Otavalo Unveiled: A Day Journey Through Time and Tradition!

Great tour of Otavalo!

It was really great seeing the volcanic lake and the giant poncho market and the leather market. Also, the biscuit making experience was interesting and lunch was rustic. A very enjoyable day!

via Viator

A fun experience, but a few things could be better

A fun day tour with a great and knowledgeable guide! The tour's organization was less clear than that of other companies and could be improved.

Response from the operator: Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We’re pleased to hear that you enjoyed the day tour and that our guide’s knowledge helped make the experience a positive one. At the same time, we appreciate your honest comments about the organization and communication of the tour. Clear information and smooth organization are an important part of a good travel experience, so we’re sorry that this aspect did not meet your expectations. Feedback like yours is genuinely useful to us, as it helps us identify where we can improve and make the experience clearer and more seamless for our guests. Thank you again for choosing CarpeDM Adventures and for sharing your constructive feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to provide you with an even smoother experience on a future visit to Ecuador.

via Tripadvisor

Definitely an all-day experience and must do on market day!

Lincoln was my guide and he was very knowledgeable. It ended up being a “private” tour because the other person did not show up. His English was fairly decent and we had good conversations. Our first stop was a family shop for Bizochotos, a savory biscuit. The equator ran through the shop. I had a guided tour of the bakery. I also had samples of the biscuits and various blue agave drinks and jams. I purchased some biscuits and local chocolate. My goal on the trip to South America was to purchase an authentic baby alpaca sweater. He took me to a shop that had a demonstration about how the textiles are made originally by hand and later by loom with foot pedals. Here I found my sweater and I also purchased a small wall hanging. I chose to make my purchases here as opposed to the market because I knew they were authentic and it was a family business, so my purchase supported that family. We also visited the market on market day and it was very overwhelming. I walked around for about an hour, but there was so much to look at and nothing spoke to me. We had lunch at a local restaurant and the food was amazing, even for a vegetarian. Popcorn was the “bread basket” instead of breads or chips.

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed review of your Otavalo experience! We’re delighted to hear that Lincoln was able to make your day so enjoyable and that you appreciated his knowledge, your conversations together, and the flexibility of having a more private experience. It sounds like you really made the most of the day, especially with market day offering so much to see and experience! We’re particularly happy that we could help you find the authentic baby alpaca sweater you were looking for. We love taking our guests to family-run businesses where they can see how traditional textiles are made and, at the same time, know that their purchases directly support local families and artisans. Your visit to the bizcocho bakery sounds like another great example of experiencing the local culture beyond the usual tourist stops — and it’s wonderful that you enjoyed sampling the agave drinks, jams, biscuits, and local chocolate too! Otavalo Market can certainly be overwhelming on a busy market day, with so much happening all around you. We’re glad Lincoln gave you the time and space to explore it at your own pace without feeling pressured to buy something. And we’re very happy to hear that the local lunch was such a hit, especially as a vegetarian! Popcorn instead of the usual bread basket is certainly a very Ecuadorian touch. Thank you for choosing CarpeDM Adventures and for sharing your experience. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to Lincoln. We hope your beautiful alpaca sweater brings back wonderful memories of Ecuador for many years to come!

via Tripadvisor

A day of adventure with Philippe!

My guide, Philippe, born and raised in Quito was an absolute delight to be with for the day! He was very attentive, kind and always thinking one step ahead of the day! His knowledge of the whole area and to the places we went for example the leather district where he went above and beyond to find me leather book markers because he knew a guy who owned a leather workshop was in depth which really showed up when we went to the national park. He took me to a traditional kichwa lunch, and it was nice to see the ladies interaction with him in that they like and respect him. He is a superb driver in the crazy traffic they have in Quito and surrounding areas!!! Oh yeah his English is so good and he had me smiling alot. He is definitely a treasure when it comes to guiding, his knowledge and being so personable and that's coming from someone who just went on a day tour with a strange man in a new country! You rock Philippe! Thank you giving this 72 year old retired paramedic one of her best days ever!!

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for this truly wonderful review! We were incredibly touched to read that your day with Philippe became one of your best days ever. Knowing that you felt comfortable, cared for, and genuinely welcomed while exploring a new country means so much to us, especially when traveling somewhere unfamiliar. Philippe will be absolutely delighted to hear your kind words. His local knowledge, attention to detail, and ability to think one step ahead are exactly the qualities we value in our guides. We love hearing about the little personal touches too, like finding those leather bookmarks through his connection with a local workshop. Those unexpected moments are often what turn a good tour into a truly personal experience. It’s also wonderful th

via Tripadvisor

Otovalo

We were picked up on time from our hotel lobby, as promised. The quality of the tour (comfortable van, guide, driver, information provided, points of interest, time allotted at each stop, etc) were well beyond expectation. Special thanks to our guide, Felipe, and our excellent driver!

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful and detailed review! We're delighted to hear that everything went smoothly from the moment we picked you up at your hotel, and that the quality of the tour exceeded your expectations. We put a lot of effort into making sure our guests have a comfortable vehicle, knowledgeable guide, reliable driver, and enough time to properly enjoy each stop along the way. Felipe will be very happy to receive your special thanks. We'll also make sure our driver knows how much you appreciated their excellent service. Thank you for choosing CarpeDM Adventures and for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Ecuador soon!

via Tripadvisor