Top things to do in Imbabura, Ecuador
If you are planning on going on a day trip or spending the weekend near Quito, then a visit to the province of Imbabura located North is one of my suggestions.
How to get there:
You can either make this a day trip from Quito or start from Otavalo or Ibarra. There are plenty of lovely cozy haciendas, hostels, and hotels to choose from in any of these cities, and you can find some great options for places to stay in Quito here.
From Quito, the trip to Otavalo will take approximately 2 hours. The bus departs from the bus station in Carcelen and will bring you to the city center or it will stop along the highway, 10 minutes walking distance from the city.
Here are some of the main places you can visit in the beautiful province of Imbabura:
1.- Peguche Waterfalls is the perfect place to relax and enjoy nature
This gorgeous 18 m. height waterfall will be your reward after a 45-minute hike from the city of Otavalo. It is located in a gorgeous eucalyptus forest designated as”Protected Forest Waterfall of Peguche.”
The town is located 3km north of Otavalo and you can hire a taxi for less than 4 USD to take you there. I have written more about Peguche, you can read more about Peguche.
Book a tour
Book ahead your tour to Otavalo and Imbabura, including a hike to Peguche, a boat ride to San Pablo or Cuicocha Lake and more, here. Hence, avoid the stress and the time spent on logistics and planning.
2.- Otavalo is an open- air market filled with colorful handcrafts
This is perhaps the top attraction for most tourists coming to Imbabura and to Ecuador.
For me, every trip to this city nestled in the heart of the Andes, 2 hours north of Quito, provides me with a myriad of opportunities to take some pictures of the stunning colorful landscapes of the people, traditions, and nature along the Andes cordillera. Booking a night´s stay in Otavalo will allow you to experience more in-depth this city and its culture.
If you are in Ecuador I would love to see your pictures.
One of the main attractions once in the city is the open-air market in Otavalo (Saturday is the most popular day) is a must on a trip to Ecuador in general!
The Otavalo culture is worldwide known for the production of excellent textiles and ethnic crafts, the ability for business, and a well-preserved culture.
As you can see from the pictures, the Otavalos make their own textiles, they are very skilled not only in weaving but also in producing and then really good at selling these products not only locally but worldwide.
You can read in detail about Otavalo and if possible, visit Parque Condor in Otavalo and learn about environmental conservation.
There are many other things to do in the province of Imbabura, we share some of them.
Book a tour
Book ahead your tour to Otavalo and Imbabura, including a hike to Peguche, a boat ride to San Pablo or Cuicocha Lake, and more, here. Hence, avoid the stress and the time spent on logistics and planning.
3.- Cotacachi is the shopaholic hotspot in Imbabura
This nice artisan city is worldwide known for its high-quality production of leather goods and handicrafts. So, if you want to enter a store where everything you see from side to side is items in leather, in different sizes and shapes, of high quality, then this is the place for you!
The town is located 15km northwest of Otavalo which makes it easy to get there by bus. There are buses leaving every 10 minutes from the bus terminal in Otavalo.
4.- Cuicocha is a gorgeous crater lake
The name Cuicocha comes from pre-inca language, and the name comes from Tsui cocha which means lagoon of the gods. This deep volcanic crater lake is located 14 km northwest of Otavalo.
This place is perfect for the vistas, if you have the time you can take a boat tour to enjoy some of the wildlife of the small islands inside or a nice meal at the restaurant. You need a car or to hire a taxi in order to get here.
5.- Atuntaqui is all about leather
This is a small town that is famous for leather goods, if you are searching for purses, boots, or other accessories of good quality and at relatively good prices, then this is the place for you! You need a car or to hire a taxi in order to get here.
6.- San Antonio de Ibarra is all about wood and art.
The town is located 6km west of the city of Ibarra and is best known for its excellent wood carvers. You can get there by bus or by hiring a taxi from Ibarra. Once you arrive you will find a small town, but don´t let that fool you.
Read all about San Antonio de Ibarra.
There are many shops and galleries with plenty of styles and different designs to choose from. You need a car or to hire a taxi in order to get here.
7.- The charming white city, Ibarra
This lovely small city in the Northern part of the highlands region in Ecuador, is also known as the white city. Why the nickname, you may wonder? Well, it is due to all the colonial white-washed houses that you can easily spot from the main highway just before you start to enter the city center.
Read all about the charming city of Ibarra.
Ibarra has a population of fewer than 200.000 inhabitants and that by Ecuadorian standards, is a rather small city. Here is a short video that shows the wide range of opportunities you have to admire and enjoy the nature and gorgeous landscapes that this Northern town located in the Andes Cordillera of Ecuador, has to offer.
Book a tour
Book ahead your tour to Otavalo and Imbabura, including a hike to Peguche, a boat ride to San Pablo or Cuicocha Lake, and more, here. Hence, avoid the stress and the time spent on logistics and planning.
8. Yahuarcocha Lake with beautiful vistas of Ibarra
The name Yahuarcocha comes from pre-inca language, it is written Yawarkucha, which is divided in yawar which means blood, and kucha which means lake, so the name is “blood lake”.
This lake is located 3km from Ibarra a 3 km de Ibarra, and you can get there walking, taking a local bus or a taxi.
9. San Pablo Lake near Otavalo
On your way from Quito To Imbabura, you will be able to admire the stunning landscape of the Andes, such as Lake San Pablo in the video below, and of the Cayambe mountain.
If you do want to visit all these places it is best to have a car or if you have the budget, then you can reach some places by taxi, which is still pretty low budget as taxi fares are rather inexpensive.
Where to stay
After spending a relaxing weekend at the charming Hosteria Hacienda Pinsaqui we want to make sure that you know about this option for accommodation while you visit Ibarra. Another hacienda full of history is Hacienda Guachala.
Spend the night in the charming city of Ibarra, at the Hacienda Chorlavi a renovated historical country estate known by locals and tourists alike.
If you are looking for a place offering rural accommodation in a charming farmhouse overlooking the mountains in Chachimbiro, then Hosteria San Francisco is the option for you.
Once in Otavalo, you can book a night´s stay in Otavalo to really experience in depth this indigenous culture otherwise, if you want to stay in a bigger city, you can find more great options for places to stay in the charming city of Ibarra.
What to bring
To fully enjoy your stay:
- Sunglasses, sunblock, and a hat; remember that the equatorial sun is intense since you will be outdoors for long periods.
- Warm or wool clothes, because it can get cold, especially at night if it is rainy season.
- Bringing a reusable water bottle can help nature and the environment while you stay hydrated; there is bottled water in the kitchen.
Dress in layers as you will quickly get warm during the walks and when the sun is out, and remember that the weather can be pretty unpredictable. The temperature drops somewhat when the clouds block the sun.
There are many other activities and places for you to visit in Imbabura!
Planning a trip there soon? Comment below or send me an email, and I can help you with more tips.
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