Otavalo Market Tour: Ponchos Square & Cuicocha from Quito

Six hours through Ecuador's craft heartland: markets, a volcanic lagoon, and biscuits still warm from the oven.

A full-day tour from Quito to Otavalo and Cotacachi in Imbabura Province covers the Plaza de los Ponchos handicraft market, a workshop making traditional Andean instruments, Cuicocha lagoon in a volcanic crater, and the leather-working town of Cotacachi. The route includes a stop in Cayambe for a tasting of local biscuits, dulce de leche and leaf cheese, plus a viewpoint over Imbabura volcano and San Pablo Lake. A guide leads the group in English or Spanish, with hotel pickup from Quito included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day tour of Otavalo and Cotacachi

• Taste traditional breakfast in Cayambe
• Visit Miralago viewpoint for photos
• Explore Ponchos Square handicrafts
• Visit Andean instrument workshop
• Walk around Cuicocha lagoon
• Lunch and chocolate tasting in Cotacachi

The experience

The day starts an hour and a half north of Quito in Cayambe, where you taste fresh biscuits still warm from the oven alongside dulce de leche and leaf cheese. A traditional breakfast you watch being made. From there, a brief stop at Miralago viewpoint frames Imbabura volcano and San Pablo Lake for photographs before the route climbs into Otavalo itself.

The Plaza de los Ponchos is the core of the day: a market where Otavaleño artisans sell ponchos, scarves, alpargatas (traditional woven footwear), wooden sculptures, leather goods and textiles. You move through it at your own pace, watching merchants at work and choosing what to buy. A separate visit to an Andean instrument workshop lets you see how traditional instruments are made and hear Ecuadorian music played on them. The pace is unhurried enough that both stops feel like time to browse, not a rushed checklist.

Cuicocha lagoon, formed inside a volcanic crater, sits in what locals call the province of lakes. A short, easy walk circles part of the water's edge, giving you time to photograph the lagoon and the surrounding peaks. Lunch happens in Cotacachi, a town known for leather work (handbags, jackets, footwear), where you have free time to eat and explore. The tour ends with a stop at a chocolate shop to taste Ecuadorian chocolate before the return to Quito.

What’s included

• Tasting of traditional Cayambe biscuits, dulce de leche and leaf cheese.
• hotel pickup from Quito.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• visit to the Andean instrument workshop.
• entry to Cuicocha lagoon and the short walking path around it.
• time to browse and shop at the Plaza de los Ponchos.
• free time for lunch in Cotacachi.
• chocolate tasting at a local shop.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except ThursdayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (under 18)

GroupUp to 10 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Operadora Turística Enjoy Ecuador

Is this one for you?The six- to eight-hour window fits a full day from Quito without an overnight stay, letting you see three towns and two major stops (the market and the lagoon) in one outing. If you want to linger longer in any single place or prefer a faster pace through more stops, a private tour or a different itinerary might suit you better.

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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: Youth (under 18).

What can I actually buy at the Otavalo market, and how much time do I get there?

The Plaza de los Ponchos sells ponchos, scarves, alpargatas (traditional woven footwear), traditional Otavalo pants, wooden sculptures, paintings, leather goods and textiles. The itinerary gives you time to browse and make purchases at your own pace, though the exact duration is not fixed. It depends on the group's interests.

Is the walk around Cuicocha lagoon difficult?

Cuicocha lagoon sits in a volcanic crater and the walk around it is described as small and easy, designed for photography and sightseeing rather than hiking. It is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What exactly is the Cayambe tasting, and is it a full breakfast?

The Cayambe stop includes a traditional tasting of coffee, biscuits, dulce de leche and leaf cheese, served in a cozy restaurant where you can watch the biscuits being baked. It is a tasting rather than a full meal, and you will have lunch later in Cotacachi.

What is Cotacachi known for, and what do I do there?

Cotacachi is famous for leather work: artisans there make handbags, jackets, footwear and other leather goods. You have free time for lunch in the town and can browse the leather shops if you wish.