Ecuador travel guide
What to see in Otavalo
The great Indigenous market of the Andes, surrounded by lakes and volcanoes.
Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides
- 5 must-see places
- Best time: from May to January
Otavalo highlights
The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.
- Plaza de los Ponchos
A craft market, busiest on Saturdays.
- Cuicocha Lake
In a crater, with islands.
- Peguche Waterfall
Sacred to the Kichwa people.
- Animal market
Early on Saturdays.
- Cotacachi
The leather town.
Day trips from Otavalo
We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.
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When to travel to Otavalo
The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Otavalo are from May to January.
- Jan no warnings
- Feb with warnings
- Mar with warnings
- Apr with warnings
- May no warnings
- Jun no warnings
- Jul no warnings
- Aug no warnings
- Sep no warnings
- Oct no warnings
- Nov no warnings
- Dec no warnings
- from February to April
Rain in the highlands
From February to April it rains more in the Andes, with stormy afternoons.
What to do: June to September is the driest time in the highlands; the Galápagos can be visited all year round.
Where and what to eat
To eat like a local: a picantería or the market. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Ecuador guide.
Frequently asked questions about Otavalo
What to see in Otavalo?
Plaza de los Ponchos, Cuicocha Lake, Peguche Waterfall, Animal market and Cotacachi.
What to see in Otavalo in one day?
Don’t miss Plaza de los Ponchos, Cuicocha Lake, Peguche Waterfall, Animal market and Cotacachi. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.
What’s the best time to travel to Otavalo?
The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Otavalo are from May to January.
What day trips can you take from Otavalo?
Otavalo from Quito.
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More in Ecuador
Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.