There’s more to Ecuador than just Quito and the Galapagos. Many of the country's less-visited cities offer a fascitnating insight into the unique culture and spectacular landscape of this Latin American gem.

 

 

Overlooked by a magnificent volcano, Otavalo is a primarily indigenous town well-known for its beautiful handicrafts. Saturday is the most popular market day, although you can visit any time during the week to bargain for superb rugs, sweaters, scarves and carvings. Otavalo is one of the best places in Ecuador to tap into the culture of the indigenous people, so make sure you take the time to check out the rest of the town once you’ve picked up gifts for everybody back home. Don’t miss the lively local animal market, the Ethnographic Museum and Parque Condor – a rehabilitation facility for Ecuador’s birds of prey.

 

Nicknamed ‘the Sultan of the Andes’, Riobamba is a delightful city surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Its Museum of Religious Art houses a fine collection of exquisite sacred objects, while the neoclassical basilica in Parque la Libertad is the only round church in Ecuador. Riobamba is the starting point for the Nariz del Diablo (Devil’s Nose) – a thrilling rooftop train ride through truly spectacular terrain. The city is also an excellent spot for organising hiking tours in the surrounding mountains.