We arrived in the late afternoon at Cotacachi, on the last day of the Flower Festival, towards its end. Since we were too tired to go explore the city but too excited to sleep, we decided to have dinner downstairs in the hosteria's restaurant and then go for a short walk. The locals we spoke with were very friendly. Their Spanish accent was a bit different than what we were accustomed with, but we managed to communicate.
Sunset on the road leading to El Batan Colony in Cotacachi
We walked on the cobble stones and noted that the streets were empty. Only a few people were on the streets. Couple of hours earlier they were filled with people, excitement and music. Now it was all deserted. It felt as if we were having a stroll in Naples during siesta time.
Before we knew it we reached the outskirts of the city and saw the cobblestone road turn into a dusty one. Later on we discovered we had entered the El Baton colony, a neighbourhood where the Quechua indigenous people lived. They seemed a bit more reluctant to talk to us, but then later on, I was told also that most of them speak only their language: Quechua. The golden hour made the landscape look even more beautiful. The sunset in the Andes was breath taking! As for the clouds and the views on the two volcanos Imbabura and Cotacachi, I was sold! I loved seeing the landscape change so fast as the clouds and the wind played with the mountains. Although the sun was still up, the temperature was dropping and the wind felt colder. Fearing that we might catch a cold, we headed towards the hosteria. Cotacachi is located at an elevation of 2,418 metres (7,933 ft); no surprise it was chilly outside! On the way back, we took another road and discovered a gated community with houses build from adobe, but at an American standard. One of the following days we met an old American retired couple and thanks to them, we ended up visiting this community. Before seeing these gorgeous houses I was under the impression that it wasn't such a great idea to have a house built from adobe. Two visits there and I would have moved in right away. At that point only half of the homes were sold. It turned out that the constructor was building a similar project in Cuenca as well. Cotacachi is also known as the "leather town" as there are many leather craftsmen living in there. There were more than 50 artisanal shops selling leather goods for some prices that would make you laugh. Probably a quarter or less than what you would be paying back home. As for the quality and design of their goods, I was blown away! While we were in town, we also visited the Santa Fe Ranch and had a great time in there. It's an amazing place to have lunch or dinner. A bit pricy but it's an unique experience. Why I loved Cotacachi? Because it was very clean, probably one of the cleanest places I have visited in the whole country. This is how the street looked like after the fiesta! I think we have to learn a lot from these people who managed to host a crowd in the order of thousands and still have their streets so clean! In one of few days we stayed in Cotacachi we also visited an eco-friendly farm ran by a Japanese woman who married a local. An incredible woman who dared to leave everything behind and move across the world to build a sustainable farm. She and her husband were building their house by themselves, using adobe and straw bale. The photo below was taken inside of their house which was still under construction at the time. Here are other travel related posts: HIKING IN MONT-ROYAL PARK, MONTREAL ZUMMER FUN BUS RIDE IN CONSTANTA, ROMANIA THE STONEHENGE OF ROMANIA: SARMIZEGETUSA REGIA ECUADOR SERIES - DUE DILIGENCE TRIP LAURENTIANS MOUNTAINS: COTTAGE TRIP AT LAKE CACHÉE OTTAWA LIGHTS SHOW ON PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS HIKING AT DANUBE’S GORGES, ORSOVA, ROMANIA DECEBALUS CARVED STATUE, ROMANIA PIRATES TREASURE PLAYGROUND, CONSTANTA, ROMANIA DOLPHINARIUM 2, CONSTANTA, ROMANIA DOLPHINARIUM 1, CONSTANTA, ROMANIA GONDOLA RIDE IN MAMAIA RESORT, ROMANIA BEACH DAY IN CONSTANTA, ROMANIA BUBBLES - INDOOR PLAYGROUND IN CONSTANTA, ROMANIA VISITING DAMARLI ESTATE IN BOQUETE, PANAMA BAHIA DE PAQUERA, NICOYA GULF, COSTA RICA EXPLORING AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS Ready to Blog & Earn? With TravelFeed, easily start your own travel blog and earn as you go. It's the smart platform for travelers who want to profit from their passion. Create a free account MACKINAC BRIDGE, MICHIGAN, USA CHASED BY TORNADOS IN MINNESOTA MINNEHAHA FALLS REGIONAL PARK, A GEM IN BETWEEN THE TWIN CITIES BANFF, A RESORT TOWN INSIDE THE BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA, CANADA OLD PORT OF CONSTANTA, ROMANIA Don't Forget: Get Travel Health Insurance! To make your trip a worry-free experience, TravelFeed recommends SafetyWing Nomad Insurance. It provides comprehensive health coverage while you travel, so you can focus on exploring, not the unexpected. Get a quote here TEN FACTS OR MORE ABOUT BOQUETE, PANAMA
Road paved by the community El Batan without the help of the local authorities
Inca Sun - sunset bathing the fields of El Batan
View over the fields and the Imbabura volcano
Santa Fe Ranch lobby
Street in Cotacachi
View over the farm from the main bedroom
View of the lunch area on her farm
Adobe house interior
Travel Resources for your trip to Ecuador
Recommended by TravelFeed
Flights: We recommend checking Kiwi.com to find the best and cheapest flights to Ecuador.
Accomodation: Explore the best places to stay in Ecuador on Booking.com, Agoda and Hostelworld.
Travel Insurance: Medical emergencies abroad can be pricey, but travel health insurance is not. We always use SafetyWing for affordable and reliable coverage.
Car Rental: For hassle-free car hiring, DiscoverCars is our trusted choice with a wide selection of vehicles.
Internet: Got an eSIM compatible phone? Airalo is perfect for reliable internet access during your trip. Just install it before you go, and you're set!
Day Trips & Tours: We recommend GetYourGuide for a variety of well-organized and enjoyable activities.
Travel Planner: Need a hand planning? Our free travel planner chatbot is your personal guide to Ecuador. Chat now.
Disclosure: Posts on TravelFeed may contain affiliate links. See affiliate disclosure.
