As we approach Otavalo, you will notice an area rich with culture. Indigenous people in local dress come from all over the country to sell their handmade wares. Once we have had time to fill our bags with goods we drive to Cotacachi Lake and cycle the rugged circumference of the lake. Overnight in a hotel. The day begins with a two hour drive by jeep before we switch to human power.
Mountain bikes are the machines for the first leg of the adventure.
We ride along rolling hills to the town of Papallacta, famous for it's steaming hot baths. As we travel southeast from Otavalo, we are dwarfed by the striking Andes that surround us. The terrain today is a combination of dirt and paved roads of scenic rolling hills. Our cabin has a hot spring outside the door which overlooks the the snowy cone of the volcano. After breakfast and a last minute dip in the pools we head out on two wheels towards the Amazon.