Otavalo Market Day Trip: Indigenous Crafts & Leather Goods

The market runs strongest on Saturday and Wednesday, but handcrafts fill the stalls every day of the week.

A private day trip from Quito to Otavalo, Ecuador's most famous indigenous market, where you browse handmade textiles, ceramics, leather and metalwork at Plaza de los Ponchos. The route includes a stop in Cayambe for local salt biscuits, a view of Imabura Volcano across a mountain lake, and a final hour in Cotacachi, a town known for leather jackets and bags. A local guide in English or Spanish travels with you; pickup from your Quito hotel and a bottle of water are included. The full day runs 7 to 8 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Otavalo Market and surroundings

• Drive north from Quito
• Stop at Cayambe for local snacks
• View lake with Imabura Volcano background
• Arrive at Otavalo town market
• Explore Plaza de los Ponchos market
• Visit Cotacachi leather goods town
• Drive back to Quito

The Experience

What makes Otavalo worth the drive north from Quito? The market itself—Plaza de los Ponchos—is where indigenous weavers and artisans from the surrounding villages sell directly. You'll find handmade textiles, tapestries, knitted sweaters, hats and gloves in colors that fill the stalls, along with ceramics, wood carvings, silver and leather work. Prices are low enough that bargaining is part of the rhythm, and the variety means you're not hunting for one specific thing—you're walking through what the region actually makes. The market has the most activity on Saturdays and Wednesdays, but it runs every day.

The route builds in two other stops that break up the drive and add texture to the day. Cayambe, on the way north, is known locally for bizcocho—salt biscuits usually eaten with local cheese and milk caramel—and you'll have a chance to taste them. As you continue toward Otavalo, the landscape opens to a lake with Imabura Volcano rising in the background. Then comes the market itself, where you spend the bulk of the afternoon. Your guide handles the commentary in English or Spanish, and the pace is yours—you move through the stalls at whatever speed makes sense.

The last stop is Cotacachi, just 10 minutes from Otavalo, a town built around leather goods. Leather jackets, bags and smaller items line the shops, and prices here are also negotiable. After that, the drive back to Quito takes the afternoon. Your private vehicle and driver stay with you the whole day, and a bottle of water is included. The full outing runs 7 to 8 hours door to door.

What’s included

• Private vehicle and driver for the full day.
• local guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup from Quito.
• bottle of water.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessible

Operated by Ecuador Local Guide

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so choose based on which language you're comfortable following for commentary on the route and the market itself. This tour suits anyone who wants to browse and buy at their own pace without the pressure of a group schedule—you move through the stalls as slowly or quickly as you want, and the driver waits.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Otavalo market, and who sells there?

Plaza de los Ponchos is an indigenous market where weavers and artisans from villages around Otavalo sell handmade textiles, tapestries, ceramics, wood, silver, leather and metalwork directly to visitors. The stalls are colorful and crowded, and prices are low enough that bargaining is expected and part of the experience.

When is the best time to visit the Otavalo market?

The market runs every day, but it has the most activity and the fullest selection on Saturdays and Wednesdays. If you're flexible on which day you travel, those are the days when the stalls are most crowded and the variety is at its peak.

What other towns do we stop in on the way to Otavalo?

The route includes Cayambe, where you can taste bizcocho (local salt biscuits) served with cheese and milk caramel, and Cotacachi, a town 10 minutes south of Otavalo known for leather jackets and bags. You'll also pass a mountain lake with Imabura Volcano in the background.

Is this tour private, and does it include pickup from my hotel?

Yes, this is a private tour with your own vehicle and driver for the full day. Hotel pickup from Quito is included, and your guide speaks English or Spanish depending on which you prefer.

What's included in the price, and what should I budget for separately?

The tour includes private transport, a local guide, hotel pickup and a bottle of water. Food and drinks are not included, so you'll want to budget for meals and any purchases you make at the market or in Cotacachi.