You are staying in Otavalo and you are done with the artisanal market located Plaza de los Ponchos? Now it is time to get out of the city and explore the surrounding hidden gems.
La Cascada de Peguche (or Peguche Waterfall) is not as popular as the artisanal market is, but it is definitely worth visiting. Here is everything you need to know to make the most of your adventure!
Remember to be a civilized visitor. The waterfall is considered sacred by locals, so make sure to respect their cultural heritage, and leave no traces.
How to get there?
You have various options to get to the Peguche Waterfall. The site is located only 3 km away from the city center, so your first option would be to walk. However, it would mostly be walking next to a road, so it might not be as pleasant as you might think.
The second, and cheapest, option would be for you to take the local bus. (What better way to surround yourself with locals?) Nothing easier really. Go to the bus terminal and ask which bus is going to “La Cascada de Peguche”. I find Ecuadorian people nice and always happy to help, so you won’t have any problem finding the right bus.
The bus costs less than $0.5 per person, so you really can’t do cheaper than that! The only downside? It makes a lot of stops along the way, and it should take you about 20 minutes to get to the entrance of the park.
So if you don’t have much time and want to get to the waterfall as quickly as possible, I suggest you take a taxi! You might have realized that taxis in Ecuador are (really) cheap. It should cost you around $3, and you will be arriving at your destination in 5 minutes.
Now that you are there, what do you do?
First thing first, the entrance to the Peguche Waterfall is totally free (that’s one more reason to visit this hidden gem near Otavalo).
When I visited, there was a box receiving donations. I believe it is always nice to give something (even $0.5) so you can help with the site conservation. But that’s totally UP TO YOU.
You then have to register yourself with your name (and probably your passport number), and you are free to go!
You will probably be surprised to see how lush and green the park becomes once you get through the entrance. If you want to go directly to the 18-meter-high waterfall to take your most beautiful photo, just follow the path going straight. Soon you will hear the sound of the water and will just have to follow it.
If you are not an avid hiker, don’t worry, it shouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes to reach la Cascada de Peguche.
WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME IN NATURE?
I totally get it, and you’d be happy to know that you have several options.
First, you will probably want to stop to take some photos (and believe me, it is a great spot). You can get as close as you want to the waterfall, but just keep in mind that the closer you get, the more wet you will be! But hey, sacrifices must be made for a good photoshoot.
Once you are done, you can either go back to the entrance (following the same path) if you are short on time, or you can go explore more of the forest. That’s what we did and that’s what I would recommend you to do if you can.
If you keep going up on your left (when looking at the waterfall) you will get to a wooden point of view where you can get a whole new perspective of the chute. Another great spot for photos or just to soak in the beauty of this natural gem.
You can keep going up afterward and (if I remember well) it will take you to some caves and other wonders. Then just go back down the same path when you are tired or that you can’t go up anymore.
On your way back to the entrance, you will find various paths on both your right and left-hand side. Just go and explore. The fauna and flora in this park are beautiful, and I believe it would be a shame to miss out.
Once you are ready to go back to the agitation of Otavalo, just pick the transportation of your choice. Head back for a drink in the surrounding streets of Plaza de Los Ponchos or a quick nap at your hotel before going on your next adventure.
What should you bring to La Cascada de Peguche?
I tend to be really bad when it comes to organizing my adventures, so I always pack my day bag in advance to make sure I don’t forget anything. (Nothing can ruin your excursion better than forgetting important items.)
If you have been in the Andean region of Ecuador for a while now, you might have realized how quickly the weather can turn around. So my biggest advice (packing-wise) is to always pack layers and raincoats as well as sun protective items (sunglasses, sunscreen, hat…).
At the entrance of the site, you will be able to buy water and snacks, but I always pack some too just in case. And you should too. Imagine being thirsty and having all the stalls closed for X reason, it would probably make you wish you had packed some.
And finally, bring cash. That should be the number one rule of traveling in Ecuador. You never know what can happen, and most places don’t take credit cards. Also… this way, you won’t have any excuse to put a few cents in the donation box at the entrance. (joking obviously, but I still believe it is important)
Not many tourists know about this hidden gem near Otavalo. So if you are reading this blog post, it is your sign to visit! You will not regret it, and it is the perfect break from the noisy Plaza de los Ponchos.
And pssst… If you want a more challenging hike, here is my favorite lake hike in the surroundings.
