A small market town located only a few miles away from Latacunga and the Quito-Ambato highway, Pujili is a small town with a rich culture and history. Most of the inhabitants of Pujili are indigenous, and the best time to see native customs and clothing are the market days: Wednesdays and Sundays. Unlike Otavalo, which is mainly for tourists, the market in Pujili is still a local affair. Men and women from surrounding villages will pack up their llamas and burros early in the morning in order to come to the market and sell their extra produce for whatever money they can make. Professional vendors also come, bringing their wares, which are generally basic essentials like rope, knives, dishes, batteries, clocks, etc.
Like the market in Saquisili, this is more than simply a place to shop: going to the market is also an important social activity, and locals will dress nicely and spend a good amount of time socializing. Tourists are discovering Pujili (as well as Zumbagua and Saquisili, the other market towns in the area), meaning more stalls are appearing dedicated to Otavalo-style weavings or other popular tourist goods. Pujili itself is known for clay pottery and ceramics, which are also sold at the market.
Of particular interest in Pujili is the Corpus Christi festival in June, which features the El Danzante parades. This fiesta is a fascinating mix of Catholic and ancient native religious practices. Pujili’s location makes it an ideal place to combine with other daytrips to the Cotopaxi area or on a travel day between Quito and Baños or Riobamba. It is especially convenient if you have your own transportation. If you don’t, it is still possible to visit by bus from Latacunga.
For a small town, this place has an interesting history: the citizens of Pujili fought bravely in the war of independence. One of Ecuador’s presidents, General Guillermo Rodríguez Lara, was a native of Pujili. The town was devastated by an earthquake in 1996, but has since been reconstructed.