Otavalo is a town in the Andean highlands of northern Ecuador. It’s surrounded by volcanoes and famous for its indigenous peoples, the Otavalos, as well as the Otavalo Market, one of the largest outdoor markets in South America where you’ll find handicrafts and Andean folk music.

The oldest of all South American capitals, Quito, sits high in the Andean foothills. It was built on an ancient Incan city and is known for its colonial center filled with churches that blend European, Moorish and indigenous styles.

Cloud forests, butterfly farms and chocolate bars, Mindo is truly a gem. A village in the Andes Mountains of northern Ecuador, this rich landscape is part of the Mindo-Nambillo Reserve and is packed with unique bird species, delicate orchids and cascading waterfalls.