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Latest Otavalo hotel reviews
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Before coming to Quito I had read that buses to Otavalo leaves from Terminal Carcelen, in the far north of Quito. To know how to get there I asked for direction. Someone told me to take the bus to La Y and from there take another bus to Carcelen. When I left in the morning they told me at my hotel to take the yellow Metrobus from La Marín to Ofelia and from there another bus to Carcelen.
At La Marín I bought the ticket for Ofelia, which was 25 cents (June 2011). On the way to Ofelia the bus stopped at La Y (two different stops) but I decided to continue to the end stop Ofelia. From La Marín to Ofelia it took over half an hour and when we arrived there people quickly went to line up in queues for other buses. The queue for the Carcelen bus was the longest and when the bus arrived the queue dissolved as everyone tried to get in at the same time. Anyway I got on the bus! The bus linking Ofelia with Carcelen didn’t cost anything (not when you have already paid for the Metrobus).
At Carcelen most people went directly to the ticket booths, but I had to buy something to eat first as I hadn’t had breakfast and there were several small booths selling snacks and drinks there. Then I went to buy the ticket for Otavalo, which was $2. To enter the terminal you have to pay another 20 cents. On the bus ticket not only the seat number was written, but also the bus number. As it was Saturday , and market day in Otavalo, a lot of people were going there and my bus was not the first leaving, but the third.
To Otavalo it took 2 hours and the bus stopped at the terminal, but many people left the bus already at the Panamericana and took a short cut to the market. However, it is not far to the market from the terminal either.
Coming back to the terminal in the afternoon a bus was just leaving for Quito and I went aboard and bought the ticket on the bus. To Carcelen it took 1h 50 minutes
At Carcelen I went to the line for La Y (wanted to see if this way was quicker than the one over Ofelia). On the bus I paid 25 cents and at La Y the line for the Metrobus was very long. As I had already paid 25 cents I didn’t pay again for the Metrobus to La Marín. As far as I can see it doesn’t matter if you change at La Y or at Ofelia, as both routes took a very long time.
Written Nov 27, 2011
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Getting to and from Otavalo is fairly simple, you can do it yourself. Take the bus from the Terminal Terrestre (confirm with your hotel that the bus to Otavalo departs from here) -- your taxi driver will take you outside the terminal, and you will catch the bus on the sidewalk. Buses are frequent, but you should go early so you can have plenty of time to explore.
On your return, just make your back to the same place where you were dropped off. Before wandering around, ask the bus driver when the last bus departs -- you don't want to get stranded there after dark, unless you don't mind getting a hotel nearby.
The bus fare is very cheap, i don't remember how much, but definitely under $5 dollars. Until the bus reaches the highway, it will pretty much try to pick up as many people as possible, so you will see the cashier yelling out of the door, the bus slowing down and people climbing in.
Please watch over your cameras and stuff -- do not leave it on the bin on top of your seat -- when the bus gets crowded or goes inside the tunnels it gets fairly dark, and unfortunately, it becomes an easy target for thieves. One couple on the bus had their camera and camcorder stolen that way. The bus hardly stops, so the thieves will just jump out and make a run for it. By the time you notice, the bus will be far from the drop area...
On your return, once you arrive back in Quito, there will be plenty of taxis waiting around. Negotiate the price before you hop in or ask the driver to turn the taximeter on.
Written Oct 9, 2005
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It is totally easy to get a taxi in Quito to take you for the day to Otavalo. If you simply ask your driver normally takes you to all sorts of other places that he thinks are interesting as well. For the day it will run you about 35USD.
Check out this beautiful waterfall that he took me to see.
Written Mar 28, 2005
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We stayed in Peguche, a small village just besides Otavalo, on walking distance to the city centre.
We just needed to follow the train tracks to reach the centre of Otavalo.
As you can see on the picture, the streets in Peguche are still originally, here you can still see a bit of the real Ecuador.
Within Otavalo everything can be done on foot. And on foot is always the best way to observe the local life.
Written Jan 11, 2004
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Some of the locals came to the market by bus (the ones without big animals).
Along the Pan American Highway there were several bus stops. And the bus terminal was at the corner of Atahualpa and Collahuazo.
By the way there is a railway station in Otavalo, but there has not passed a train over here since the middle of the ninety’s
Written Jan 3, 2004
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There are plenty of buses passing by Otavalo so no matter where you're coming from in Ecuador you'll probably have easy access to it since it's on the Panamerican highway. So just hop on the bus and go :). The bus fares in Ecuador average at about $1 USD per hour.
Written Oct 4, 2002
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You can go to Otavalo by bus or taxi...A taxi from Quito costs around $40.00
Updated Feb 1, 2004
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1 Review and 152 Opinions The Hacienda Cusin is just outside Otavalo, at the foot of the Imbabura Volcano. It was built in...
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Reviews and photos of Otavalo attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Otavalo sightseeing.
You can go to Otavalo by bus or taxi...A taxi from Quito costs around $40.00
2 members live in Otavalo
Q: Because of timing constraints, I can only visit the Otavalo market on Sunday. Are things really quiet on Sundays? Is it still...
A: Absolutely, it is worth going! The little people from Otavalo are very gentle. They are not aggressive and speak in a very quiet voice -- almost a whisper. I really...
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1
Our rain-forest trip in Cuyabeno ended in the airport of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. There a bus waited for us to bring us to the Northern part of Ecuador. Our destination was Otavalo. The...
2
Otavalo is one of my favorite towns near Quito. It is a very indiginous town with alot of history and about two hours away from Quito. Most of the people here speak quechua and some spanish. I mostly...
3
Otavalo is a town of 50,000 located between the Imbabura and Cotacachi volcanoes. The town is best known for its large indigenous market, which has been operating in the same location for centuries.
4
I've got some interesting experiences in Otavalo. I'd love to share with you the 5 tips I've written, the 35 photos uploaded, and 3 travelogues I've created.
5
The indigenous market in Otavalo, which is held every Saturday, is a must do when visiting Ecuador.
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