Imbabura

Code:I
Type:province
Native name:Imbabura Province
Population:469,879 (2022)
Area:4,791 km²
Elevation:2,500 m
Capital:Ibarra

Introduction

Imbabura, north of Quito in Ecuador's northern highlands, is built around Otavalo — one of South America's oldest continuously operating Indigenous markets — set among a landscape of volcanic crater lakes that gives the province its nickname, the “Lake District.”

Overview

Otavalo's Saturday market is the province's centrepiece, and its real distinction isn't scale but continuity: Kichwa-speaking weavers have traded textiles in the same plaza for centuries, a living market tradition rather than a revival staged for visitors. Woven goods — ponchos, tapestries, bags, blankets — dominate, alongside leather goods, jewellery and produce, and the town itself, not just the market, has a genuinely Indigenous character with Kichwa widely spoken on the street. Beyond Otavalo, Imbabura earns its “Lake District” nickname from a string of volcanic crater lakes: Laguna de San Pablo, overlooked by the Imbabura volcano, is the largest and most accessible, popular for a lakeside walk or a short boat trip; Laguna Cuicocha, inside a dormant volcanic caldera further north, has a genuinely striking setting with two small islands rising from its crater waters, and a rim-top hiking trail circling the whole lake. Cotacachi, a smaller town near Cuicocha, is known nationally for leather goods and makes an easy stop on the same day trip.

Discover Imbabura

Otavalo's Living Market

Otavalo's market runs daily in a smaller form but reaches its full scale on Saturdays, when the main Plaza de los Ponchos and surrounding streets fill with textile stalls run largely by Kichwa vendors continuing a trading tradition that predates the Inca. Bargaining is normal and expected, though the market's real value for a visitor is less about the lowest price and more about the chance to buy directly from the weavers and artisans who made the goods, in a market that has never stopped functioning as a genuine commercial and social hub for the surrounding Kichwa communities.

The Lake District: Cuicocha and San Pablo

Laguna Cuicocha's setting inside a dormant volcanic caldera is the province's most dramatic landscape — a roughly five-hour trail circles the entire crater rim, with views down onto the lake's two small islands throughout, though shorter viewpoint walks from the visitor centre give a taste of the scenery without the full commitment. Laguna de San Pablo, closer to Otavalo itself and overlooked by the Imbabura volcano, is calmer and more accessible, popular for short boat trips and lakeside walks rather than serious hiking. Together the two lakes give Imbabura a genuinely different character from the rest of the northern highlands — more water, less market bustle.

Ways to Experience This Destination

Otavalo Market

South America's oldest continuously operating Indigenous market, strongest on Saturdays.

Crater Lakes

Laguna Cuicocha's caldera rim trail and Laguna de San Pablo's calmer lakeside walks and boat trips.

Frequently asked questions

Is Otavalo market only on Saturdays?

A smaller version runs daily, but Saturday is when the market reaches its full scale, filling the Plaza de los Ponchos and surrounding streets with the widest range of textiles and goods.

What is Laguna Cuicocha?

A crater lake inside a dormant volcanic caldera with two small islands, ringed by a roughly five-hour hiking trail along the crater rim. Shorter viewpoint walks are available for those who want the scenery without the full hike.

Can I visit Otavalo as a day trip from Quito?

Yes — Otavalo is close enough to Quito for a comfortable day trip, and can be combined with Laguna Cuicocha or San Pablo for a fuller day covering both the market and the province's lake landscape.

This overview comes from Visaja's worldwide missions database (visaja.com), checked against official government sources; for binding answers, the mission itself always has the final word.