There is no main bus terminal in Otavalo, although one is about to be constructed. Buses north to Ibarra [US$0.50*, 35 minutes] and south to Quito [US$2*, 2 1/2 hours] leave from Calderon between Bolivar and Roca regularly. Ask at local travel agents for information about buses to the smaller villages. There are buses about every 15 minutes to Otavalo from Quito [US$2*, 2 1/2 hours] up until about 6pm. The journey takes about two hours. Make sure you catch a bus that goes into the centre of town rather than continuing on to Ibarra, in which case you will be dropped off on the Pan-American Highway and will have to walk a kilometre into town. Buses from these companies drop you off near Plaza Copacabana where there is a taxi stand. Buses leave from here for some of the outlying villages including Tulcan, Cayambe [US$0.65*] and Cotacachi. To the surrounding villages such as Lago San Pablo [US$0.25*]. There is also a frequent local bus service to Peguche for around US$0.25*. To travel to the villages on the west such as Penaherrera, Garcia Moreno and Apuela, several buses leave from Colon and 31 de Octubre.

Taxis from Quito to Otavalo should cost about US$40* and take about an hour. The train service between Quito, Otavalo and Ibarra has not been running for several years.

*Prices are approximate

Last updated 20th July 2006

|Article contributed by Dominic Hamilton|||

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