Otavalo Market & Andean Highlands: Private Tour from Quito

Seven hours across the Andes to the continent's biggest market for handicrafts

A private tour from Quito to Otavalo Market, the massive Saturday crafts market in Ecuador's Lakes Province, with stops at Peguche waterfall, Cotacachi leather town and mountain viewpoints. You'll drive two and a half hours north through the Guayllabamba Valley, browse thousands of traditionally-attired Quechua vendors selling textiles, artwork and livestock, walk to a sacred waterfall, and eat lunch in a leather-working town before returning with Andean views.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Otavalo Market and Highlands

• Drive 2.5 hours to Lakes Province
• Enjoy Guayllabamba Valley fruits
• Visit photography viewpoints
• Tour Otavalo Indian Market
• Walk to Peguche Waterfall
• Visit Cotacachi for leather goods
• Have lunch in Cotacachi

The experience

The drive north from Quito takes two and a half hours, crossing the Guayllabamba Valley where fruit stands line the road. Along the way, the route climbs through several viewpoints built for photography: the kind of stops that let you step out and frame the highlands without losing time. These breaks set up the main event: Otavalo Market, which sprawls across the town center every day but swells to its full size on Saturday, when it becomes one of South America's biggest crafts markets. Thousands of Quechua vendors in traditional dress fill the streets selling textiles, woven goods, artwork, livestock and clothing. The scale alone justifies the drive. The quality of the work is what keeps people coming back.

After the market, you'll walk to Peguche waterfall, a short trek that locals call a sacred place for renewing energy. Then the tour moves to Cotacachi, a town built around leather work: tanneries and leather shops line the streets, and lunch happens here, with typical regional dishes available at cheap prices. Guinea pig is on the menu if you want to try it. The return to Quito follows mountain roads with views of the Andes framing the descent.

Your guide speaks English and Spanish and handles all the logistics: pickup from your Quito hotel, park entry fees, and a bottle of water per person are included. The whole day runs seven to eight hours.

What’s included

• All sightseeing at Otavalo Market, Peguche waterfall and Cotacachi.
• private transportation from your Quito hotel.
• one bottle of water per person.
• English or Spanish-speaking certified guide.
• park admission fees.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (14 to 85 years) · Child (3 to 13 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Guide Ecuador Travel

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you're traveling as a small group or family and want to set your own pace at the market without rushing through the other stops. The fixed route covers the main attractions of the Lakes Province in a single day, but your guide can linger longer at whichever site interests you most.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 13 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What is Otavalo Market actually like when I get there?

Otavalo Market is a massive open-air crafts market that fills the town center, with thousands of vendors, many in traditional Quechua dress, selling handmade textiles, woven goods, artwork, jewelry and livestock. It runs every day but reaches its full size on Saturday. The scale is what makes it one of South America's biggest markets. The quality of the handicrafts is what draws exporters from around the world.

Is the walk to Peguche waterfall difficult?

Peguche is described as a short walk, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The waterfall is a local sacred site where people come to renew their energy.

Can I eat lunch in Cotacachi, and what are the options?

Cotacachi is known as the Leather Town and has several typical restaurants serving regional dishes at cheap prices. Guinea pig is available if you want to try it, and you'll have time to eat during the stop there.

What viewpoints are included on the drive back to Quito?

The route includes several photography viewpoints in the highlands on the way north, and the return journey offers amazing views of the Andes as you descend back toward Quito.