Otavalo Unveiled: A Day Journey Through Time and Tradition!





Description
In the heart of South America, nestled just two hours north of Quito, lies the enigmatic town of Otavalo. It's not just any town; it's a pulsating epicenter of culture, art, and nature. Known far and wide for hosting the continent's most expansive Indian handicraft market, Otavalo is more than just a marketplace. It's a tapestry of vibrant colors, intricate woodwork, and masterful weaving. Beyond the bustling stalls and the hum of barter, Otavalo's soul lies in its breathtaking backdrop. Majestic peaks, serene lakes, and untouched natural reserves cradle this town, while whispers of ancient Indian villages dance in the wind. Otavalo isn't just a destination; it's an experience, a journey into the heart of a land that time forgot.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Go FAR Offices / CarpeDM Offices will be the meeting point to start the tour in Quito, Ecuador. Located next to Secret Garden Hostel 7:20 am depart Quito Old Town 7.30 am depart Quito Hilton Colon New Town 9:00 am Bizcochos y Queso de Cayambe 9:30 am San pablo lake 10:15 am Plazas de Ponchos of Otavalo approx. 2hrs. 12:30 am Cotacachi Leather Market with a stop for lunch at typical Ecuadorian Restaurant 2.00 pm Peguche Waterfalls or Cuicocha lake (only one depending on numbers) 2:30 pm return to Quito 6.00 pm back in Quito
Sample the famous Cheese and Biscuits from Cayambe
San Pablo del Lago is a beautiful Lake. The surrounding mountains and volcano make for some breath-taking scenery. The surrounding area is filled with some amazing lodges, hotels and haciendas. Besides being an incredibly relaxing place to go, there are many recreational activities that can be enjoyed in the area.
Plaza de los Ponchos, also known as the Centennial Market, is the setting for the largest artisan fair in northern Ecuador. Located in the province of Imbabura in the town of Otavalo. The activity of the Plaza de Ponchos Ecuador is intended to market handicrafts, both locally, regionally, nationally and even internationally. The textiles of Otavalo are its flag of artisan production, however also offers other types of products made of wood, works of art with ceramics, wood, paint, metal etc..
Cotacachi is a small artisan town. Located in the Imbabura province, Ecuador. Cotacachi has amazing hot springs, lush forests, nature reserves, and snowy summits. Cotacachi's main production is leather goods. In the center of the town, there are dozens of shops with good quality leather products such as jackets, pants, belts, wallets, shoes, bags and more..
Cuicocha's famous lake rests inside a 3 km (2 mi) wide caldera that resulted from a massive explosion that occurred approximately 3,100 years ago. The volcano has been dormant ever since, but the volcanic ash that scattered as a result of that old eruption turned the area into one known for its nutrient-rich soils.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- What to bring:
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Extra snacks and water
- Face masks
- Hand sanitizer
Reviews(57)
We were picked up on time from our hotel lobby, as promised. The quality of the tour (comfortable van, guide, driver, information provided, points of interest, time allotted at each stop, etc) were well beyond expectation. Special thanks to our guide, Felipe, and our excellent driver!
Thank you so much for your wonderful and detailed review! We're delighted to hear that everything went smoothly from the moment we picked you up at your hotel, and that the quality of the tour exceeded your expectations. We put a lot of effort into making sure our guests have a comfortable vehicle, knowledgeable guide, reliable driver, and enough time to properly enjoy each stop along the way. Felipe will be very happy to receive your special thanks. We'll also make sure our driver knows how much you appreciated their excellent service. Thank you for choosing CarpeDM Adventures and for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Ecuador soon!
Wonderful day full of experiences in culture, food, and artisans!! Filipe was a fantastic guide! The education in Ecuador’s culture and food was the best part of the trip and the shopping was great!
Felipe was an excellent tour guide, very informative and we loved his attention to detail. The history of agave and Kichwa was our favorite part of the trip! Bizcochos bred and cheese was delicious as well.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such a great day with Felipe and that his knowledge and attention to detail made the experience even more enjoyable. It's especially wonderful to know that learning about the history of agave and Kichwa culture was a highlight of your trip. And we're very happy you enjoyed the traditional bizcochos and cheese! Local food is such an important part of discovering Ecuador, and we're glad this was another memorable part of your day. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Felipe. Thank you for choosing CarpeDM Adventures, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Ecuador soon!
Fantastic day tour. We loved Otavalo markets. Stui, our guide, was absolutely brilliant. He took care of everything and provided excellent information along the way, including the history of Quito (all in English). We highly recommend this tour company.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic day exploring the Otavalo region with us. The Otavalo Market is one of Ecuador's most iconic destinations, and we're so glad you enjoyed experiencing its vibrant culture, crafts, and traditions. Estuy will be thrilled to hear your kind words. He is passionate about sharing Ecuador's history, culture, and local traditions, and we're delighted that his knowledge and attention to detail helped make your day so enjoyable. We're especially pleased that you appreciated the explanations in English and felt well taken care of throughout the tour. Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing CarpeDM Adventures. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in Ecuador soon!
Felipe was an exceptional guide. We hired Carpediem for two days for private tours and he went above and beyond in working with our special requests.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed both of your private tours with Felipe. Creating personalized experiences is something we take great pride in, so it's wonderful to know that he was able to accommodate your special requests and go above and beyond to make your time in Ecuador memorable. Felipe will be thrilled to hear your kind words. His passion for sharing Ecuador and ensuring every guest has an exceptional experience truly shines through. Thank you for choosing CarpeDM Adventures. It was a pleasure to be part of your journey, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in Ecuador!
Felipe was my super helpful guide for the day. Had an AMAZING TIME! I saw everything I wanted to, plus more! Felipe had excellent suggestions, we even saw a parade. And he helped me with my Spanish. 😁 The sights, the drive with awesome music, and the people especially Felipe made it a unforgettable day. Thanks again, Felipe. You're the best. 😎
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We're absolutely delighted to hear that you had such an awesome day with Felipe! It’s wonderful to know that you were able to see everything you hoped for—and even a few unexpected surprises like the parade. Those spontaneous moments often become some of the best travel memories. Felipe will be thrilled to hear your kind words. He loves sharing Ecuador with our guests, offering local recommendations, and even helping visitors practice their Spanish along the way. We're so pleased that his enthusiasm, great music, and friendly personality helped make your day so memorable. Thank you again for choosing CarpeDM Adventures and for your fantastic recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in Ecuador. Until next time!
I had a fun day with Lincoln. It ended up just being the 2 of us. We had many laughs. I recommend bringing luggage with lots of room. There are lots of lovely things to but at Otovalo. Also the town of leather goods which is where we had a delicious lunch. The people at Otovalo were a bit pushy for me & it was difficult to just shop as they were doing the hard sell. I’m not a fan of that or crowds so not my thing ver went for a walk along a beautiful lake & Lincoln described many of the plants. Traffic back to Aquino was horrible.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We’re delighted to hear that you had a fun day with Lincoln and that the two of you shared plenty of laughs along the way. He’ll be very happy to know you enjoyed his company and appreciated learning about the local plants during your walk by the lake. It’s also great to hear that you enjoyed the delicious lunch and found some wonderful shopping opportunities in Otavalo and Cotacachi. Your advice about bringing extra luggage space is certainly a good tip for future travelers! We understand that the atmosphere in the Otavalo Market can feel a little overwhelming at times. As one of South America's largest indigenous markets, many vendors actively invite visitors to their stalls, and while some travelers enjoy the lively atmosphere, we appreciate that it isn't everyone's preferred shopping style. Unfortunately, traffic on the return journey to Quito can occasionally be heavy, especially in the late afternoon, but we're glad it didn't take away from what sounds like a memorable day overall. Thank you again for your thoughtful review. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Ecuador soon!
Travel to Ecuador, the most beautiful country in the world.
¡Muchísimas gracias por tu recomendación! Nos alegra saber que Ecuador te dejó una impresión tan especial. Creemos que nuestro país tiene una combinación única de paisajes, biodiversidad, cultura y gente maravillosa, y nos encanta poder compartir todo eso con nuestros viajeros. Gracias por confiar en nosotros para formar parte de tu aventura. Esperamos darte la bienvenida nuevamente para seguir descubriendo juntos más rincones increíbles de Ecuador. ¡Hasta la próxima!
Fun day exploring the countryside. In addition to visiting the Otovalo market, we stopped for bizcochos, had a lovely lunch & wandered around Parque Nacional Cotacachi.
Excellent tour. We visited beautiful places.Highly recommended. Felipe our guide was the best. He helped us plan our day . Felipe is an excellent guide.He gave us great advices for our stay in Quito.



