Otavalo market and Cuiocotcha lake

A colleague from work Claire, organised a day trip for all the new staff at BSQ to go and visit Otavalo market and Cuiocotcha Lake. On the way we crossed the equator for the first time so we had our picture taken straddling the equator line. We also had a go at balancing an egg on a nail on the equator, it actually works! We then carried on until we reached the town of Otavalo. It is renown for its weekend 'poncho' market, which is the biggest in South America. The vendors all wear traditional costume and the goods are all so bright and colourful. They sell lots of clothes made out of alpaca wool along with hammocks, ponchos and other traditional Andean goods. After the market, we headed to the Cuiocotcha lake, named after guinea pigs who have been found on the island in the middle of the lake. The lake has been formed in the crater of a volcano and we took a boat trip around the island. As you navigate around you can actually see bubbles of sulphur rising up from the volcano.