Imbabura Province
Imbabura is home to Cotacachi and Otavalo, two of Ecuador's most distinctive towns. Cotacachi attracts retirees with its leather goods and small-town atmosphere; Otavalo is world-famous for its indigenous market.
Capital
Ibarra
Climate
Mild highland, drier than Quito
Population
450,000
Cost of Living
Low
Expat Scene
Established in Cotacachi. A growing retirement community attracted by lower costs than Cuenca, leather craftsmanship, and proximity to Quito (2 hours).
Healthcare
Limited. Cotacachi has small clinics; Ibarra has Hospital San Vicente de Paúl. Many expats use Quito for specialists.
Known For
- •Otavalo market
- •Cotacachi leather
- •San Pablo Lake
- •Cotacachi volcano
Airports
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Retirement • Professional • Investor visas
Cities & Towns
Cotacachi
A small leather-craft town between Otavalo and Ibarra, gaining popularity as a low-cost retirement alternative to Cuenca. Clean, quiet, and close to Quito.
Ibarra
The capital of Imbabura Province, known as the "White City" for its colonial architecture. A pleasant, overlooked highland city with lower costs and less tourism than Quito or Cuenca.