Ecuador Update from National Geographic Traveler Magazine

Yesterday, I received the latest (April 2009) edition of National Geographic Traveler. On page 76 a story caught my eye entitled Ecuador: Avenue of the Volcanoes. Two of the haciendas mentioned, San Agustin de Callo and Cusin, are the same ones we stayed in during our trip in November 2008.

Ecuador: Otavalo

Our first stop on our Ecuador journey was at a Hacienda near Otavalo, north of Quito. Otavalo is famous for their craft market. It is the largest indigenous market in Ecuador. It takes place in Plaza de Panchos. There are food and animal markets in other parts of the city.

Ecuador: Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi National Park is 50 miles south of Quito. We stayed at a wonderful hacienda in the area that contains some original Inca empire walls. We also took a day trip into the park and a short hike.