Local Markets
Andean tradition thrives in this area and local markets provide many opportunities to observe how people have been trading for thousands of years
Andean tradition thrives in this area and local markets provide many opportunities to observe how people have been trading for thousands of years. You may be bargaining for a poncho, fresh fruit and produce, fried bread, or a rope to tie your brand new llama or Black Sheep!
Local markets only happen on specific days of the week. Below you can see which markets might coincide with your visit to the area. The Saquisilí Market on Thursday is best seen while traveling in to the Black Sheep Inn, or on the day of your departure.
| day | town | notes | distance from Black Sheep Inn |
| Monday | Guantualo | A very small, non-touristy, rural community market. | No direct road, but a lovely 3 hour hike each way. |
| Tuesday | Latacunga | A large market spreading across two plazas in the center of town. Very colorful. Gross views in the slaughter house and meat market. | 2 hours by car |
| Wednesday | Pujilí | Small — the Sunday market is bigger. | 2 hours by car |
| Thursday *Best Market* | Saquisilí | Economically one of the most important markets in Cotopaxi Province. The entire community comes alive with vendors on every street corner selling everything imaginable throughout the village. | 2 hours by car |
| Friday | No Market | Vendors preparing for Saturday Market fill the plazas in Latacunga. | |
| Saturday *Best Market* | Zumbahua | A morning market surrounded by rocky peaks. Very indigenous and colorful. Lots of llamas. Market ends by 1-2 pm. | 1 hour by car |
| Saturday | Latacunga | Much bigger than Tuesday’s market. | 2 hours by car |
| Sunday | Chugchilán, Sigchos & Pujilí | Local markets add life to the otherwise sleepy villages of Chugchilán, Sigchos & Pujilí | 5 minute walk to Chugchilán, 45 minutes to Sigchos. |
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Local Markets
Andean tradition thrives in this area and local markets provide many opportunities to observe how people have been trading for thousands of years
Mountain Bikes
Biking at altitude 3200 meters (10,500 feet), in thin air, with the landscape’s dramatic contours, is a challenge for most riders. Yet we recommend a few downhill bike rides.
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You can walk or gallop across the high paramó, descend steeply into the canyon, or take a relaxing ride out onto the plateau.
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Ridge Hike
Black Sheep Inn is located part way up a mountain ridge. Hiking up to the top of the ridge above the inn takes about 25 minutes.
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Rio Toachi Canyon
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