DISCOVER IMBABURA
Imbabura is one of the most visited provinces in Ecuador! It is full of lakes, handicrafts, picturesque villages and mountains. It is difficult to decide what to see when you only have two days to visit it, but we have prepared a small route with some of the destinations that you can not miss.
DAY 1:
An hour and a half from Quito, we recommend starting at Lake San Pablo.
First stop: Lake San Pablo
Enjoy a wonderful view at the foot of the Imbabura volcano. Lake San Pablo is a special place, where you can pause and connect with nature, appreciate the landscape, enjoy water sports and sail on the lake. Around the lake there are several inns and restaurants where you can have lunch, spend the day on the lakeshore or rent a boat to ski or walk.
Second stop: Peguche Waterfall (16 min from Lake San Pablo)
16 minutes from Lake San Pablo, you will find a splendid waterfall. The Peguche waterfall is very important for the indigenous communities of the area, as it is part of an ancestral ritual that is celebrated every year on June 20: the preparation of Inti Raymi. Every year, the locals of the area gather at the foot of the waterfall in an act of purification prior to receiving the famous Inti Raymi festivities (a celebration of gratitude towards the sun and the harvest). In addition to contemplating the magic of the waterfall, you will find perfectly well-preserved trails and enjoy a landscape full of energy and history.
Third stop: Otavalo (11 min from Peguche waterfall)
Otavalo is a city full of colors, merchants and artisans. When you enter the “Plaza de Ponchos” you are immersed in an explosion of colors. With every step you take, you will find elaborate, delicate and creative crafts, handmade by families of artisans who have cultivated the art for generations. At each booth at the fair, there are talented artisans, who will kindly tell you about their creations, their family’s craft, their traditions and their origins. Walking through the market is to witness the diversity and folklore of Ecuador.
Although the “big fair” of crafts takes place on Saturdays, the Plaza de Ponchos is set up every day, where the same variety of products are exhibited on a smaller scale.
We recommend that you bring cash (there are some ATMs in Otavalo) to live the experience of shopping in the plaza.
You will probably hear many haggle over prices and while it is part of the interaction of buying, just remember that each product is the work of a person with a unique situation and history, take into account the love, effort and skill that exists behind it! of everything you are buying!
From Otavalo return to San Pablo del Lago to spend the night.
DAY 2:
Fourth stop: Yaguarcocha (approximately 55 minutes from San Pablo del Lago)
Just 3 km from the city of Ibarra is the Yaguarcocha lagoon, surrounded by natural viewpoints and crop patches.
Around the impressive lagoon, there is a famous track, the scene of international automobile competitions: the José Tobar International Autodrome.
We recommend that you stop by Yaguarcocha to enjoy the warm climate and incomparable landscape. You can walk around the lagoon and ask for nearby viewpoints! There are also some hotels surrounding the lake, where you can enjoy a morning of activities.
On the way out from Yaguarcocha, don’t forget to stop to enjoy Ecuadorian mountain cuisine. La fritada, a typical dish, consists of fried pork, accompanied by mote, potato tortillas (llapingachos), corn, sweet potato, avocado and other delicacies! This is Ecuador recommends trying it on a tray, at the Fritadas Amazonas restaurant, very close to Ibarra.
Fifth stop: Cuicocha (1h 5 min from Yaguarcocha)
Cuicocha Lagoon, located within the crater of the Cotacachi volcano, is just 14 km from Otavalo and is part of the Cotacachi Cayapas ecological reserve. Once inside the reserve (entrance is free) you can enjoy its trails. You will have the option of taking a short walk to observe the lagoon from above or taking the long trail around the lagoon, lasting approximately 4 hours. During the walk you will be able to observe endemic plants such as totora, sigses, bromeliads and pumamaqui (it is known for its leaves, which are shaped like a puma’s footprint). You will also encounter small animals such as wild rabbits, the Andean fox, the wild guinea pig and various birds such as hummingbirds, blackbirds and owls. This trail is highly recommended for trekking, and is truly worth enjoying.
If you decide to extend your visit, you can have lunch at the restaurant in the lower part, where you will also find the boat tours, which skirt the islets in the lagoon for less than 5 dollars. Another option to explore the lagoon is to rent kayaks in the same place.
Sixth stop: Cotacachi (27 min from Cuicocha Lagoon)
After visiting the Cuicocha lagoon, we recommend stopping in Cotacachi. This quaint little town is full of high-quality crafts and is especially known for its wonderful leather products.
Fun fact: Cotacachi is the only place in Ecuador where there is a school that teaches its students to work with leather!
Stroll through the streets while discovering the wonders that local artisans do and don’t forget to try the delicious coffee from the Intag region in a cafe.
From Cotacachi we recommend that you leave directly for Quito, so don’t forget to check out in the morning. (2h 3 min)
Remember that if you have more days to explore the province you can enjoy more time in each place. We put together this route that covers the highlights of the region for those who want to see everything in a short time.
Mobilization: If you have 2 days to explore Imbabura, the suggested mode of transportation is a rental car, but you can also take interprovincial buses and taxis between destinations.
We also have another Imbabura Route that incorporates Cóndor Park instead of Yaguarcocha. If you have time, you could add that stop to your ride. Explore the other route here.
Do you know Imbabura? Would you add any other stops? Do you have any comments or suggestions to improve this article? Tell us!