Otavaleños (people from Otavalo) have embraced western tourism while maintaining strong ties to their cultural roots.
![Culture and commerce converge at the Otavalo market.](https://galapagosalternative.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/otavalo-pimp.jpg)
A visit to the Otavalo open-air market is a trip into the past set in the present. The insanely colorful textiles and detailed craft pieces can be mesmerizing.
![Experience the colors and culture of the Otavaleños.](https://galapagosalternative.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/otavalo-textiles-abuelas.jpg)
In the afternoon you can hike along Lake Cuicocha which is embedded in a crater and flanked by the Cotacachi volcano.
![Cuicocha lake with Cotacachi volcano lurking in the distance.](https://galapagosalternative.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/cotacachi-lake.jpg)