The Northern Andes in Ecuador can be found between the edges of Quito and the Colombian border. This mountanous area of the country features a wide range of ecosystems, from the cloud forests around Mindo to deserts, and everything in between. The rolling countryside around the famous markets in Otavalo is scattered with haciendas, many of which have opened their doors to tourism.
The Northern Andes is an area where few foreign tourists have ventured up until recently. There are opportunities to explore local campesino tracks, trek in unspoiled páramo, explore rural villages (where the pace of life has not changed over centuries), have a go at a traditional handball game (pelota del mano), soak in the Arco Iris hot springs, located close to Chachimbiro, or explore the ancient Caranqui culture.