Of special interest is San Antonio de Ibarra, which bears the full name of the city itself and is only six kilometers [four miles] away from Ibarra. San Antonio's reputation for woodcarving is known throughout Ecuador and increasingly in other countries. Particularly famous are the realistic carvings of religious figures, old people and nudes, some of which are almost life size. Craftsmen also carve chess sets, furniture, mirror frames, animals, and some modernist pieces. The main square and main street of the village is lined with galleries and workshops.

Getting there. Buses leave the obelisk in Ibarra every 20 minutes or so for the short journey, though you can also ask for directions for the two-hour walk.

|Article contributed by Dominic Hamilton|||