2 1/2 Weeks in Ecuador -- a few questions

I'm plotting out my path through Ecuador and have run into a few unanswerables... hoping some of you might be able to help me out --
(1) Otavalo: Is Otavalo still worth a day-trip (or stopover), without seeing the famed Saturday market? I'll be heading south from Colombia, and could either stop in Otavalo on my way to Quito, or just bypass it altogether.
(2) Cotopaxi: As I am already planning to do a fair amount of volcano exploration traveling through Central America, I'm tempted to give PN Cotopaxi a miss... Is there anything particularly unique about this volcano that I'd be missing out on?
(3) Nariz del Diablo: Can anyone confirm whether it still runs on Wed, Fri & Sun? Do you book in advance, or just show up really, really early?
(4) Mindo: I was planning to do a daytrip to Mindo from Quito. However, my Footprint guide gives return bus time @ 2PM... which doesn't seem to leave much time for a decent day-trip. Are there later return times, or what do most travelers do?
(5) I'd like to swing out to Puerto Lopez for Isla de la Plata & Montanita (make a triangle -- Quito, overnight bus to PL, then on to Riobamba) -- any helps on transportation connections between Puerto Lopez and Riobamba? Also, would you suggest backtracking to Banos afterwards? I'll be overlanding to Peru afterward so not sure if I want to spend the extra time to head north
Thank you, thank you!

hello.
i've been to otavalo on sunday and still i think that it was a pleasant experience.
You can buy some ecuadorian stuff or just walk around.
I also did a downhill biking from Cotopaxi and it was amaizing. The volcano and the ride was really amaizing.
regards, marin

I would say Otavalo is worth a visit, even if not the Saturday, as the market is there all week, just busier and more stalls on Saturday.

Mindo - when we were there last month there was only the 2.00 p.m. bus during the week. However we caught this and got dropped of at the junction for Otavalo ("Lay Eye Otavalo por favor" is what we asked for) and then caught the bus to Otavalo, meaning we didn't have to go back into Quito, change bus stations and then go back out again. So maybe you could do this the other way around, if you wanted.

Nariz del Diablo - you do know you can't ride on the roof anymore, don't you? Most people here and ones we met said it's just not worth doing if you have to sit inside.

Go to Guamote market instead. See my post on markets further down the forum.

Edited by: GrahamK

Edited by: GrahamK

Days in Peru & Ecuador

North Peru

Thanks so much for the feedback -- I really appreciate the advice.
GrahamK --I did NOT know that roof-riding on the Nariz del Diablo was no longer an option... in which case, you're right, I think I'd rather spend time elsewhere.
Also, I didn't realize it was possible to make transport connections between Otavalo and Mindo... that might be a good way of going about things. Would anyone recommend spending more time in Mindo than a daytrip, and if so, what budget lodging options are available (dorms?)?

I just read the posts about Guamote, had never heard of it before today... I most likely won't have time for both the Quilota loop AND Puerto Lopez/Montanita.... decisions, decisions!

Hi, me again. I just thought I should tell you and any others, who may have read this, that I have given you some poor advice regarding travelling between Otavalo and Mindo..

We managed to do Mindo to Otavalo by using the drop off point ("lay eye por Otavalo por favor" - which is the big roundabout with the huge Mall), only because there are lots of buses leaving Quito for Otavalo.

However I said that you could possibly do this the other way around i.e Otavalo to Mindo. But this wouldn't really be viable without going back into Quito, as there are only 2 buses leaving Quito for Mindo, during the week. One at 8.00 am and I think the other at 10.30 am. So you wouldn't really be able to judge the timing at the roundabout accuratly enough.

Sorry.

A lot of people like Banos, but I'd say skip it unless you want a relaxing yet turisty town to go get a massage. IT has some pretty views, but the town itself isn't too incredible.

I say go south to Latacunga. There you can get to Cotopaxi and/or the Quilitoa Loop. Its a nice town and makes a good base for exploring the highland region. I did have an attempted pickpocketing at the bus station there though.

Skip the Nariz Del Diablo unless you want to be surrounded by family tour packages taking pictures every second gawking at the Ecuadorian Vendors. Complete disgrace.

I also thought Octavalo wasn't worth the trip unless you are going to visit the beautiful country side and small towns around it.

I enjoyed my time in Banos with doing a white water rafting trip and a jungle trek.

Just my two cents