The closest of the Imbabura lakes to Otavalo, Lago San Pablo sits just 6 km south of town at 2,660 metres, with Imbabura volcano rising dramatically behind it. The road around the lake is about 17 km long and mostly flat, making it good for cycling or a leisurely drive.
The village of San Pablo del Lago on the eastern shore has a small Sunday market and a 16th-century church. On clear mornings, the reflection of Imbabura in the lake is one of the best photographic opportunities in the region. Several haciendas around the lake offer accommodation and horseback riding.