Otavalo & Cotacachi, Ecuador

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Otavalo and Cotacachi are two highland towns in Ecuador's Imbabura Province, sitting in the Andean valley north of Quito at elevations above 2,500 metres. Otavalo is world-famous for its Saturday indigenous market — one of the largest in South America — where Kichwa vendors sell textiles, handicrafts, and traditional clothing in a tradition stretching back centuries. Nearby Cotacachi is renowned as Ecuador's leather-goods capital, with its main street lined with workshops and shops crafting bags, jackets, and belts. The surrounding landscape draws outdoor enthusiasts with volcanic peaks like Cotacachi and Imbabura, as well as the stunning crater lake Laguna Cuicocha, making the area a rewarding blend of culture, craft, and Andean nature.