Otavalo sits in a province dense with Andean towns, crater lakes, and artisan villages. Most can be reached in well under an hour by bus or taxi. The valley's good road network and frequent transport make it easy to combine two or three stops in a single day.
Cotacachi to the north is the leather capital of Ecuador and makes a natural pairing with a visit to Laguna Cuicocha just beyond it. Ibarra, the provincial capital, has a relaxed colonial centre and is the departure point for the famous Tren de la Libertad railway. The Intag Valley to the west is one of the best birdwatching areas in Ecuador, with cloud forest beginning just beyond the Cotacachi-Cayapas reserve boundary.