Northern Andes

V!VA User‘s Description

The Northern Andes in Ecuador span the area north of Quito to the Colombian border. This area of the country is beautiful, with a wide range of ecosystems, from 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 open their doors to tourism.

This is an area where few foreign tourists have ventured up until recently. There are opportunities to explore local campesino tracks, trek in unspoilt páramo, explore rural villages where the pace of life remains unchanged, have a go at a traditional handball game (pelota del mano), soak in the new Arco Iris hot springs, close to Chachimbiro, and explore the ancient Caranqui culture.