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Set in a valley in the northern Andes, Otavalo is right at the top of any Ecuador traveler's must-see list, famous throughout South America for its weekly Otavalo market where one can find an overwhelming variety of Andean crafts and is reportedly the biggest of its kind in Latin America. Every Saturday from about 8 a.m., the local craftsmen pour into the town and unfold their wares in the Plaza de Ponchos and surrounding streets, the whole area exploding into a hodgepodge of colourful rugs, clothes, paintings and other crafts. There is also an animal market early on Saturday mornings which is worth a visit.
Parque Cóndor is a non-profit wildlife refuge for owls and raptors, including the endangered Andean ...
One of the most popular spots for hiking is the area around Lagunas de Mojanda. Seventeen kilometres f...
The Otavaleños have been long renowned for their weaving skills, and over the last couple of decades ...







Located in the hills just over 3km outside Otavalo on the road to Lagunas de Mojanda, Casa Mojanda is an interes...







The chapel of the hacienda was originally built in 1580 and Guachalá dates back to 1700. In its heyday, Guachal...







The chapel of the hacienda was originally built in 1580 and Guachalá dates back to 1700. In its heyday, Guachal...







On the second floor of a building on the edge of the Plaza de Ponchos, Buena Vista certainly lives up to its nam...







Pizza Siciliana’s warm atmosphere, famous pizzas and wood-burning stove have been enticing both foreigners and...














If you want to pick up Spanish quickly and effectively, you should go find the Otavalo Spanish School. With leve...







Learning how to work with leather in a workshop that could be fifty years old seems idyllic and romantic, and in...







ChikiNET has zippy internet in a room where your back's to the wall. The local kids who gather around to watch t...







Libreria y Papeleria la Unica has eight computers and a connection that's about average for Ecuador....







One of several leather shops on Ca. 10 de Agosto, Manufacturas Flores can be easily recognized by the hand-craft...







The people were very friendly and helpful---letting me take my time and trying on clothing,jewelry, etc. Am learning Spanish and they were patient with me. If you speak Quechua, even better! Don't miss the pie shop along the side of the market--great place to eat and can sit and people-watch from there. Hostels are clean and inexpensive. Take the time to go to Peguche, an interesting village not far from there.
I´ve been to Otavalo a few times, the market is there every day, but is much more extensive on Saturdays. I´m not a big fan of markets, but it is very interesting to wander around. In addition to the touristy market where you can buy all kinds of souvenir goods, there is also a fruit and vegetable market, and just on the approach to Otavalo from the south, an animal market. I was warned off buying Panama Hats in the market, I was told that they are not good quality. Don´t know how true this is, but worth bearing in mind perhaps.
A GREAT place to see. A South America must see!
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