Trekking and Culture in Otavalo

This four day trek is ideal for anyone wanting to experience the natural beauty of the rural Andes and to witness daily life and learn about local culture. You will need to have a reasonable level fitness, trekking for up to five hours, though the pace is not hurried and there are plenty of stops to catch your breath and admire the scenery. You travel along trails that have been used by local people for centuries as they journey between communities.

Many aspects of life in the rural villages and valleys remain much as they have for generations. You will see small farms where workers practice traditional methods of cultivation, and spend time with craftsmen and women whose skills vary little from those of their forefathers. Not that the region is untouched by progress. Since the early 1900s Hacienda Zuleta has been a pioneer in the use of modern agricultural techniques and technologies which have benefitted not just the estate but the wider community. The strong bond between the hacienda and local people continues today.

You stay in lovely properties, each with its own special character. Las Palmeras is a traditional Andean farm where you stay in a cosy cottage in the flower-filled gardens. Medina del Lago provides guests with spa treatments, therapies and gorgeous gardens with stunning lake and mountain views. Hacienda Zuleta is an estate of of over 2,000 hectares owned by the family of a former president and is filled with precious heirlooms and antiques.