The Best Otavalo Market Tour + San Pablo Lake + Cayambe + Cotacachi
Description
This is a fun and relaxing tour of Otavalo Market. You will make stops at great foodie sites, check out a beautiful lake, visit the Quitsato sundial, have a great cup of Ecuadorian coffee, savor some tasty bizcochos and string cheese, have the best slice of pie in Ecuador, enjoy lunch at a gourmet sandwich and burger stop in Cotacachi (Leather town) and shop till you drop at the renowned Otavalo Indigenous marketplace. It´s all about having fun, eating great food, and enjoying life as a local in Ecuador.
Tour Options
Itinerary
One of our first stops on the tour is the lovely city of Cayambe. You will get to drive by the unique city center and plazas as you make your way to the best Bizcocho (biscuits) and String Cheese factory in Ecuador. The bizcochos are made fresh and from scratch every day. You get to see them being made and placed in the traditional ovens. These bizcochos are very tasty and combined with the string cheese make a delicious morning snack. You can also savor the dulce de leche (caramel) and have a quick cup of coffee or hot chocolate. This stop is the perfect cure for morning sluggishness.
Once we arrive at Otavalo we will head to the renowned Plaza de Los Ponchos. The indigenous Otavalo people are famous for weaving textiles, usually made of wool, which are sold at the famous market. Saturdays see the market expand throughout the city but any other day you will find vendors and stands at the Mercado de Los Ponchos. The shops sell textiles such as handmade blankets, tablecloths, handicrafts, paintings, and much more. I love the Otavalo market, you can always find something interesting or quirky to take back home as souvenirs or to decorate your home. Its always fun to haggle with the vendors and hear their stories.
We will stop at Lago (Lake) San Pablo for some reflection time in the midst of the beautiful and peaceful surroundings. There is a chance to find ancestral kayaks used for races in the lake by locals. I had a chance to experience these ancestral kayaks and its a strange but wonderful experience. If we schedule this before hand there are small boats that take you around the lake, its a cool experience.
Cotacachi is a lovely Andean town in the middle of the mountains. The town is beautiful, very well kept, organized and picturesque. You feel safe and not crowded as you walk down Cotacachi´s main street where you will find the best leather products in Ecuador. Cotacachi has always been famous for its leather products such as jackets, purses, wallets, belts, shoes, etc. Nowadays, new local fashion designers have created beautiful and unique leather products which you can shop for. Many of my past clients have been looking for the perfect leather jacket and have found it in Cotacachi. After some window shopping, we will have lunch at a great sandwich and burger place that uses artisanal bread, local beef and makes the freshest and most delicious treats in town. If you are a coffee lover like me, we will head for an after lunch coffee at a new hipster cool coffee lounge in Cotacachi. Trust me, this place serves a mean coffee.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up from hotels in urban Quito and close to the Tababela Quito airport. For pick-up in the Valley of Los Chillos an extra $20 USD per group will be charged.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(23)
Sergio was very knowledgeable. We saw everything we wanted to. For the beginning of the drive conversation was minimal. Felt that we could have gotten more information and knowledge during that time. Best when we initiated conversations.
Hi Shannon, thanks for your good review. I'm glad you had a good time with Sergio. I'll let him know about being more talkative next time around.
Andres did an amazing job showing our friend group parts of Quito on our way to Otavalo. He shared so much information about the area and the history of the highlands. We enjoyed the local Biscottis and coffee. The Museo Solar was something that should not be missed. The highlands tour is a must. Andres was a fantastic host and guide for our trip to this beautiful area.
Hi Colleen, thanks for the amazing review. I had a blast with y'all. Hope you had a great time in Ecuador. Cheers!
It's a great trip. Andreas was a wonderful guide. Showed us more places than what was in the ad. He was knowledgeable,interesting and pleasant to spend the day with.
Hi guys, thanks for the great review. I had a great time with you guys during the whole trip. Hope you had a blast in Ecuador. Cheers!
We had a very good trip at the two markets and solar museum and the bisnocho place. Diego is a great guide, friendly and knowledgeable. I spent more time than scheduled in the Otavalo market which pushed the return time more than an hour late and there was traffic coming back. Diego waited patiently. While in the solar museum Diego showed us around the Agavae garden and gave us detailed explanation on each variety. It was a great experience. Learned a lot at solar museum. Bisnocho was delicious. Lunch was very tasty, bought what I like in the markets. Highly recommend this trip and highly recommend Diego.
Hi Jenny, thanks for your wonderful review :) Im so happy you had a great time in Otavalo with Diego. He is a great guide!
Our guide was Jean Pierre Segovia. He was absolutely amazing taught us so so much about Equador. We had the most amazing day. He was happy to go with the flow and move at our pace. 1000% recommend.
Hi Alisha, thanks for the wonderful review! Jean Pierre is an amazing guide, glad you had a great tour. Cheers!
Andreas was a great guide, chatty and full of knowledge. We had a full day out from 9am to 6pm. We visited the equator museum, biscuit and cheese making shop, Otavalo, Cayembe and Cotacachi. We learnt a lot about the local culture and Ecuador. Would definitely recommend this trip
Hi Lisa, thanks for the great review. It was a fun day in Otavalo, cayambe and cotacachi. You guys were great. Hope Galapagos was amazing. Cheers!
Awesome experience!! Our tour guide spoke good English was very friendly and the trip was totally customizable to our interests and needs.
Hi Ruth, Im so happy you had a great time visiting Otavalo. Hope the rest of your visit in Ecuador was awesome! Cheers!
Awesome Friendly Knowledgeable Flexible Educational I feel like I totally understand Ecuador culture and economics
Hi Daniel, thanks for your wonderful review. I totally get it Jean Pierre is a fantastic guide! Im so happy you had a great tour with JP. Cheers!
Jean Pierre made The Best Otavalo Market Tour + San Pablo Lake + Cayambe + Cotacachi an unforgettable experience! He was professional, caring, fun, and incredibly knowledgeable about every stop on the tour. His enthusiasm and attention to detail ensured everyone felt welcomed and engaged. Jean Pierre’s dedication and passion for his work truly shine—he’s a gem of a guide. Highly recommend!
Hi Kemberly thanks for the amazing review on our guide Jean Pierre. He is awesome and always delivers when it comes to the Otavalo tour. I'll see you today for the cooking class. Cheers!
Excellent tour of markets and a few bonus points. Galapagos Connoisseur LLC did a wonderful job. We were picked up on time at our Hotel. Our guide, Gean Pierre was most attentive to what we wanted to do on the day tour. We got everything accomplished and never felt rushed. The time in the car was filled with information on a wide range of subjects that came to mind. Our brief time in Quito was really enhanced by going to these markets. We walked away with travel treasures that would otherwise not be found. Thanks so much Gean for your knowledge and support.
Hi Randy, thanks for the wonderful review. I'm so happy you had a great trip to Otavalo Market with JP. Cheers!
