INDIAN MARKETS ONE DAY TOUR  These Andean markets lie along the route called the avenue of the volcanoes, 11 snowy peaks framing the Otavalo, Latacunga-Ambato valleys. A market day brings you rare fruits and Herb's, baskets, ponchos, wooden spoons, sisal bags and more. There is a market every day of the week for you to choose from: OTAVALO FAMED INDIAN MARKET (1 day anytime) Otavalo, located at an altitude of 8.300 feet and 69 miles north of Quito in Ecuador's Lake District, becomes a hub activity each Saturday as nearby villages and travelers flock to the famous Saturday market. Dating to pre-Inca times when goods were brought from the Rain Forest to be traded for cloth woven by the highland Indians, the Otavalo market is held in four different plazas each specializing in a type of product such as livestock, farm produce, woolen goods an handicrafts. The Saturday Otavalo Indian Market is the most famous in the country and one of the most popular in Latin America. On Saturday we have an early departure from Quito going directly to the Otavalo Indian Market. We spend all the morning at the market and then we go to a colonial ranch for lunch. In the afternoon we will visit San Antonio de Ibarra, famous for the classic wood sculptures, and on our way back to Quito, we will stop at Calderon noted for its attractive bread-dough figures. If for any reason our visitors can't visit the Otavalo Indian Market on Saturday, we have daily visits to this area, home of the Otavalo Indians considered as the "Switzerland of Ecuador", every day.  MAIN INDIAN MARKETS IN THE SOUTH AMBATO MARKET (Monday) 85 miles south of Quito, Ambato perhaps is the largest market in the country with around 10 different plazas. It offers a fantastic sight of thousands of Indians who come from several villages and towns for this weekly barter and social gathering. The City is famous for its flowers and fruits as well as leather products. Lunch is included. LATACUNGA MARKET (Tuesday and Saturday) Only 68 miles from Quito and practically under the shadows of the highest active snowcapped volcano in the world, the Cotopaxi (19.700 ft) we find this market on the banks of the Cutuchi river. The City of Latacunga is famous for its dairy products. Lunch is included at a Colonial hacienda. SAQUISILI MARKET (Thursday) 65 miles from miles Quito. It is considered one of the largest markets in the highlands, with more than 5 markets. At this market we can see the Indian trading in a very primitive way. Many people say this is the most interesting Indian market in the south. Lunch is included at a Colonial hacienda. PUJILI MARKET (Wednesday and Sunday) 75 miles from Quito. At this market food is the main trading business and also its day pottery work. A visit to a ceramic factory is included. Lunch also come with this tour at a Colonial hacienda. TWO DAYS TOURS OTAVALO COUNTRY TOUR (anytime) The finest and most well known fair on the continent. Shop for weaving, sweaters, belts, blankets and rugs. Bargain with the colorful and industrious natives. Day 1. - Today we drive north of Quito and visit Calderon, famous for its bread dolls; then via the Pan American Hwy., we also visit Cayambe before we arrive to the famous Otavalo Indian Market. Lunch. PM. A visit to Peguche where the Otavalo Indians actually do their weaving and the wood carving center of San Antonio de Ibarra. Dinner and overnight included. Day 2. - Breakfast. In the morning we'll visit the Cuicocha Lake and the craft village of Cotacachi, famous for its leather goods. Lunch. PM. Return to Quito via a different Hwy. ZALARON MARKET (2 days) Tiny landmarks like Zalaron and Zumbagua have their market spots more remote and naturally Indian. Traditional systems of bartering and trading may still be recorded in a society so dazzling and hospitable as to make us wonder is it real. So don't be surprised if the natives look back at you with awe and wonder. Day 1. - (Thursday). We leave from Quito, and, via the Avenue of the Volcanoes we visit the Saquisili Indian market. Lunch. In the afternoon we go to Riobamba where we visit the colonial cloisters of La Conception and quaint village of Guano, famous for its rug looms. Dinner and overnight in Riobamba. Day 2. - (Friday). Breakfast early in the morning. Depart to the hidden market of Zalaron where over a dozen trails and footpaths lead to this weekly gathering of the Puruha Indians. Lunch in Ambato. In the afternoon before returning to Quito, we visit the Salasacas Indians, who were transferred to Ecuador from Bolivia during the Inca's reign to see their fine tapestries and other textiles. ZUMBAGUA MARKET Zumbagua is a small town with one of the most interesting native markets. Here we see colorfully dressed natives. living in houses made out of grass, coming to the market with llamas to trade their goods. Day 1. - (Friday). We leave Quito, via the Avenue of the Volcanoes, we first visit the Cotopaxi National Park. Lunch. In the afternoon we go to hacienda La Cienega, a 300 year old farm with beautiful gardens and accommodations for guests, for dinner and overnight. Day 2. - (Saturday). Breakfast. Early in the morning depart for Zumbagua thorough contrasting humid and dry zones, where the roads go to an altitude of 4.000m (12.000 ft). We arrive on time to see the natives arriving to the market with their product on the llama back. Leaving the market we'll visit the crater lake of Quilotoa dominating the vast Andean country side; while enjoying the view we'll have lunch. In the afternoon we drive back to Quito. THREE DAYS TOURS OTAVALO AND HOT SPRINGS TOUR (anytime) Day 1. - Driving north of Quito we visit Calderon (bread dolls figures); Cayambe and the famous Otavalo Indian Market. Lunch. PM. We drive to the gorgeous cloud forest of Intag where we find the most important medicinal thermal baths of northern Ecuador: Nangulvi. Dinner and overnight. Day 2. - Breakfast. Today we will hike to the archaeological site of Gualiman, famous for its Pre-Inca tombs (tolitas); here we also visit the on-site basic archaeological museum formed with ceramics of the tombs. Lunch. In the afternoon we will enjoy more of the medicinal thermal baths of Nangulvi. Dinner and overnight. Day 3. - Breakfast. After a short dip in the swimming pools, we start driving back to Otavalo; en route we will visit the Crater Lake of Cuicocha and Cotacachi (leather town). Lunch. PM. Return to Quito.