Introduction
95km (59 miles) N of Quito; 515km (320 miles) NE of Guayaquil; 537km (334 miles) N of Cuenca
Otavalo is one of Ecuador's most popular destinations. The locals, known as Otavaleños, have been famous for their masterful craftsmanship for centuries, and the artisans market here is world-renowned. Otavaleños still wear traditional clothing and cling to their heritage. Men wear their long, straight, black hair in distinctive ponytails, while married women wear multistrand gold-bead necklaces. Saturday is the main market day, when the impressive market spills out over much of this small city. But luckily for travelers with tight schedules, the market has become so popular that it now takes place on the other 6 days of the week, too, albeit on a smaller scale. In addition to shopping at Otavalo's market, you can explore the back roads of the province and visit local studios. Some of the smaller towns specialize in specific crafts: Cotacachi, for example, is known for leather work;...
more local info
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Otavalo Market
- Twice a week (Saturday mornings are best), the town comes alive with the largest highland market in the country. There's a craft market geared...
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- Markets
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El Lechero
- El Lechero is an ancient tree (more tan 500 years old), at the aboriginal times was a military viewpoint called Pucara. From this place be seen...
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