The Ecuador Chronicles - 2010-03
The Northern Sierra;
A Day Trip from Quito;
Have Lunch at a Hacienda
The Northern Sierra market towns are easily reached from Quito. If you get a good start you can check out two or three of the markets, have lunch at a hacienda and still make it back to Quito by dark. Once you are out of north Quito is is a beautiful drive through to Andes.
Through the Eucalyptus - A Great Highway
Beautiful Scenery through the Windscreen
As you approach Otavalo there is a scenic overview with a small shop and a beautiful view of Laguna de San Pablo. And you can have your picture taken with a llama. I recently made a day trip to the Northern Sierra with my college-aged daughter, Jessica, and two of her friends, Ansley and Tracie. Live Well Ecuador associate Juan drove us in his Hyundai.
Can You Spot the Gringas in this Picture?
Classic (South) American Image
A Boy and His Llama
Left to Right - My Daughter, Jess, Ansley, Juan and Tracie
If You Manage to Look Past the Pretty Girls -
Mount Imbabura in the Background
The Otavalo Market
The Market at Otavalo - Plaza de los Ponchos - has been operating continuosuly since Pre-Inca times. These days it is largly oriented toward tourism. The official market day is Saturday when it overflows into the surrounding streets, but the market is open everyday. It is easy to spend two or three hours in the market.
A Great Place to Buy Gifts
Be Sure to Bargin - It is Part of the Fun, and You get a Better Price
Girls Shopping for Jewelry
Enough Shopping - Time for Lunch
Well, enough shopping and enough pretty girls - It is time to get serious about lunch. There are great restaurant choices in Otavalo, but when I'm in the Northern Sierra I like to go to Hacienda Chorlavi, a few kilometers north of Otavalo. They have great food and great service in an interesting setting.
Entrance to Hacienda Chorlavi
The Restaurant at Chorlavi is set around the Hacienda courtyard - a pleasant place to enjoy a meal. The grounds are beautiful; a stream flows through with several picturesque bridges across.
The Tables are Around the Courtyard
One of the Bridges at Hacienda Chorlavi
Our Group is Ready to Eat - Oh Well, Pretty Girls Again
Coming Soon - A Tale of Two Haciendas
Would You Like to Travel around the Northern Sierra with a Bunch of Pretty Girls -
Find out how at Live Well Ecuador: