Ecuador Travel

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Otavalo Ecuador Market overview

Otavalo has been host to one of the largest markets in South America for hundreds of years and dates back to pre-Inca times when indigenous people would arrive from all over Ecuador to trade or sell their goods. Otavalo is the commercial center for some seventy-five small indigenous communities in the region and although there is a market every day in Plaza de Ponchos, the highlight is the weekly Saturday market where thousands of vendors spill out of the plaza and into the surrounding streets.

Almost one third of the town becomes full of stalls selling textiles, tagua nut jewelry, musical instruments, dream catchers, leather goods, fake shrunken heads, indigenous costumes, hand-painted platters and trays, purses, clothing, spices, raw foods, spools of wool, and almost anything else one could imagine.

Otavaleños have been weavers and merchants for centuries and despite being exploited by the Incans, the Spanish, and the Ecuadorians, have proved to be adept business people. Life became much better for the industrious Otavaleños when in 1964 the Law of Agrarian Reform liberated many Otavaleños from serfdom, allowing them to own property, and freed them to work for themselves. Today, Otavalo has some 140 indigenous-owned and operated stores in town as well as hotels, tourist agencies, and other businesses. Because of their monopoly of the textile trade and associated tourism in the Imbabura province, the Otavaleños are the best-known and most prosperous indigenous group in Ecuador, and perhaps in all Latin America.

One of the pleasures of visiting Otavalo is experiencing how the traditional and the modern co-exist. Many travelers expect Otavalo to be a small, quiet, old-fashioned village because it is known as a thriving indigenous community. It is nothing of the sort. It is a pretty, fairly modern city with stunning scenery, a nice collection of good restaurants, and many unique stores. The locals seem affluent and comfortable and women and men in traditional dress wander by teens in skinny jeans with mod haircuts. Shops full of embroidered blouses share walls with American fashion stores and somehow this all makes sense and seems harmonious.

Otavalo Ecuador main attractions

Otavalo Animal & food market

For early risers, the animal market, also on Saturdays, is an interesting site where hundreds of people come to sell, and barter for, pigs, cows, bulls, dogs, chickens, cuy (guinea pig) and sheep. For such an impressive array of animals, most just led tranquilly by their owners with rope, the market is quite a safe affair.

Otavalo Spanish Schools

Although most travelers come to shop at the market, Otavalo and the surrounding areas are laden with natural beauty and are full of activities for nature lovers, hikers, and the serious shopper who enjoys hunting for the perfect purchase. Many visitors also stay to take Spanish lessons at one of the three Spanish schools in Otavalo.

Imbabura Volcano & Cotacachi volcano – Cuicocha lake

The verdant Otavalo Valley is 3,000 meters above sea level and dominated by two extinct volcanoes, Taita in Imbabura and Mama in Cotocachi, which mean father and mother in Quichua. The two volcanoes are considered to be a married couple who have two children, Urcu and Mojanda, two smaller mountains in the region. These mountains are host to lakes, sweeping vistas, a variety of birds, and several communities that specialize in the production of high-quality crafts, which savvy shoppers cannot resist.

The Cuicocha lake area is full of wildlife and is located next to the eastern access to the Cotacachi Cayapas National park. The lake is located inside an extinct volcano crater with quiet waters, and it is possible to take hour long boat tours across its tranquil waters. The lake is quiet and an enjoyable pursuit is to do the Cuicocha hike around the lake It takes almost 5 hours but is a rewarding hike. It is strongly recommended to hire a guide because the weather can change extremely fast from a sunny day to a cloudly and rainy day, and fog can make the trip a challenging one.

Parque Condor conservation station

Just 4 kilometers outside of Otavalo is Parque Condor, a Dutch-owned non-profit foundation that rescues and rehabilitates condors, vultures, raptors, hawks and other birds of prey. They have free flight demonstrations at 11:30 am and 4:30 pm. On clear days, visitors can see the green countryside dotted with lakes and the two volcanoes in the distance. Taxis from Otavalo cost under $5, or it is a few hours hike from town. Tel: 292-4429, 09-778-9353 URL: www.parquecondor.org 9:30am-5pm Tue-Sun.

Mojanda Lakes & camping sites

Visiting Lagunas de Mojanda provides an excellent opportunity for hikers who trek up a crumbling cobbled road to be rewarded with a spectacular view of three turquoise lakes set amidst green checkered farmland and framed by the mountains with the two volcanoes in the distance. The lakes are 17 km south of Otavalo and taxis will charge about $15 to take visitors to them.

San Pablo Lake

Ecuador’s largest lake, Laguna de San Pablo, is easily reached by bus from Otavalo’s main terminal and provides an excellent walk around its paved edges while watching paddle boats whirl around the lake and enjoying the views of Vulcán Imbabura. There are many hotels and haciendas nearby that provide amenities for renting mountain bikes, jet skis or sail boats, and organize horse back riding tours.

Cotacachi leather city

Shoppers should not miss Cotacachi, famous for its handmade leather items sold in stores spread out primarily along the street 10 de Agosto. Cotacachi is about 20 minutes by bus from Otavalo. Cotacachi has stylish, chic handbags, bomber and motorcycle jackets, trench coats and blazers, belts, shoes, wallets, coin purses and shoes. On Sundays they have a leather market where incredible deals can be had.

Peguche Waterfall

Peguche, 20 minutes by bus from Otavalo is a tiny village known for its handmade weaving of excellent quality that can be purchased at El Gran Condor on the main square Tel: 269-0161 URL: www.arteseniaelgrancondor.com or at Tejidos Mimahuasi, the home of a weaving family. Also of particular interest is Taller de Instrumentos Andimos-Nañda Mañachi, one family’s impeccably crafted charangos (10-stringed instrument traditionally made from Armadillo shells). Cascadas de Peguche, a sacred waterfall near a slowly deteriorating pre-Columbian archeological site is a 2km walk to the southeast.

Bus transport to Otavalo from Quito

From Quito, buses depart from the north terminal of Carcelen every 20 minutes and the ride costs under $3 for the 2 to 3 hour ride to Otavalo. Transportes Los Lagos and Transportes Otavalo both drop passengers off at the bus station, a short walk to the center of town. Buses also leave every hour or so from Ibarra and Tulcan. Alternately, a taxi from Quito to Otavalo is under $60.