The small town of Otavalo is located 3 hours’ drive north of Quito and is surrounded by verdant valleys and hills. Its daily mark et sells traditional handicrafts and brightly coloured hand-woven textiles while the local Otavaleño people wear distinctive blue clothing.
Indigenous villages nestle in the beautiful countryside and specialise in certain traditional crafts including weaving, leatherwork and woodcarving. The region can be visited as a day trip from Quito or combined with an overnight stay at a colonial hacienda.