sneakers or hiking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, a swimsuit, a towel and your passport. Mornings by the lake are cool and the Andean sun is strong.

  • Is this tour suitable for children?

    Yes, for children who ride a bike confidently. Younger kids can paddle with an adult and skip part of the ride with vehicle support. Share their ages when you enquire so we can plan the right setup.

Additional information

  • To enter Ecuador, your passport must be valid for at least six months from your date of arrival.
  • Prices are subject to seasonal surcharges during Christmas, New Year’s, and Semana Santa.
  • You stay overnight with a Kichwa family in La Calera, Cotacachi.
  • Transportation is included with pick up and drop off at your selected hotel in Quito. If your hotel is not located in the Quito Urban Zone, there is an extra charge of $40 USD (round trip), which can be paid directly to the driver. This extra charge applies to hotels in the valleys, Tababela, or hotels close to the airport.
  • This is a private tour: tell us if you would like to change activities, meals or timing. The tours are completely customizable.
  • Time Disclaimer: It is recommended that this private tour start no later than 08:00 A.M. because you will enjoy the tour at a good pace and will not miss out on any activities. If you choose a later departure time, you might miss some activities due to traffic or other circumstances.
  • What to bring: light layers and a fleece, a rain jacket and rain pants, a quick-dry T-shirt, comfortable pants or biking shorts, sneakers or hiking shoes, a swimsuit and towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, a camera, water and your passport.
  • Your meals in La Calera are home-cooked by your host family. Let us know about dietary requirements or allergies when you book.
  • Rebecca Adventure Travel requires all guests to carry valid travel and medical insurance. Please tell us about any medical conditions before you travel.
  • Rebecca Adventure Travel may adjust the itinerary because of weather, road conditions, community events or other circumstances beyond our control.

Advantages of Booking with Rebecca Adventure Travel

  • Impactful Travel: develop Meaningful Connections that Provide Mutual Enrichment for Both Travelers and Host Cultures.
  • Empowering Locals: support Family-Owned Accommodations, Involving Local Communities and Contributing to Local Economies.
  • Sustainable Travel: Preserve Cultures and Environments for Future Generations with Our Huella Positiva.
  • Travel with Trust: We Are Here for You Every Step of the Way with Solid Insurance, Certifications, and Rebooking Facilities.
  • Personalized Travel Curator: ensures Your Trip Meets your Needs and exceeds your Expectations.
  • When You Book a Tour with Rebecca Adventure Travel, You Agree to Its Terms and Conditions.

Exact Code: 25OTACO

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