Otavalo Market and Town: Rainbow Colours and Cultures

Otavalo is rightly fêted as one of the greatest craft markets in Latin America. It’s a festival to brilliant textiles of every colour of the rainbow and the skill of its local weavers. All within two hours of Quito.

 

North of Quito, at the feet of "Taita Imbabura" (Daddy Imbabura) Volcano, surrounded by lakes, patchwork-covered hills and plantations of corn, lies the valley of Otavalo. Its market is one of the most famous in Latin America, and is a must-see for any visitor to Ecuador. The array and quality of products for sale is astounding. The Otavalans are proud and industrious people. Their weavings and crafts leave little doubt as to their skills, and their region little doubt as to the source of their pride.

Although some visitors only make it to Otavalo for a quick day of shopping, the region offers so much more in the way of attractions and activities. For those seeking quality crafts, one can visit the weaving families in their homes in Peguche for instance, head to the leather town of Cotacachi or to the wood-carvers of San Antonio de Ibarra. For those looking for nature and the great outdoors, there are fantastic hikes around the Mojanda Lakes to the west, around the Cuicocha crater above Cotacachi, in the foothills or to the top of the Imbabura Volcano, and then there are watersports and relaxation on Lago San Pablo. Oh yes, and then there are various historic haciendas, fabulous bases for exploring the region by car, on foot, by bike or on horseback.

See our “Quito to Otavalo Route” for exploring the countryside from Quito to Otavalo.