27 | January | 2013 | Teresa Van Haalen Ventures

This morning we got up and took a van further up into the mountains to a little burg called Cotacachi. We climbed a steep, winding road up into the verdant hills, with scattered plots of gardens (mostly corn) and tile roofed homes. When we arrived in Cotacachi, our attention focused on the wide walkways, one way streets, clean storefronts, and seeming prosperity of the town. Once our driver turned us loose, we understood why. This is the leather capital of South America. Everything from saddles, to saddle bags, to gloves, jackets, you name it, is there for the purchase, in quite high quality. The fact that the Ecuadorian currency is the US dollar made our decison-making easier (maybe not the $400 bag). John however, came away with a good bargain on a shoulder tote for his ipad, and I scored a dynamite pair of boots! After a great lunch at the Cafe Tourista (really we were the only tourists in there, and $2 hamburgers to die for!), we boarded our chariot and headed back down the mountain back to Otavalo.

After a siesta, we again called on Henry (our driver–takes you anywhere for $12/hour) to take us up to the Parque Condor overlooking the Otovalo Valley.

View of Otovalo on the road to Parque Condor

The road was very steep and windy (as are all roads leading out of Otavalo). The park is a raptor rehabilitation center founded by the Dutch government and helps to educate locals on the importance of keeping their raptors healthy.