Our guide picks us up early today and we head to the Otavalo Market. We visit a traditional weaver cooperative that weaves all of their wares by hand and loom. The weavers show us all of the natural dyes they use, which come from roots, nuts and other interesting sources. We buy the softest sweaters made from alpaca. We scour the market for the best deals and have fun haggling with the vendors. A very old indigenous woman is selling soft alpaca rugs, like the ones in Hacienda Pinsaqui. I talk with her for a half hour about how much work goes into making one of the rugs. When I leave with one of her rugs, she gives me a hug and tells me she has a grandson I would like. We return to our guide's truck in the afternoon and he laughs when he sees us lumbering down the street with all of our treasures. We have a late lunch at a local restaurant on the shores of the lake. I'm sad to be leaving Ecuador again. I wish our trip was not over. We head back to Quito and catch our flight back to the US. Tomorrow is back to work and reality.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.