Otavalo Market Day Tour

Otavalo Market Ecuador

The Otavalo market is the largest market of its kind in all of South America, and well worth a visit! There are vibrant splashes of colors, the noise of vendors yelling out prices, and plenty of soft things to touch. Here, you’ll find tapestries and blankets with guanacos and llamas on them, alpaca and llama sweaters, bright ponchos, hand-woven belts, beautifully carved statues, jewelry, flowers, rugs baskets, etc. The Otavalo indigenous market has it all.

Highlights:

• Meet the leather craftsmen of Cotacachi Valley and Peguche Village.
• Try unique Cayambe salt biscuits, “Bizcochos” and leaf cheese on Cayambe
• Catch sight of the beautiful snowcapped Cayambe Volcano and Taita Imbabura on the way to Otavalo.
• Visit the Province of the Lakes, Imbabura, and learn about local natives’ customs and traditions.
• Explore the fascinating Otavalo indigenous colorful market

Your Private Day Trip to Otavalo!

The excursion starts with an early pickup from your hotel in Quito. From there, we will drive in a private vehicle to Otavalo and its marketplace to learn all about their culture and traditions. We will stop at San Pablo´s Lake viewpoint to take some pictures and where we will try some delicious biscochos (local traditional buttery cookies). Once we will reach Otavalo Village, you will have the opportunity to walk through the market to see the different stands and local people exhibiting their multicolored handicrafts and souvenirs, and if you’d like you can purchase some of them. We will also visit a weaving workshop in Peguche. After that, you will enjoy lunch and then visit Cotacachi, famous for its leather goods, or Cuicocha Lake before heading back to Quito. On the way back we will do a short stop at the Equator Sundial Monument.

Duration:    10 hours

Departure:  8:00 am

Included:

• Private transportation SUV / VAN
• Certified Spanish / English speaking guide.
• Biscochos, workshop in Peguche, Cuicocha Lake, Otavalo Market, San Pablo´s Lake view point
• Menu lunch
• Hotel pick-up/drop-off in Quito.
• Guided activities.

Not included:

• Personal expenses
• Meals
• Travel insurance
• Tips

What to bring:

• Sunblock.
• Comfortable shoes.
• Raincoat.
• Hat or cap.
• Camera.