Ecuador Travel

Tourists visiting Peguche cascade

Overview

Peguche is a small village just a short distance from Otavalo. In this village, life is very traditional and you can observe local traditions as they have been for many years. Its community has stood out through the years because of its excellent musicians and its skilled weavers. In the past, Peguche was a busier place, as it was on the railway line. However, the train tracks have not been in use since the late 1980s, so these days the town is a lot quieter than it used to be. People here rely on agriculture and you can be sure that if you spend more than an hour or two here, you’ll see villagers herding their cows for milking. The locals in this village dress in their traditional costume and are very friendly.

This little village is the setting for a beautiful waterfall that can be visited. This fall of more than 17 meters of height is not only beautiful but it is also chosen for ancestral heritage rituals because of the energy that it is said to give off. Located only 2 km away, it is just a short walk from the village and there are signposts to guide the way. This waterfall is located in a protected forest. At the entrance to the waterfalls, there are local vendors that are known worldwide for their high quality craftsmanship and their intricate designs. They make all kinds of tapestries, sweaters, blankets, jackets and more in this village, much of which can be found for sale in the Otavalo Market.

In addition to textiles and weaving, Peguche is also well known for its musical instruments. In Peguche, there are a number of artisan stores that sell reed flutes, plan pipes, guitars and charangos. A charango is a traditional musical instrument that was traditionally created from an armadillo shell. It has five pairs of strings and is similar to a mandolin.

Peguche is an excellent place to catch a glimpse of traditional festivals and ceremonies. A few of those that are not to be missed fall around the time of the summer solstice. One such festival is San Pedro y San Pablo. This is a festival that originated in the times before the Incas but that also includes elements of Catholicism. The Inti Raymi festival is another interesting festival that takes place around this time and celebrates the summer solstice (June 21). In addition, it forges a reunion with the celebrated Mother Nature. The festival includes dancing, celebrations and spiritual cleansing. The Inti Raymi festival itself takes place on June 24, and people take a sacred bath in the waterfall. The San Juanes festival also falls at this time, and involves dancing and drinking. This festival can sometimes be a little violent due to the amount of alcohol consumed.

Facilities for the traveler to Peguche are limited. There are just a few accommodations that have their own restaurant and there are a couple of grocery stores. That said, it’s worth staying a night in this peaceful little town to get a real feel for traditional Andean life.

Highlights of Peguche

Peguche Waterfall - Peguche’s famous waterfall is a highlight of this area. The trail to the waterfall itself is attractive and winds through a eucalyptus forest. During the time of the Inca, the waterfall was used for bathing before the Inti Raymi festival (solstice). Some today still use this spot for a sacred bath before the ceremonies. There is a trail that can be taken to the top of the waterfall.

Music – Peguche is home to a number of talented and famous Andean music groups. There are also some famous dancers. Some of the best known are Ñanda-Mañachi and Centro Cultural Peguche.

Bird watching – due to the waterfall and its eucalyptus forest surrounding it, there is an abundance of bird life in this area, for those that enjoy bird watching.

People watching – One of the most fascinating activities in Peguche is the opportunities that exist for people watching. Find a spot to sit back and watch local life go by as it has for centuries.

Camping – A unique experience is to camp overnight in the area of the Peguche waterfall. It is extremely peaceful and you will be rewarded by waking up in the morning to the sound of the birdlife and the crashing water.

Local festivals – at Peguche, the local people take part in a number of interesting festivals each year. Some of the most interesting are around the time of the solstice on June 21. The build up to these festivals starts at least a month beforehand in the middle of May, with singing and dancing at the weekends.

Getting There

Peguche is surprisingly a little off the beaten path for travelers—it is very easily accessible from Otavalo.

To get there, the visitor should take a bus from Quito at the northern bus terminal at Carcelen. There are two choices for this.

One option is to take a bus to Otavalo from the Carcelen bus terminal. This will cost approximately $2. The journey to Otavalo from Carcelen takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. The bus will end its journey at Otavalo’s Terminal Terrestre (bus terminal). Visitors that do this will need to then take a bus or taxi onward to Peguche. A taxi will cost a couple of dollars and a bus will cost less than a dollar.

The second option is to head to the Carcelen bus terminal in Quito and then take a bus that goes to Ibarra and state when paying that you are taking the bus to Peguche. The cost will be approximately $2, and the journey will be from 1.5 to 2 hours. Travelers who go via this route should ask the driver or conductor to advise them when they get to the turn off for Peguche. This bus will go past Otavalo but usually will not go to the main Otavalo bus terminal. Visitors will be dropped at the turn off from the Pan American Highway for Peguche, which is just slightly north of Otavalo. From here it is just a short walk into the center of the village.