3-day Otavalo trip with local community tour

Otavalo is a couple of hours north of Quito, and on arrival you’ll check-in at a small, locally-owned colonial hotel near the centre of the town. After you’ve settled in the rest of the day are yours to explore. Otavalo isn’t all that big so you can see a lot on foot, and there are some great places to eat and drink. The star attraction is Otavalo Market – a hive of activity where the locals buy and sell fresh produce, and one of the best places in Ecuador to buy handcrafted textiles and souvenirs. Saturdays are particularly lively with people travelling from all over the country to buy and sell.

This morning you’ll set off to explore the valley. Your guide will be driving you to see some of the smaller villages in the area, where indigenous traditions and skills have remained more or less the same for centuries. It’s a fascinating look at life in this part of the world, you’ll meet local people who’ll show you how they make their wares, from the traditional hats to reed mats and colourful textiles. You can even pay a visit a shaman for a ceremonial cleansing! You’ll be back in Otavalo in the afternoon, ready to enjoy the town for another evening.

After breakfast this morning it’ll be time to carry on your Ecuadorian adventure, but just let us know if you’d rather spend a little more in the highlands and we can easily add an extra night!