Just
15km [nine
miles]
North of Otavalo,
lies the small
town of Cotacachi
- Ecuador's
leather capital.
There are
few places
in the world
where you
can get a
better deal
on a genuine
leather jacket,
skirt or smart
travel bag.
Market day
is Saturday,
although shops
are open throughout
the week.
Curiously,
leather goods
from Cotacachi
are the one
Ecuadorean
product not
sold in the
big market
in Otavalo.
Another local
product are
alpargatas
[sandals],
popular with
locals and
tourists alike.
There's also
a modest Museo
de las Culturas
set in a pretty
cloistered
building by
the Iglesia
La Matriz,
on Garcia
Moreno.
Places
to sleep
Hacienda
Pinsaqui.
Over 300
years old,
this unique
colonial hacienda
provides luxury
accomodation
and facilities
for horse-riding,
mountain biking
and therapeutic
massages.
3km from Cotacachi.
Places
to visit
Laguna
Cuicocha
Getting
there
Frequent
bus
service from
Otavalo
for around
US$0.40*
as well as
from Egas
and Morales
on weekends
[US$0.50*].
Frequent direct
bus service
to Quito
for about
US$3.00*.
*Prices
are approximate
Last
updated 12th
July 2006
| |Article contributed by Dominic Hamilton||| |
|
