Otavalo Marketplace and Cotacachi Town from Quito
Description
A full-day trip from Quito to Otavalo city, passing through some of the most important towns in the northern Ecuadorian sierra. Witness the most beautiful landscapes of the highlands and have a taste of its delicacies on the way to Otavalo. Take some time to shop in the market (only on Saturdays) and then head to Cotacachi valley. Includes lunch.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The trip starts early in the morning driving north of Quito towards one of the most famous indigenous market in Ecuador: Otavalo. The first stop en-route will be at Calderon, a small town famous for “Mazapan” handicrafts. Following, you will stop at Cayambe, also famous for its salt biscuits with “leaf cheese” and “manjar”, delicacy you can have a small taste of if you’d like to make stop. Next stop will be a view point to enjoy the landscape of Imbabura volcano (4610 mts.) and San Pablo lagoon.
Afterwards, we will enter Otavalo, that holds an Indian Market every Saturday, an ancient tradition and cultural exchange site among the Otavalo community. You my do some shopping in the market, from handicrafts to artisanal made clothing, or you may witness and photograph the site. We will then continue towards the peaceful Cotacachi Village, famous for its leather and meet the local craftsmen. We will head back to Quito in the late afternoon. Note: Otavalo holds the local market on Saturdays only. There are usually some exchange activities on Tuesdays, but it depends on the Otavalo villagers. * IMPORTANT NOTE: For Tuesday & Saturdays departures (open departures), meet wtih your guide and fellow travellers at 6:45am at the centrally located meeting point at Mariscal Barrio at 6:45am. For Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun departures, the guide will pick you up at the your hotel in Quito around 8:00 - 9:00am (time will be confirmed on your service voucher).
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Departure Point: Tuesday & Saturdays: (Meeting Point) Barrio Mariscal in Quito - Ecuador (Magic Bean Restaurant or Q Restaurant, both located at Barrio Mariscal at Mariscal Foch y Juan León Mera). Note: The exact point of departure will be informed upon confirmation. Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun: Your hotel in Quito - Please inform us of your hotel of stay (hotels within the urban perimeter ONLY). Address: Tuesday & Saturdays: (Meeting Point): Magic Bean Restaurant or "Q" Restaurant located at Barrio Mariscal at Mariscal y Juan León Mera (Quito - Ecuador) IMPORTANT NOTE: A voucher will be sent with the exact place and time to start the tour. Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun: Your hotel in Quito - Please inform us of your hotel of stay (hotels within the urban perimeter ONLY). Dates: See Availability Return point: Tuesday & Saturdays: (Meeting Point): Magic Bean Restaurant or "Q" Restaurant located at Barrio Mariscal at Mariscal y Juan León Mera (Quito - Ecuador) IMPORTANT NOTE: A voucher will be sent with the exact place and time to start the tour. Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun: Your hotel in Quito - Please inform us of your hotel of stay (hotels within the urban perimeter ONLY). Tuesday & Saturdays: (Meeting Point) 6:50 am. Please arrive at the meeting point (La Mariscal) at least 10 min before departure time Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun: (your hotel in Quito - Hotels within the urban perimeter ONLY) 8h30 - 9h00am. Starting time may change. The pick-up time will be confirmed in the Service Voucher send by the Tour Operator through the Viator platform. Note: Please be ready at your hotel lobby 10 min before departure time.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Reviews(4)
The service was excellent, even for a small hour. Our guide, Christian, was very knowledgeable and he was kind to all the travelers. Transportation was comfortable and the food was pretty good. We also enjoyed the cultural insights that the guides at all the places we went to would provide. We will definitely book more trips with them!
Dear N7206AAmaric, Thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful experience with us! We’re so pleased to hear that your family had a comfortable and enjoyable day trip. It’s fantastic to know that Christian stood out with his knowledge and kindness, and that every aspect of the trip—from the transportation to the food and the cultural insights—contributed to a memorable experience. We can’t wait to welcome you back for more adventures. Thank you for trusting us with your family’s journey! NATURE GALAPAGOS & ECUADOR TEAM
Our tour guide is Ivan (if I spell his name correctly). He is on time when picking us up from the hotel. He also introduces us Ecuadorian traditions and cultures. He took us to Otavalo Marketplace and Cuicocha Lake. The lunch is great! Thank you so much.
Dear Sophia Yes, you spelled it right :) We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your Otavalo Day tour. Otavalo is most definitely an amazing site, filled with culture and tradition. We will make sure to let Ivan know your thoughts. We are very pleased to hear you enjoyed lunch as well. Thanks for your review and good look with your next trip! Regards
<p>This was a great tour! Our tour guides were very helpful and gave us lots of information. One of the highlights was stopping at the Equator in Cayambe. This stop is better than the more popular Mitad del Mundo on the West side of Quito. The landscape is beautiful and you get to stop at some great places to take pictures. We went on a Tuesday and the market in Otavalo wasn't as large as I expected. I found there to be more shopping and better prices in Quito. The drive and exploration of the country side was worth the trip for sure!</p>
