Otavalo is a small city in the northern part of Ecuador, located about two and a half hours by bus from Quito. It is most famous for the Saturday artisan market, where indigenous tribes from the region come into the city to sell their products and handicrafts. Many people visit only to see the market, but Otavalo and the surrounding areas have much more to offer.
I stopped in Otavalo for a couple of days after crossing the border from Colombia. I arrived on a Saturday in time to check out the market. The city itself is not particularly large but the market fills the entire Plaza de Ponchos and runs up the main street all the way to the church square. There were all manner of products for sale: handcrafted wooden instruments, jewelry, woven sweaters and textiles, trinkets, spices, fruits and vegetables, dried nuts and grains, and clothing. I’m not a souvenir person (I have enough to carry in my bag already!) but it was nice just to wander the rows of stalls and look at the wares offered.
Later in the evening, I took a walk down to the Plaza de Ponchos. In the plaza, there were several groups of musicians with locals dancing to the music. They would form circles around the musicians and march to the music. It was fun to watch the local pastime for a Saturday night.
Nearby to Otavalo, just a 45 minute walk from the city center is Peguche Falls. It is a pretty place to visit if you have extra time in Otavalo. It was a bit crowded with tour groups when I went but the falls itself is still pretty. Just don’t expect it to be secluded.
In contrast, a visit to Cuicocha Lake is a must if you’re in Otavalo area. Located a little less than an hour outside of Otavalo, the lake sits in the crater of an old volcano, with the volcano Cotacachi behind. The lake is very picturesque, with two conical islands in the center and deep blue water. There is a trail that encircles the entire lake. I spent a very enjoyable four hours trekking around the lake, admiring the views from the different angles, and chatting with people I met along the trail. It was certainly one of the highlights of my Otavalo experience.
There are other places of interest to see in the area that I didn’t make it to, such as Fuya Fuya volcano and Lago San Pablo. You could easily spend a few days there doing various hikes and visiting the nearby villages. I would at least recommend to try to time your trip to coincide with the Saturday market, while still allowing time for a visit to Laguna Cuicocha. It is well worth the visit.
Getting to Otavalo from Quito is relatively easy as there are buses leaving throughout the day from the north station. The journey takes about two and a half hours and costs around $3.50.
From Ibarra, there are buses departing frequently for Otavalo. The bus ride takes only half an hour and costs $0.25.
Laguna Cuicocha:
Laguna Cuicocha is reached by a combination of bus and taxi from Otavalo. There are frequent buses leaving for the village of Cotacachi from the Otavalo bus terminal. Take one of these as far as the village of Quiroga (price is around $0.35). From Quiroga, you can either hike the 10km to the lake along the road or take a taxi ($6 is the normal price).
- Try to plan your visit to Otavalo to be there on a Saturday. The market is much smaller other days, so even if it’s not your main reason to visit, it’s still worth timing your trip to include the Saturday market.
- Try to find a friend or two at your hostel before heading to Laguna Cuicocha – taxi is the only option for the final stretch and it’s much better to split the cost. It’s also fun to make new friends to hike the lake with of course!
- The hike around Laguna Cuicocha takes at least 3-4 hours so make sure you bring plenty of water and maybe some snacks. It is a great hike though with beautiful views of the lake from every angle – definitely worth the effort to visit!
