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Otavalo Market Bike Tour: Explore Middle of the World and Celebrate Ecuador's Craftmanship
5.0
15 Ratings
Quito
Join our Otavalo Market Bike Tour and explore the Middle of the World while celebrating Ecuador’s craftsmanship. Cycle through unique trails, visit archaeological sites, and experience the vibrant La Plaza de los Ponchos craft market.
Join our Otavalo Market Bike Tour and explore the Middle of the World while celebrating Ecuador’s craftsmanship. Cycle through unique trails, visit archaeological sites, and experience the vibrant La Plaza de los Ponchos craft market.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Mirador de Oton - The journey includes a visit to the “Otón” viewpoint, offering a chance to admire the stunning Andes landscape and, with luck, the magnificent Cayambe volcano.
- Guachalá - Starting from Quito, the tour heads to this rural community where Ecuador’s indigenous people identified the Middle of the World due to their advanced…
- Mirador de Oton - The journey includes a visit to the “Otón” viewpoint, offering a chance to admire the stunning Andes landscape and, with luck, the magnificent Cayambe volcano.
- Guachalá - Starting from Quito, the tour heads to this rural community where Ecuador’s indigenous people identified the Middle of the World due to their advanced astronomical knowledge.
- Cayambe - The route passes by several locations near the snow-capped Cayambe volcano, featuring indigenous archaeological sites used for astronomical observations, ancient roads, and breathtaking viewpoints.
- Guachalá - After cycling, the adventure concludes with a delicious Ecuadorian lunch in front of the first monument marking the Middle of the World, where the French mission in the 18th century identified the Equator for the Western world.
- Otavalo Market - The Otavalo market is renowned for its vast array of handicrafts, primarily textiles, but deeper exploration reveals many incredible items.
What's Included
- Lunch included
- Free carbonated beverages
- Bicycle use provided
- Bilingual guide available
- Lunch included
- Free carbonated beverages
- Bicycle use provided
- Bilingual guide available
Additional Information
Join the journey to explore unique trails in the Middle of the World. The adventure begins in Quito and heads towards the community of “Guachala,” where the equatorial line passes through. You can verify multiple times with your GPS that you are at latitude 0’0 “0”. The tour also includes visits to pre-Columbian archaeological sites, once used by…
Join the journey to explore unique trails in the Middle of the World. The adventure begins in Quito and heads towards the community of “Guachala,” where the equatorial line passes through. You can verify multiple times with your GPS that you are at latitude 0’0 “0”. The tour also includes visits to pre-Columbian archaeological sites, once used by ancestors as astronomical observatories, offering breathtaking views of the Cayambe volcano.
This beautiful journey will be experienced by bicycle along a 25km route rich in history and adventure. After cycling, there will be a visit to one of South America’s largest craft markets, “La Plaza de los Ponchos,” where a variety of Ecuadorian handicrafts can be found.
Location
Plaza Foch
Just in the corner at Foch Plaza
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(15 Ratings)
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Anjelica_s
Apr 13, 2026
Fun mountain biking day!! - This was such a fun day. I wanted to get in a mountain bike ride and this ride is no joke. The trails in this region are mostly dirt roads, but Mauro gave me two options in which we chose some mild single track train track riding. It was fun! You ride through a bunch of farm land initially, then the ride enters a beautiful gorge with waterfall views. The end climb is brutal (good luck), but you can walk your bike as well. Lunch was at a roadside cafe where you can sit outside right by the equator. The Otavalo market was charming. It had many local gifts and I found some affordable items. Mauro gives you ample time to explore at your leisure. He was so kind and accommodating. I highly recommend his tour if you want to get your blood pumping. Also, his bikes were in great shape. A cross between a gravel bike and a mountain bike. Lastly, don't forget to tip your guide. They deserve it! :)
Review provided by Viator
Dennis_n
Mar 27, 2026
A great day of biking and shopping - We had a great day with our guide Mauro. The biking was very nice and he did a great job adjusting the ride to our abilities -- we rode for over 2 hours. It was interesting riding alongside the huge greenhouses for roses and the other scenery of his selected route is very pretty.
We enjoyed our shopping at the Otavalo market and were glad we had done something other than just driving there and back.
Mauro was also a good and safe driver
Review provided by Viator
Marygk1417nu
Jan 5, 2026
More Than a Bike Tour - Mauro was an outstanding guide. He clearly knows Ecuadorian history and culture and shared it in ways that felt relevant to where we were riding and visiting. His explanations of indigenous traditions, regional history, and daily life added meaning to each stop and to the bike ride itself. He welcomed questions and adjusted the pace to my ability. This was of my favorite parts of visiting Quito!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jonathandtbxl
Jan 2, 2026
Nike ride - An exceptional experience from start to finish.
The activity is absolutely outstanding, with breathtaking landscapes throughout the ride. The bikes are high quality and very well maintained, and the tour adapts perfectly to your physical level, making it enjoyable whether you’re a beginner or more experienced.
The food was excellent, and the stops at local markets were a real highlight. Everything was well organized and authentic.
I 100% recommend this experience without hesitation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daytrip315067
Dec 22, 2025
Great and Varied Day with Mauro - The experience was wonderful and Mauro made it so. The biking was fun and interesting (loved seeing the Rose farms and harvesting), lunch delicious, and the market was packed with people and goods, even later in the day. Mauro's knowledge, genuine interest in people, and sharing with others was key to the experience. We even talked about coming back and doing a multi-day ride experience with him!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bierenwater
Dec 14, 2025
Amazing bike trip, Mauro is a beacon of knowledge. - We had such a great experience with Mauro.His knowledge of Equador is amazing. The bike trip was well planned and the bikes were in excellent shape. I would definitely come back and meet up with Mauro again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeffhh629dh
Jul 29, 2025
This will be one of the most scenic rides you have ever done! - Mauro has put together an amazing route that is challenging but manageable for anyone with moderate bicycling skills. The diversify of beautiful views ranging from canyons to snow capped mountains were unbelievable. As a bonus, Mauro peppered the trip with interesting stops that highlighted Ecuadorean history and plants. Do this trip, you won’t regret it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Megangabie
Jul 26, 2025
Fantastic, unique experience to see the Middle of the World! - This was such a cool experience!! Mauro made it extra special. We ended up running into some traffic challenges on the way and had to take a big detour. Mauro made it so fun and interested and stopped at a few places so I could try some unique snacks. He was easy to talk to and knew SO much about the history, I would have literally paid just for him to drive me around and tell me things. Lol. Plus, I am not a mountain biker — but he made it approachable and tailored it to my skills and what I was comfortable with. It was the best day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kleila0
Apr 3, 2025
One of the best experiences in Ecuador - We had an amazing day. This is a truly unique experience and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Mauro is a fantastic guide with so much knowledge about Ecuador and he shares the information at a very good pace. The bike trip is incredible. Beautiful route, doable but challenging enough to feel like you have earned the delicious lunch. And you get to ride on the real ecuator with no other tourists around :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Csv25
Sep 21, 2024
Immersive Experience to Ecuadorian Culture - AMAZING TRIP!!! Mauro and Jenn were super knowledgeable and accommodating during the trip. They knew exactly where to take us for amazing views and excellent food. You feel immersed in the country and its culture. When I go back again to Ecuador, he is the person to tour the country with. 5 Stars!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
