Otavalo's Markets

The Saturday Market in Otavalo photo by Freddie Sumption

The Otavaleños have been long renowned for their weaving skills, and over the last couple of decades have become the most successful indigenous group on the continent, thanks to the popularity of their weekly craft market. Although most still live up in the hills around the town, and wear traditional clothing, this doesn’t mean they are poor – it is not unusual to see families of six or seven loading rugs into their brand new Toyota Land Cruisers at the end of the day, or women carrying baskets of grain up the hill while talking on their mobile phones.

The main market takes place on Saturday, when stalls appear in the Plaza de Ponchos and all the surrounding streets. Although you can visit the market in a day from Quito (the trip is only two or three hours by bus), most tourists arrive on Friday night. Getting to town early will not only give you a chance to enjoy virtually-empty craft market before the day trippers arrive (and prices rise), but will give you a chance to visit the weekly animal market on Saturday morning (see below).

When you go to the market, remember to try to bargain for what you're buying. Haggling may feel uncomfortable at first, especially if you're not used to debating prices, but remember that negotiating for sales is commonplace here, and locals do it all the time. Knowing what should cost is difficult, but you can generally expect to pay half to two-thirds of the original asking price. Offer half of the original price that the vendors quote and settle at just above.

Saturday is the main market day, but the craft market continues throughout the week in the Plaza de Ponchos (albeit in a much smaller and less frenzied fashion). If this is how you prefer to shop then great – you’ll probably benefit from lower prices as well, thanks to the lack of tourists. But the range of products won't be quite as varied as on Saturday.

The animal market also takes place on Saturday, and goes on from sunrise until around 9:30 a.m. in a grassy square on the outskirts of town - just follow the stream of locals, squealing piglets and braying donkeys. The livestock market is a fascinating and noisy spectacle, and definitely worth the early start.

Taking a stroll through the fruit and vegetable market can be fun as well.  The produce stalls are located a few blocks south of the Plaza de Ponchos and can provide a nice taste of local flavor as well as an escape from the crowded chaos of the craft market. The fruit and vegetable vendors start to sell their wares  at about 8 a.m. and continue all day.

Market, Info.

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Hacienda Cusin - Otavalo Ecuador Hotel Hacienda Cusin is a restored 17th-century Andean estate at 8,500 feet, close to the Equatorial Line and 90 minutes north of Quito, Ecuador. Snow-capped mountains and the famous Otavalo markets are nearby. haciendacusin.com