Activities in Northern Highlands
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Diceny Viajes
Travelers give kudos to this guide service run by native otavaleña Zulay Saravino, who helped start Otavalo’s first tour agency. Knowledgeable, bilingual guides lead tours to various villages to learn about crafts, music and local traditions. Stay in guest rooms (rooms per night $14) in Zulay’s own home in the small village of Quinchuquí.
reviewed
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Ecomontes Tour
Offers day trips on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Trips include visits to a bizcocho (biscuit) factory in Cayambe and the Peguche Falls.
reviewed
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Instituto Superíor de Español
Instituto Superíor de Español receives high marks from travelers. It can also arrange family homestays.
reviewed
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Zulaytur
Anthropologist Rodrigo Mora is an invaluable source of local information and his company Zulaytur has many reader recommendations. Guided bilingual tours to village indigenous homes offer a rare opportunity to glimpse the conditions of working artisans and interact with them while learning about the weaving process. Tours cost around US$16 per person. Zulaytur also offers trips to hike to Lagunas de Mojanda and Laguna de Cuicocha. Don't mistake similarly named operations.
reviewed
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Runa Tupari Native Travel
Renowned for its approach to community tourism, Runa Tupari has partnered with 44 indigenous, mestizo and Afro-Ecuadorian rural communities to offer sightseeing, hiking, horseback riding and biking trips. Rural homestays are $25 per night. Offbeat options include a bumpy 2000m mountain-bike descent into the Intag’s tropical cloud forest, a round-trip 10-hour hike up ‘Mama’ Volcán Cotacachi (4939m) and some culinary adventuring. It also sells Intag coffee and local crafts.
reviewed
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Siempre Verde
Get off just before Santa Rosa for the two hour walk into Siempre Verde a small community-run research station supporting tropical conservation education with excellent hiking and bird-watching. Students and researchers are welcome with prior arrangement.
reviewed
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Mundo Andino
Mundo Andino teaches classes Monday through Friday, arranges homestays with local families and organizes activities and long-term volunteer opportunities.
reviewed
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Bosque de los Arreyanes
Bosque de los Arreyanes is a lovely myrtle forest ideal for bird-watching. On-site camping is available.
reviewed
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Otavalo Spanish Language Academy
Travelers recommend the Otavalo Spanish Language Academy for its volunteer programs and homestays.
reviewed
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Fly Ecuador
Fly Ecuador offers beginner courses in paragliding and tandem flights.
reviewed
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