Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Otavalo and Cotacachi on this day tour. Explore the bustling markets, witness traditional craftsmanship, and marvel at the stunning Cuicocha Lagoon. Don’t miss this unforgettable experience!
- Fabrica de Bizcochos San Pedro - Our first stop is at this charming restaurant, where we’ll enjoy a traditional breakfast from Cayambe city, featuring coffee, biscuits, dulce de leche, and leaf cheese. We’ll also get to see how the Cayambe biscuits are made and baked.
- Miralago - We’ll take a short visit to the Miralago viewpoint, offering a chance to photograph the Imbabura volcano and San Pablo Lake. There’s also a craft store here that you can explore.
- Plaza De Los Ponchos Mercado - We’ll explore the “ponchos square,” renowned for its handicrafts. You’ll find a wide range of products such as ponchos, t-shirts, traditional footwear (alpargatas), pants, scarves, and more. The Otavaleños are exceptional artisans, so expect to see a variety of crafts made from wood, leather, metal, and other materials. Experience the daily life of one of Ecuador’s “magical towns.”
- Taller Ñanda Mañachi - The Otavalo people are also talented musicians. We’ll visit an Andean instrument workshop to learn about instrument making and enjoy some Ecuadorian music.
- Cuicocha Lake - Imbabura province is known as the province of lakes due to its numerous bodies of water. We’ll visit Cuicocha lagoon, formed in a volcanic crater, and take a short, easy walk to capture photos of one of Ecuador’s most stunning attractions.
- Cotacachi - Our tour concludes in Cotacachi, one of Ecuador’s most beautiful cities, famous for its leatherwork, including handbags, footwear, and jackets. You’ll have free time for lunch here. Our final stop will be a chocolate shop to sample some delicious Ecuadorian chocolate.
- Tasting in Cayambe
- Food and drinks not specified in the itinerary.
- Tips
- Entrances not specified in the itinerary
The travel agency, Enjoy Ecuador, escorts you to the towns of Otavalo and Cotacachi, situated in the Imbabura Province, a brisk 1 hour 30 minute journey from Quito. Our voyage includes a stop at the city of Cayambe to indulge in a local tasting of cookies, leaf cheese, and caramel spread. Upon reaching Otavalo, we’ll explore the celebrated Ponchos Square, providing you with an intimate glimpse of Otavaleño traders’ everyday life. You’ll have ample opportunity to shop for a wide array of handicrafts available there. From traditional ponchos, scarves, wooden sculptures, paintings, typical Otavalo trousers to alpargatas (native footwear) and so on. A visit to a craftsman’s workshop producing Andean musical instruments is also on the itinerary. Next, we’ll head over to the stunning Cuicocha Lagoon for a photo opportunity. Lastly, we’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch in Cotacachi before making our way back to Quito.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
