ibarra
A local speciality is Helados de Paila, or sorbet icecream. With beautiful fruit used to make the sorbet, it is a must for any visitor.
other villages
There are a large number of villages surrounding Otavalo, Ibarra, and Cotacachi. Each village tends to specialise in the manufacture of a one particular good, from the rugs, to Panama hats, to bronze busts.
ilumàn
Amazing walking, and a much quieter pace of life just a 15 minute bus ride from touristy Otavalo. This indigenous village is truly charming. There are over 100 shamans in Ilumàn´s shaman´s association. They are famous for two types of work, one traditional botanical medicine, and more spiritual advice. The bus from Otavalo goes every 15 minutes from the terminal, and costs 18c.
cotacachi village
Each of the small villages around Otavalo and Ibarra general specialise in a particular craft. Cotacachi specialises in leather goods.