Casa Mojanda can arrange tours in the region, organize a hike to the nearby waterfall or provide horse back riding at most times during the day.   Believe me, an Andean sunrise from atop a horse when the sun comes up in a clear sky---this is a majestic sight to behold.   Co-owner Wayne Lamphier will even direct you and your fly rod to a little trout fishing at Laguna Mojanda.   This lake is stocked and was formed from snow melt and rain flowing into this extinct volcano's 11,500 foot high caldera.  They will get you a Spanish tutor if you wish or just leave you alone to walk around and relax and read and think while viewing unusual and beautiful countryside.  

    Casa Mojanda can meet most of the needs you can imagine during a visit to this wonderful highland region in Ecuador.    All this for about $50 per person per day that includes breakfast and dinner.   

    While touring this region visit Hacienda Pinsaqui  www.haciendapinsaqui.com.  It dates to the 1700's.  Ask owner Pedro Freile or Manager Hector Alarcom to show you the suite which Simon Bolivar used.   Linger a few moments to examine the furnishings.  This family owned hacienda and has housed Ecuador's Ambassadors to five different countries.  There are sixteen magnificent rooms; stay a night or two if you can.

Cotacachi

     In this region take a daytrip to Cotacachi and view one of Ecuador's dramatic volcanic structures.   There are 56 volcanoes in Ecuador.   Also visit some of the 200 leather shops in the town.  We met people in Cotacachi who traveled there from all over the world to buy saddles and other leather goods.   They said that the savings on leather goods were enough to pay for their entire trip and then some.  In Cotacachi, a pleasant lunch may be had in the courtyard of Hosteria el Meson de las Flores.  Stay there if you wish a hotel in the old town.   A clean and pleasant room is $25 a night,  about $35 a night for a suite.  Lunch for nine people, in the courtyard,  nicely prepared, tasty and in this scenic setting cost me $45 with gratuity and taxes

    There are twenty-two villages in the Otavalo area which specialize in one or another type of Indian craft.  Miguel Mora, email: zulaytur@hotmail.com, is involved with the Zulaytur guiding service www.otavalo.com.ec/zulaytur.   He spent two days showing us around. 

	Carlos Torres

    Miguel will take you to visit craftsmen in their homes and villages.   You  can learn about the political structure of village life and will certainly end up buying some of the goods.   End the day after a broadening experience, tired and changed by watching families of eight and ten people sustain themselves at income levels of two or three hundred dollars per month while maintaining their commitment to the "old ways."  

    Miguel Mora knows the Imbabura province like the back of his hand.  For years he has helped many of the indigenous in their marketing efforts.   His English is superb; the local populace receives him as a friend and confidant.    He will take you to the village of Laesperansa where weavers use paqua cactus fiber to create strands with techniques that haven't changed in decades.  He'll show you the wood carvings in San Antonio and the knitting in Carabuela and introduce you to a Chaman in Eluman.

    The  week around Otavalo was a wonderful adventure.   The bright morning sun greets you at 6 am.   A clear sky over the Andes reveals vistas of green and not so distant snow covered volcanic peaks.  People are warm and friendly.   

    Otavalo, Cotacachi, Quito, all of Ecuador is now a fully dollarized country and undergoing marvelous and fascinating transition.  It's a place where one can view a jump from the 19th to the 21st century.   I'm headed back for another look as soon as possible.