Northern Highlands
Who would have thought the coolest thing you may see in Ecuador would be a cemetery? A maze of cypress trees – sculpted into bulbous, pre-Columbian totems…
Must-see attractions in Northern Highlands
Otavalo
Get an up-close view of Andean condors, as well as eagles, owls, falcons and hawks, at this Dutch-owned foundation, which rehabilitates these and other…
Northern Highlands
The 16,000-hectare Reserva Ecológica El Ángel includes frailejones, rare, otherworldly plants with fuzzy leaves and thick trunks. From El Ángel, take the…
Otavalo
Plaza de Ponchos, the nucleus of the crafts market, is filled every day with vendors selling woolen goods, such as rugs, tapestries, blankets, ponchos,…
Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas
Northern Highlands
This 204,420-hectare reserve is by far the largest protected area of Ecuador’s western Andean habitats. Altitude ranges from about 200m above sea level…
Reserva Ecológica Cayambe-Coca
Northern Highlands
At 4031 sq km, Reserva Ecológica Cayambe-Coca spreads across four provinces, including the Oriente, and includes alpine tundra and rainforest. Volcán…
Northern Highlands
Head 18km west from Cotacachi and you’ll come upon this eerily still, dark lagoon cradled in a collapsed volcanic crater at 3100m. Some 3km wide and 200m…
Tahuantinsuyo Weaving Workshop
Northern Highlands
Jose Rafael Maldonado, Miguel Andrango's son-in-law, now runs the day-to-day operations of this internationally famous weaving family business, in its…
Mindo
This unique, small motor-powered (2002 Nissan!) cable car takes you soaring across a lush river basin over thick cloud forest to the Bosque Protector…
Otavalo
While this tree outside Otavalo is famous for its magical healing powers, it's much more reliable as a great picnic spot, romantic or otherwise, and for…
Northern Highlands
Most visitors head out this way to see the Cascadas de Peguche, a series of falls sacred to locals – visitors are still welcome, however, during Inti…
Otavalo
Each Monday and Thursday morning, groups of Otavaleños summit the Calle de las Almas (Street of Souls) to this hillside cemetery, sharing meals, songs,…
Mindo
Mindo's best butterfly garden is like walking through a paint factory with the fans set to slow – a stunning kaleidoscope. Visit in the warmest part of…
Mindo
Popular with local families on weekends, this series of cascades is the easiest to access in the area. However, it still entails either a trip on the…
Otavalo
Next to the Animal Market, this large, covered complex just west of the Panamericana houses the vendors who previously plied their trade in a messy…
Northern Highlands
Also known as Peñaherrera, the city’s main plaza was built at the beginning of the 19th century. The main feature of the Iglesia de la Merced is a gold…
Northern Highlands
Here's a landmark that claims to be one of a kind – a massive 52m-diameter sundial set exactly on the equator. Surrounded by an impressive stone mosaic…
Museo Arqueológico y Etnográfico Atahualpa
Northern Highlands
Several small galleries with fascinating pre-Columbian artifacts unearthed in the area. The majority of objects – including ceramic ceremonial pieces and…
Northern Highlands
This gorgeous palm-filled plaza is dominated by the baroque-influenced cathedral. The altars are covered in gold leaf, and Troya’s paintings of the 12…
Northern Highlands
San Antonio, a small village near the larger city of Ibarra, specializes in woodcarvings. The most renowned gallery here is Galería Luís Potosí. Potosí…
Northern Highlands
Just past Casa Mojanda on the road up to Lagunas de Mojanda is the well-signposted trailhead for Cascada de Taxopamba. It's about a half-hour walk to…
El Museo Fábrica Textil Imbabura
Northern Highlands
Four creatively designed galleries explain every aspect of the history of textile production in the highlands. Located off the Panmericana, just before…
Northern Highlands
A 30m-high white obelisk honors Miguel de Ibarra's founding of the city in 1606.
Asociación de Yacchacs de San Juan de Ilumán
Northern Highlands
This village off the Panamericana about 7km northeast of Otavalo is also famous for its local shamans’ association, which has around 120 members. Members…
Northern Highlands
Located in the neoclassical former municipal palace, several small galleries present the ethnohistory of the region, from 8500 BC through colonial and…
Mindo
Check out the blooms at this impressive collection of more than 200 orchids – many viewable with a handy microscope. Naturally, the garden is also full of…
Northern Highlands
At the north end of Bolívar you’ll find the quaint Parque Santo Domingo. The Dominican church behind this small park houses La Virgen del Rosarío, a…
Northern Highlands
Features a gold-leaf-covered altar for the Virgen de la Merced, patron saint of the armed forces. The church holds a special mass in remembrance of the…
Northern Highlands
A small, impressive collection of 14th- to 19th-century religious paintings and archaeological galleries featuring prehistoric ceramics and gold artifacts…
Northern Highlands
The altars at this baroque-influenced cathedral are covered in gold leaf, and Troya’s paintings of the 12 apostles adorn the pillars.
Northern Highlands
Of neo-Romanesque design with a single nave, this church was rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1987.
