Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To really experience the local culture, take a tour with a local operator
into the surrounding villages to see the natives hard at work. Not only
is it a culturally rewarding experience, but you will appreciate the la-
bor that goes into your purchased goods. It's also a great way to expe-
rience life outside of market day. Each village in the region
specializes in one particular product that is brought to market in
Otavalo. For instance, one community may monopolize a certain type
of poncho, while people in a neighboring village may work only on
sweaters. For these and other local excursions, see the
Adventures on
Foot
section, page132.
Otavalo is less than two hours north of Quito via the Pan-American
Highway. Modern services are available in town. See
Visitor Informa-
tion
, page 119, for details. FromQuito's main bus terminal, there are
many companies with service to Otavalo, but most of them will just
drop you off on the highway, and that is assuming you are paying at-
tention. Recommended are the bus lines
Cooperativo Otavalo
or
Cooperativo Los Lagos
, as they both will take you to the new bus
station in town. A nice alternative is
Supertaxis Los Lagos
in
Quito, at Asuncion 3-81,
2-2565-992. Fromyour hotel, expect to pay
under $10 for the trip to Otavalo in these Otavalo-bound shuttles.
Cotacachi
Less than an hour's drive northwest of Otavalo is the small town of
Cotacachi, famous for the high quality leather goods produced there.
It may be worth a quick glance if you're in the market for inexpensive
leather. The surrounding area offers a few high-end converted haci-
enda-style accommodations, but the main attraction of this area is a
specific portion of the
Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve
,
punctuated by the magnificent emerald crater of
Lake Cuicocha
(see pages 140-41). To get to the town, follow the Pan-AmericanHigh-
way nine miles north from Otavalo. Buses are frequent between the
two towns, or you can catch a bus coming from Quito to the north, if
you stand on the side of the main highway out of Otavalo (the Pan-
American).
Ibarra
Ibarra is the provincial capital of Imbabura, a quaint colonial town
that is home to over 100,000 people. With typical whitewashed colo-
nial architecture, cobblestone streets, and pleasantly adorned parks,
Ibarra is a relaxing change of pace from bustling Quito and Otavalo
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