Full-Day Private Tour: of Artisan Markets North of Quito

Three towns, three crafts: textiles, leather and carved wood in a single day

A full-day private tour from Quito visiting three artisan towns north of the city — Otavalo, Cotacachi and San Antonio — with a professional guide, hotel pickup and lunch included. You walk through South America's largest textile market, browse leather workshops and meet families who have carved wood for generations. The route covers the northern highlands and the guide speaks English or Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit markets and artisans north of Quito

• Pick up at hotel in Quito
• Drive to Otavalo and visit Plaza de Ponchos market
• Shop textiles and handicrafts in Otavalo
• Drive to Cotacachi leather artisans
• Lunch in Cotacachi
• Visit wood carvers in San Antonio town

The Experience

The tour starts with pickup at your hotel and a drive north to Otavalo, home to the Plaza de Ponchos — the biggest indigenous textile market in South America. You have time to walk through stalls of woven goods, alpaca blankets and handicrafts, and bargaining with vendors is expected and part of the rhythm of the place. The market fills with color and movement, and the scale of it means you can spend as long as you want browsing without feeling rushed.

After Otavalo, the route continues to Cotacachi, a town known for leather work. You'll see artisans making bags, belts and jackets, often at prices lower than you'd find in the city. Lunch happens here. The final stop is San Antonio, a small village where families have been carving wood for more than three generations — you can watch the work happening and buy pieces directly from the makers.

The full day runs eight to ten hours and covers the northern landscapes of the highlands. A professional guide travels with you the whole time, handling the driving and explaining what you're seeing. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as is bottled water throughout the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• private guide in English or Spanish.
• professional driver.
• lunch.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• all activities at the three towns.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by GREEN ADVENTURES

Is this one for you?A private tour means you set the pace at each market and the guide adapts to what interests you — if you want to spend extra time with a particular artisan or haggling in the textile stalls, you can. A shared group tour would move you through on a fixed schedule, but this one is built around your preferences and your group only.

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Top questions

What is the Otavalo market actually like when I get there?

Otavalo Market, or Plaza de Ponchos, is the largest indigenous textile market in South America. You'll find woven textiles, alpaca blankets, handicrafts and goods from local vendors. Bargaining is expected and is part of how the market works — vendors will quote a higher price first, and the back-and-forth is normal.

Do I need to speak Spanish to shop and get around?

Your guide speaks English or Spanish and travels with you all day, so language is not a barrier. The guide can help with communication at the markets and in the towns, and can explain what you're looking at.

What kind of leather products will I see in Cotacachi?

Cotacachi is known for leather workshops where artisans make bags, belts, jackets and other leather goods. You'll see the work being made and can buy directly from the makers at prices that are often better than city shops.

How much time do I spend at each stop?

The tour is structured around three towns, and you spend enough time at each one to walk around, shop and see the artisans at work. The exact timing depends on your interests, but the full day runs eight to ten hours including the drive from Quito and lunch.

Are children welcome on this tour?

Children from age two are welcome. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available. Children must be accompanied by an adult.