Otavalo

Day 24 - 24 November 2012 

Otavalo is a town located in the Imbabura Province, north of Quito. The Otavalenos, the indigenous people from Otavalo, is considered the most successful indigenous group of Latin America. They are famous for their weaving and craftsmanship and today, many Otavalenos own some of the grandest houses, hotels and vehicles in Ecuador. Despite their success, many Otavalos continue to dress in their traditional costumes. The men wear white cotton pants, dark blue ponchos and dark felt hats. As for the women, they wear white frilly blouses with colourful embroidery, long black skirts and colourful or gold necklaces.

Every Saturday, the Otavalo town would be transformed into a mega market place. This is the day when the Otavalos from the nearby villages would come to the town to sell their textiles and crafts. The Oatavlos are certainly not dull people. Walk into a textile stall and you will be greeted by a huge array of bright colourful textiles!

On this day, the roads around the town centre are closed to traffic and dozens of stalls are set up on the roads selling a huge array of products which include accessories, bags, shawls, clothings, shoes, food and even animals! The Saturday market in Otavalo has gained so much attraction over the years that it is now considered a must-do sight on any tourist itinerary in Ecuador. It is also common to see many tourists making their way up from Quito just to shop at the market on every Saturday.