OTAVALO TRADITIONAL MARKET ECUADOR: CLOTHING, TEXTILES, PONCHOS

OTAVALO TRADITIONAL MARKET ECUADOR: CLOTHING, TEXTILES, PONCHOS: WET YOUR APPETITE BEFORE YOU SHOP CLOTHING, SWEATERS AND TEXTILES

How get to Otavalo Ecuador Traditional Market from Quito

From Quito, it is a 2 hours' ride to this largely indigenous town in the Imbabura Province of Ecuador. At a road distance of about 100km from Quito, the Otavalo Market is located in the Andes of Ecuador, at an elevation of 2600 masl, slightly lower than the the nation's capital.

It is surrounded by enormous volcanoes: Cotacachi 4,995m, Imbabura 4,630m, and Mojanda 4263m.

The women are dressed in white embroidered blouses, with lace sleeves, and black or dark blue over skirts, with white under skirts. The Men wear white trousers, and dark blue ponchos. Both sexes wear their hair in long braided tails. The women wear many strings of glass-golden beads around their necks and strings of coral beads around their wrists.

Let us help you find a great affordable Otavalo day trips from Quito, a wonderful local pub to spend an evening so you will remember Otavalo as a lifetime highlight.

Otavalo, Ecuador Traditional Market, Ecuador: Clothing, Textiles and Ponchos

With about 100,000 inhabitants it is home to the indigenous art market. While the market is open daily, Saturdays are best, followed by the Wednesdays. Market hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In fact, the Otavalo Indian market is one of the nicest in all of Latin America with art products unknown anywhere else in South America. Many products have been influenced by western art, like the patterns inspired by Escher, but then incorporated in the local Inca art motives. Colors, keen art craft, quality wool, all overwhelmingly present at this market, make a visit to Otavalo an absolute must when you visit Ecuador.

The Otavalo Market is held on the Plaza de los Ponchos, was built with financing of the Netherlands in 1970 and designed by the Dutch architect Tonny Zwollo. It consists of 90 concrete umbrella-shaped stalls with benches. The famous Otavalo clothing, ponchos and textiles are mostly made of wool, weavings in many bright colors. Otavalo Market days are all week long but there is more on Saturdays, the market's peak day, when almost one third of downtown becomes clad with stalls selling items like 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 and spools of wool. With so much competition, prices at the Otavalo Artisan Market are very reasonable, and there is not much room for negotiation.

If you can't make it to Otavalo, we recommend you go in Quito to the Mercado de Artesanias El Mariscal, in the Calle Juan Leon Mera & Jorge Washington and for better quality products to Productos Andinos on the corner of Callle Urbina & Cordero. For more information, read: Art and Craft in Ecuador.

Originally a typical Andean agricultural area on the rich volcanic soils, Otavalo consisted originally of a farming community . With the popularity of the Otavalo crafts aided by the rich traditional clothing tourism started to grow in the 1970s, and the town now is one of the prime destinations for tourists and there are now many more posadas (hotels in a colonial house surrounding a courtyard), than other similarly sized Ecuadorian towns, while all week long, romantic restaurants in old colonial houses entertain their guests with traditional Andes music. Every year the the indigenous festival for the summer solstice, called Inti Raymi takes place around the the 21 of June, in different towns in the region, including at the Peguche Waterfall (contact is for details).

Other Indian markets nearby

Many nearby towns produce their different handicrafts: Cotacachi, is known for Ecuador's leather industry, while San Antonio, is known for its wood carving, with show case art displayed in the streets in the form of carved statues, picture frames, and furniture. All these places can be comfortably visited from your hotel en Otavalo in 30 - 45 minute rides. Ask us for details.

The concrete umbrella shaped stalls with benches on the market at Plaza de los Ponchos, Otavalo, Ecuador was financed by the Netherlands development cooperation in the 1970s.

Merchandize includes countless different artistic products, like Otavalo clothing, ponchos and textiles and everybody finds something of his or her taste.

Otavalo women having fun among themselves at a moment when visitors are scarce.

Most people can't resist buying art craft and textiles, ponchos and clothing in Otavalo.

Panama hats

Antiques

There is a wide range of woven products, jewelry, Otavalo clothing, ponchos, textiles, wood carvings, paintings, Panama hats, antiques, etc.

Much of daily life in Otavalo plays right before your eyes in the streets. It is such a hospitable and friendly community.

"Nightlife in Otavalo"

Wao, this guy was sooo good. My wife and I could not leave until we were the last people in this local restaurant and he told us he was sorry but had to get some sleep. What a lovely group of people.

Enchanting traditional music and friendly "nightlife" in Otavalo is a lifetime experience.

Things to do in Otavalo Ecuador

While not among the very old colonial cities, Otavalo, Ecuador, has charming monumental buildings, like the City Hall, the Jordan Church and the San Luis Church. The Plaza Bolivar is quite popular among the local community and often, on weekends people flock together for music performances. However, don't expect to find historical buildings of the grandeur of Quito and Cuenca. Otavalo most and for all is the center of the present day Indian craft and art. Just a small rural town half a century ago, one will also not find any important Ecuadorian museum.

The city hall of Otavalo.

Plaza Grande, Otavalo.

The Jordan Church.

San Luis Church.

Peguche waterfalls

Just 5 minutes out of town are the beautiful Peguche Waterfalls:

Entrance of the Peguche Waterfalls reserve.

Visitors walking the last part towards the falls along the creek.

Great Otavalo Hotels at a great price

Economical clean and charming bed and breakfasts or "posadas" (hostels) are available in. To explore the Otavalo Indian Market there are plenty friendly hotels and hostals. We know where to find them so you can feel at home in this charming city. Hostal Dona Esther is our favorite place for if you want to stay in Otavalo itself, so that you can just stroll to the market, but of course there are many more hostels for every taste and budget.

OTAVALO TRADITIONAL MARKET ECUADOR: CLOTHING, TEXTILES, PONCHOS: Traditional dances at Chorlavi.

Hacienda Chorlavi.

Chorlavi is one of the oldest and most charming haciendas of all of Ecuador. It was awarded the most popular hotel of Ecuador by Tripadvisor. It is located at about 20 minutes from the famous Otavalo traditional Market in Ecuador and in the center of all the tourism destinations of the Imbabura province. An ideal location in an idyllic historical hotel if you want to spend several days in the northern part of the country.

City tours are almost daily available. Our Andes Trek, Ecuador program includes the best National Parks of Ecuador in the Andes as well as the famous cultural highlights, like Quito, Cuenca and Ingapirca. Please contact us for information, rates and bookings.

For detailed information on climate and weather conditions read: climate of Cuenca, Ecuador; climate Galapagos Islands in Ecuador; climate in the Amazon of Ecuador and climate of Ecuador. If you want to learn more about the country, read Ecuador Facts.

OTAVALO TRADITIONAL MARKET ECUADOR: CLOTHING, TEXTILES, PONCHOS