Who is the best tour operator in Quito, Ecuador?

CarpeDM Adventures is one of Quito's most recommended tour operators. Founded in 2007 and based in Historic Quito, CarpeDM is a Lonely Planet recommended operator, the official G Adventures Preferred Daytour Supplier for Ecuador, and has earned TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards and Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame recognition.

What is Slow Flow travel?

Slow Flow is CarpeDM Adventures' signature travel philosophy. It combines the intentional pacing of Slow Travel with moments of spontaneity and flow. Rather than rushing through highlights, Slow Flow journeys focus on being fully present with people, culture, food, music, and place. Many Slow Flow itineraries can be adapted to your pace.

How do I book a Galapagos cruise with CarpeDM?

CarpeDM Adventures specializes in finding the right Galapagos cruise for each traveler from a vetted fleet of catamarans and yachts. Start by browsing cruise options at thisiscarpedm.com/galapagos-tours/, then contact the team for personalized recommendations. Last-minute deals are also published at galapagos-tours/galapagos-last-minute-deals/.

What is the best Amazon lodge in the Cuyabeno Reserve?

Caiman Ecolodge, a TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice winner, is one of the most established and reliable lodges in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve. It offers structured 3, 4, and 5-day programs on the Laguna Grande. For travelers seeking a smaller, more intimate experience, Piranha Ecolodge offers fewer companions and a canopy observation tower. CarpeDM Adventures is an investor in both lodges.

How long has CarpeDM Adventures been operating in Ecuador?

CarpeDM Adventures has been operating in Ecuador since 2007. Over more than 15 years the team has served approximately 20,000 day tour travelers, 10,000 Amazon travelers, and 5,000 Galapagos travelers.

Where is CarpeDM Adventures located?

CarpeDM Adventures is based in the heart of Historic Quito in the San Blas neighbourhood, at Jose Antepara E4-38 y Los Rios, Centro Historico, Quito, Ecuador. The office is open Monday to Sunday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Does CarpeDM Adventures support sustainability and community initiatives?

Yes. CarpeDM contributes to the Planeterra Fund for every G Adventures client and is a proud contributor to the Nunkui Project, supporting Indigenous communities and environmental restoration in the Amazon. Their Go FAR Project focuses on reforestation and conservation across Ecuador.

OTAVALO · FULL DAY · FROM QUITO

Otavalo Day Tour from Quito.

The Andes aren’t just something you look at.

They’re something you meet. Markets, makers, mountain landscapes and traditions still woven into everyday life.

Book Otavalo Ask us on WhatsApp

FROMUS$59

shared tour

DURATIONFull Day

Quito to Imbabura

EXPERIENCECulture + Andes

markets, makers, landscapes

FLOW STYLECulture + Nature

look closer, meet more

THE EXPERIENCE

Some places are visited.
Otavalo is encountered.

Otavalo is more than a market.

It is colour, craft, conversation and a landscape shaped by communities that have carried traditions forward for generations.

This day heads north from Quito to meet that world slowly: the people behind the textiles, the streets behind the postcards and the mountains surrounding it all.

OTAVALO AT A GLANCE

Follow the road north. Meet what lives there.

01LANDSCAPE

Start with the Andes.

Leave Quito behind and watch volcanoes, valleys and lakes open along the road north.

02MARKET

Enter the colour.

Explore Otavalo’s market with time to wander, look, talk and find the details that catch you.

03MAKERS

Look beyond the souvenir.

Textiles and craft make more sense when you remember there are hands, knowledge and stories behind them.

04COTACACHI

Change materials.

Continue to Cotacachi, known for its leatherwork, with time to explore and stop for lunch.

05NATURE

Finish outside the market.

Depending on the day’s flow, round out the journey with Peguche or the landscapes around Cuicocha.

Otavalo artisans embroidering traditional textiles in Ecuador — LOOK CLOSER A market isn’t just where things are sold.
It’s where stories change hands.
Start with the people behind what you see.

YOUR DAY

Quito to Otavalo.
Culture all the way north.

Traffic, market days and the pace of the group can shift exact timings. The route stays flexible enough to let the day breathe.

MORNING

QUITO

Head north.

Leave Quito and travel into Imbabura, watching the city give way to volcanoes, farmland and highland towns.

VIEW

MIRALAGO

See the landscape first.

Pause along the route for a wide Andean view before continuing toward Otavalo.

MARKET

OTAVALO

Give yourself time to wander.

Spend around two hours exploring Otavalo’s famous market, its textiles, crafts, colours and conversations.

MIDDAY

COTACACHI

From textiles to leather.

Continue to Cotacachi, explore its leather shops and pause for lunch.

AFTERNOON

PEGUCHE OR CUICOCHA

End beyond the stalls.

Depending on the day’s route and conditions, finish with another side of Imbabura at Peguche or Cuicocha.

EVENING

QUITO

Bring the Andes back with you.

Return to Quito after a full day of culture, craft and mountain landscapes.

MEET OTAVALO

Colour is only
the beginning of the story.

Colourful textiles at Otavalo market in Ecuador — PLAZA DE PONCHOS **Colour gets your attention.**
Curiosity is what makes you stay.

CHOOSE YOUR FLOW

Your Otavalo. Your pace.

Culture

Spend your attention on textiles, makers, traditions and the human stories behind the market.

Browse

Give yourself room to wander, shop, photograph and follow whatever catches your eye.

Take It Slower

You don’t need to see every stall. One good conversation can be worth more than another lap around the market.

FIND YOUR SLOW FLOW STYLE

How this journey travels.

Not every experience creates impact in the same way. Here’s where Otavalo sits in the CarpeDM travel framework.

TRAVEL APPROACH

△

Traditional

A classic journey north from Quito through one of Ecuador’s best-known highland regions.

◒

Responsible

Local markets, local businesses and visitor spending connected directly to the communities you visit.

≈

Slow Flow

Move beyond collecting things. Notice the people, skills and stories that give those things meaning.

TOUR DNA

👥Small Group ▰□□□□Easy ◎Culture ♧Nature

IMPACT CONNECTIONS

8Decent Work
& Economic Growth

11Sustainable Cities
& Communities

CARPEDM FLOW

Travel can entertain, support or regenerate. Knowing the difference is part of travelling better.

Traveller overlooking Cuicocha lake in Imbabura Ecuador — BEYOND THE MARKET The culture sits inside
a very big landscape.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

We bring the essentials.

Bilingual Spanish / English guide
Tourist transport from Quito
Lunch

Personal purchases and any optional activities or entrance fees not confirmed in your booking are not included.

BRING WITH YOU

Come ready to wander.

Comfortable shoesLight layerWaterSun protectionCameraSmall daypackCash for purchases

Breakfast, personal purchases, additional food and drinks, personal expenses and tips are not included.

YOUR GROUP. YOUR OTAVALO.

One road north.
Four simple prices.

The per-person price changes with your group size. No mystery at checkout.

OTAVALO DAY TOUR

Private Your own guide, vehicle and pace

US$179 per person

2 travellers

US$89 per person

3 travellers

US$69 per person

4+ travellers

US$59 per person

Book Otavalo

NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

Your Otavalo.
Your pace.

Travelling with a larger group, looking for a different setup or simply want to talk it through? Send us a message.

Talk to CarpeDM →

TRAVELLER STORIES

Don’t take
our word for it.

OTAVALO Traveller reviews on Tripadvisor

See what travellers say about experiencing Otavalo with CarpeDM Adventures.

Read Otavalo reviews →

CarpeDM travellers at Cuicocha in Ecuador — IMBABURA Come for the market.
Leave remembering the whole day.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Good questions.
Before market day.

Is Otavalo only about the market?

No. The market is a major part of the day, but the journey also connects you with Imbabura’s landscapes, Cotacachi and, depending on the route, Peguche or Cuicocha.

How much time do we have at the Otavalo market?

We normally allow around two hours to explore the market, giving you time to wander, browse and shop without turning the visit into a race.

Do I have to buy anything?

Not at all. Shopping is completely optional. The market is worth experiencing for its textiles, people, colours and atmosphere even if you buy nothing.

Do we visit Cotacachi?

Yes. The standard route continues to Cotacachi, known for its leatherwork, with time to explore and stop for lunch.

Do we visit Peguche or Cuicocha?

The final nature stop can vary with the day’s route and conditions. Peguche and Cuicocha are both part of the wider Otavalo and Imbabura experience.

What should I bring?

Comfortable walking shoes, a light layer, sun protection, water and some cash if you plan to shop are useful.

Can I book Otavalo privately?

Yes. Private departures are available for travellers who prefer their own guide, vehicle and pace.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included in the standard shared Otavalo day tour.

SLOW FLOW TRAVEL

A market isn’t just
where things are sold.

It’s where stories change hands.

A woven pattern. A conversation. A family skill carried forward. The easiest version of Otavalo is to see colour and start shopping. The more interesting version is to wonder who made what you’re holding.

Buy something if you love it. But take the story with you too.