Peguche Waterfall

The Peguche fall drops about eighteen metres in a eucalyptus gorge above the weaving village of Peguche, a short walk from Otavalo, and its importance is ceremonial as much as scenic: for the Otavalo Kichwa it is a sacred site, and in the nights before Inti Raymi in June men bathe under the fall in a ritual purification, which visitors should know rather than intrude on. The rest of the year it is an easy outing on a cobbled path through the trees, with a bridge below the fall, a smaller upper fall, and the village of Peguche itself, where weaving families work looms and some workshops receive visitors. The site is community-managed with a requested donation at the gate.

What you actually see

• The eighteen-metre fall - the drop in its eucalyptus gorge.
• Ritual bathing before Inti Raymi - the June purification nights.
• Peguche weaving workshops - the village's looms nearby.
• The cobbled forest path - the easy walk in from the village.

When to go

Year round. Two hours. June brings Inti Raymi and the ritual use, when visitors should keep a respectful distance. Weekends are busy with local families.

Honest expectations

It is a modest fall and the visit is short. The ceremonial use is not a spectacle for outsiders. Vendors cluster at the gate on weekends. Petty theft has occurred on quiet stretches; go accompanied.

Nearby

Otavalo and its market are south; Lake San Pablo lies south-east.