See a Different Way of Life in Ibarra.
The beautiful Ecuadorian town of Ibarra is known as “the white city,” some say because of its stately colonial architecture, though history suggests it’s actually because the inhabitants used white limestone paste to fight the plague in the 1700s. Today, it’s famous for its fruit ice creams, and the fact that the main mode of transportation is still a horse-and-cart buggy. Kids will feel as though they’ve stepped into a history book seeing carts loaded up with people and potatoes, clip-clopping down the narrow cobblestone streets.
Ibarra is an excellent place to stay as a base camp for a trip to Otavalo, as well as numerous Andean activities. Nearby Lago Yahuarcocha is known for its fresh water and the fish restaurants that surround it. To relax as a family, the Chachimbiro hot springs are just a 10-minute cab ride away. Local people claim that these naturally warm waters have healing properties.