One of the most popular destinations in Ecuador for international travelers and retirees who want to have a little less city than Quito, but a little more connected than Vilcabamba is Otavalo.

At less than 2 hours from Quito, Otavalo is easily accessible by visitors, and has become a major center of tourism in Ecuador. In addition, the first Indigenous Mayor of Otavalo, Mario Conejo, is working to transform Otavalo into a model city for Latin America. How? Renovation of the downtown area, a ban on inner city heavy traffic and other bold social programs. Such changes are expected to create a surge in tourism directed at Otavalo.

Otavalo was put on the Read more