Best of Otavalo

In Ecuador’s northern highlands, the city of Otavalo is famed for its vibrant craft market — one of the best in South America. The laid-back town is the proud homeland of the indigenous Kichwa culture, and many residents still wear traditional clothing and maintain deep-rooted customs. Beyond the town, you’ll find mountain peaks and alpine lakes as well as smaller indigenous villages known for its artisans. 

A trail loops around the crater lake Cuicocha, created from a massive volcanic eruption some 3000 years ago. Boating excursions provide fine vantage points over the lake’s intra-caldera islands and unique wildlife (such as the silvery grebe).  You can also learn about the high-altitude flora and fauna on a guided hike around Mojanda Lake, lying beneath Fuya Fuya, an extinct volcano. A short hop from Otavalo, you can get a behind-the-scenes look at the workshops in the village of Peguche, which is known for its traditional weavers and flute makers.