Otavalo

Otavalo is an Andean town in northern Ecuador and one of South America's most important centres of Indigenous culture. It is world-famous for its traditional market at Plaza de los Ponchos, where the Kichwa-speaking Otavaleño people sell colourful handwoven textiles, ponchos, jewellery, and handicrafts. Surrounded by the Imbabura Volcano, Lago San Pablo, and the Cuicocha crater lake, Otavalo combines living traditions with spectacular Andean scenery. Nearby attractions include the sacred Peguche Waterfall and the town of Cotacachi, renowned for its high-quality leather goods. Otavalo is considered the cultural heart of Ecuador's Indigenous highlands and ranks among the country's most iconic travel destinations.