Cotacachi, Ecuador

Capital City

Living in Cotacachi is not for the faint of heart. The town's population of just 10,526 masks a diverse and sometimes uneasy mix of indigenous, mestizo, and Afro-Ecuadorian residents. While the city is known for its artisanal leather goods and annual Inti Raymi festival, the celebrations can turn rowdy, occasionally requiring police intervention. And despite Cotacachi's status as Ecuador's first "ecological county," the mild year-round climate is a double-edged sword - temperatures range from a pleasant 70-80°F during the day to a chilly 50-60°F at night.

This small Andean town is best suited for those seeking an authentic indigenous experience, with a high tolerance for cultural friction and a penchant for leather craftsmanship. For the average expat, the bureaucratic headaches and periodic social upheavals may prove too much.