Ibarra, Imbabura - Ecuador

Ibarra is the capital of the province of Imbabura. A colonial town with cobbled streets, located 115 Km north from Quito, at 2210 m. With some 140,000 inhabitants. Many tourists prefer this city for its pleasant weather and peaceful environment. The city has two plazas very well preserved: Parque Pedro Moncayo and the Parque Victor Manuel Peñaherrera (Flores and Olmedo), better known as Parque de la Merced.
Most houses in Ibarra are colonial whitewashed style, that's why Ibarra is also known as the "White city". There is a religious museum and some attractive paintings can be seen at the Santo Domingo church. There are also some other churches such as: San Agustín (On Parque Abdón Calderón), Basílica de La Dolorosa (On Av. A. Pérez Guerrero). Strolling down the Pérez Guerrero avenue you'll find a market on Cifuentes street, close to the railway station.

Market days are on Saturdays, Ibarra's main festivities are: Fiesta de los Lagos on the last weekend of September with colorful parades throughout the city called "EI Pregón" and "Virgen del Carmen" on the 16th of July.

The main activity in town with the locals is "Paddleball" (Ecuadorian style), that is played with a soft ball and a very large paddle.

Otavalo, Imbabura - Ecuador

Otavalo is a largely indigenous town in Imbabura Province, Ecuador, well known for its Saturday market. The town, which is in a valley, is surrounded by the peaks of Imbabura, Cotacachi, and Mojanda volcanoes.

The Indians of Otavalo are famous for the weaving of textiles, which has a 4000 year history. The town has an expansive market, and, although main market day is Saturday, in the Plaza del Poncho there are wares available for tourists throughout the week. There are several hotels in colonial buildings and a number of restaurants.

As Otavalo is famous for its textiles, many of the nearby villages and towns are famous for their own particular crafts. Cotacachi, the center of Ecuador's leather industry, is known for its polished calf skins. In San Antonio, where the local specialty is wood carving, the main street prominently displays carved statues, picture frames, and furniture.

Also of note, Otavalo is also known for its Inca-influenced traditional music and musicians. There are many musical groups

currently traveling around the world promoting Inca music (sometimes known as Andean New Age). This style of music has had notable commercial success worldwide