5 Important Things About Otavalo Market Ecuador
picture by Lio B.
Welcome to Otavalo, Imbabura Province, and its famous Indigenous Market that is one of the biggest in South America. We will tell you 5 Important Things About Otavalo Market Ecuador
1. Otavalo Market: a must to see during your trip to Ecuador
Otavalo Market and “Otavaleños” (people from Otavalo) are famous for weaving textiles, usually made of wool, which available during the whole week. The biggest market is on Saturday in the “Plaza de los Ponchos”, and there are many local shops selling textiles such as Ponchos, handmade blankets, tablecloths, hats. Most of the craft are manufacturing near Otavalo by micro-family companies. As the influence of their crafts has made them famous out of the country since the 80s, you can currently find people from Otavalo for almost all continents exposing crafts, music and culture, the best way for them to work outside of Ecuador.
You can visit the manufacturing process and buy handmade products, fair trade made from Alpaca and cotton in a Unique Cultural Otavalo Experience.
One of the most beautiful populations of Ecuador is Otavalo with their traditions they have tried to preserve from generation to generation.
5 Important Things About Otavalo Market Ecuador
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2. Otavalo Culture and Events, know them
We can’t speak about Otavalo’s culture without mention the famous Inti Raymi Celebrations celebrated during June’s solstice. The origin of Inti Raymi goes back to the time of the great Inca rulers and to the cradle of their empire: Cusco, whose essence has been since that time: worship the Andean deities, thank for the harvests obtained and exalt the fecundity of the Mother Earth. Other big celebrations are Pawkar Raymi (Indigenous carnival celebrations) and the Day of the Dead on 2nd of November.
3. Otavalo is not a day tour destination, spend more time there
Only 15 minutes from Otavalo Market Ecuador you can find the “Peguche Waterfalls” that you reach by a wonderful trail through the eucalyptus forest near the community. The community has worked hard to create an attractive and informative way to reach the sacred waterfall. We highly recommend you to spend a night at Pucara Loma Lodge.
In the way to Pedro Moncayo (17km from Otavalo), it’s perhaps one of the most beautiful sceneries of Otavalo, the Lagoons “Lagunas de Mojanda” that are surrounded by remnants of native grasslands and forests that maintain representative biodiversity of northern Andean.
If you are seeking for perfect Andean landscapes views near Otavalo, we recommend these places. The Lake “Cuicocha” is a beautiful 3 km (2 mi) wide caldera and crater lake at the foot of Cotacachi Volcano located only 25 minutes from Otavalo. But also Cubilche Lagoons, a very circular shape lakes of volcanic origin with two permanent and two winter or seasonal ponds.
There are more than 5 Important Things About Otavalo Market Ecuador but we will write another post about all the things to do near Otavalo and Imbabura Province.
4. Otavalo and Imbabura Province paradise for hikers
If you just want an easy hike, loop the Cuicocha Crater Laker just 20 minutes from Otavalo and 10 minutes from Cotacachi. If you want to get higher than 4000 meters, you can climb the Fuya Fuya Volcano or also the Yanaurcu de Mojanda Volcano both 4200 meters. If you want to train to get higher and a more difficult hike, just climb the Imbabura Volcano from La Esperanza a moderate to difficult hike to get to more than 4600 meters at the top.
5. If you want Leather, go to Cotacachi Leather Street
Cotacachi, a little beautiful traditional Andean town, is only 15 minutes by bus (and a 35ct ride) from Otavalo. In the main street Artepiel or 10 de Agosto you will find great quality leather goods, from leather belts to leather jackets at a good price. Cotacachi is also the perfect place to live the Inti Raymi celebrations.
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