Tourist attractions in Ecuador
Cotacachi volcano
Cotacachi volcano
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CotacachiNearby attractions
Places to visit within 30 km.
Cuicocha Lagoon
Cuicocha lagoon, also called “Lagoon of the Gods” or “Tsui Cocha”, is located in the Cotacachi-Cayapas natural reserve, 13 km from Cotacachi canton, province of Imbabura, northern of Ecuador. It originated from the Cotacachi volcano implosion and has 2 islets in its center. The translation of its name would be “Lagoon of Guinea Pigs” because of the presence of these animals in its islets. Its most representative plant is the totora “typha” and its waters are translucent and bluish. The visitors can take boat trips through the islets Yerovi and Teodoro Wolf and the “Dreamy Canal”; they can also practice diving, kayaking or trekking along the path that surrounds it. A legend tells that Cotacachi volcano was the son of the “Rucu Pichincha” (old man) and of the Cotacachi or “Huarmi Huasi” (female hill), and one day the two mountains argued and the father took the son (the “Guagua Pichincha”, a mountain located next to the city of Quito). In the site there was a hole which later became a lagoon because of the mother’s tears. Cuicocha has the form of an enclosed bowl between mountains. By visiting the islets it is possible to observe bubbles in the water, which emerge from the depths in gushes. Supposedly, the lagoon has no bottom. Several people have testified that they saw a mermaid or an ancient city on its vicinity. Here, mysterious phenomena happen, such as the sudden change of the wind’s direction, it is said that this happens when Cuicocha is angry with the visitors and there also are disappearances, screams and weird sounds. The water’s mirror is attractive for its color, but it also frightens, shudders. There is the legend of the gild guinea pig; the first person in seeing it becomes rich, and the second one changes into a duck.
7.89 Km.
Otavalango Museum
Contributes to the conservation and revitalization of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Kichwa Otavalo people, through research, tourism development and cultural education. It shows the customs and traditions of the Otavaleño people, they demonstrate their ancestral clothing and indicate how the fabrics are, in addition they present their dance and music. You can enjoy how they perform the interpretations of the festivities of the Otavaleño people such as: the indigenous marriage, the wake, the music, among other native ceremonies. Location Located 5 minutes from downtown Otavalo. Barrio San Juan, via Antigua a Quiroga #1230, Old San Pedro factory. Entry price Adults $5.00 Children (up to 12 years old) $2.50 Seniors $2.50
16.25 Km.
Ñanda Mañachi Musical Instruments Workshop
Ñanda Mañachi is a philosophy of life. They are two words that express solidarity in the Andean world. Connected with the "randi randi", the giving and giving or collaboration in the villages of the Ecuadorian highlands. Ñanda Mañachi is translated into Spanish as "lend me the road". It is the name of the gallery-workshop of handicrafts of the Pichamba family, community of Peguche, canton Otavalo, province of Imbabura, in the north of Ecuador. José Luis Pichamba is about to complete 5 decades dedicated to the making of Andean musical instruments. He transmitted his knowledge, or rather inherited it, to his 8 children. The family enterprise has now diversified its offer. His daughters make earrings and necklaces with native designs and dream catchers against nightmares. The Otavalos are an indigenous group from Imbabura. They are a people of musicians, artisans and merchants. Their culture, known internationally, attracts tourists to Peguche. The Pichamba take advantage of this to also offer traditional food and music in their workshop-gallery. The palla, a small rondador typical of Otavalo, takes shape and sound in the skillful hands of José Luis. The workshop is also an exhibition centre for musical instruments from Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, the Andean area. From its walls hang rondadores, quenas, toyos, charangos, bandolines, guitars. Pichamba as a musician plays various wind, string and percussion instruments. In his business he also sells records of the group Ñanda Mañachi. Ñanda Mañachi is a musical group of internationally famous Otavalan Indians. They are about to celebrate 50 years of career. José Pichamba was a founding member. In 1973, with the participation of 18 indigenous communities of Peguche, Zuleta and Angochagua, 70 indigenous people received training as musicians with Professor Alfonso Cachiguango.
16.92 Km.
Cotacachi National Park - Cayapas
This natural treasure, with a high scenic and landscape potential, is located approximately two hours from Quito. To get to the Upper Zone, take the Panamericana Norte to the city of Cotacachi, from there, continue for 12 kilometers of paved road until you enter the protected area. This protected area was created on August 29, 1968 and has an area of 243,638 hectares. “This nature reserve has several tourist facilities that attract the user. We have activities such as hiking, boat rides, lodging, food and guiding services from the surrounding communities”. Currently, the Public Tourism Company of Cotacachi has under its administration the lodging cabins, the restaurant and the boat ride. Location Located in the provinces of Esmeraldas and Imbabura, it constitutes one of the most important conservation areas in the world, as it belongs to the Chocó Biogeographical Region, a neotropical natural corridor with great biodiversity. Hours of Service Reserve Cotacachi- Cayapas Monday to Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cost Ecological Reserve Cotacachi-Cayapas Admission is free
17.56 Km.
Otavalo Indigenous Market
The most famous indigenous market of Ecuador is the one of Otavalo canton, northern of Quito city. Its unique beauty in South America lies in the kindness of the Otavaleños indigenous, the extraordinary offer of traditional products and the experience of the Ecuadorian Andean culture, full of tradition frozen in time. Saturday is a unique day to visit Otavalo, because its market spreads all over the city, having the “Plaza de los Ponchos” as its center, where the traditional market is located. It is the only day of the week in which lots of diversity in the production of clothes and fabrics can be appreciated, since the rest of the days the commercial activity is reduced to the Plaza and the shops that are around it. At the market you can find: ponchos, sweaters, armadillo charangos, paintings, jewelry, craftworks, tapestries, etc. The best offers and prices are achieved by haggling and walking up the distant streets, as Otavalo is a single market. The modern economic and textile boom of the Otavaleños dates back to 1960. Otavalo products are now found in the markets of the world, in South America, the United States, Europe or Asia. The surroundings of Otavalo also offer much to the visitor. It is easy to go to Peguche, San José de la Bolsa, Selva Alegre, Cotama, Agato and Ilumán, to appreciate the textile skills of the indigenous people directly or to buy their productions directly from the artisans. In Cotacachi there is a large leather industry and in San Antonio there is the wood carving. The enumeration continues with the Waterfall of Peguche, or the lakes where moments of distraction can be spent at: Mojanda, San Pablo, Cuicocha and Yaguarcocha lakes.For the photography enthusiast, a great option is the Animal Market, early in the morning and also on Saturday. From Otavalo it is easy to admire the beauty of its imposing mountains such us the Imbabura and its telluric couple, the Mama Cotacachi.
17.69 Km.
Ponchos Square
The Centennial Market or also called "Plaza de Ponchos", is one of the most visited places by national and foreign tourists. Thousands of artisans and merchants, most of them from Otavaleño, gather in this plaza, who go out every day of the week to exhibit their crafts, especially on Saturdays when the fair extends to the nearby streets due to its magnitude and importance. Here you can find everything from fabrics, hats, jewelry, embroidery, bracelets to works made of wood or clay. You can also find traditional handicrafts where their design, raw material and quality have changed, but still reflect the work of the Otavaleño people. In this place you can see paintings from Tigua, tapestries from the Salasacas, carvings from San Antonio de Ibarra, leather goods from Cotacachi, handicrafts from the Saraguros, from the Kichwa from the east; with this Otavalo becomes a cultural center. How to get? From Otavalo, it is located on Antonio José de Sucre and Quiroga streets, 3 blocks from the terminal, towards the southern end of Otavalo.
17.71 Km.