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, and women wear multistranded, bead necklaces. Saturday is the main market day, when the impressive market spills out over much of this small city. Luckily for travelers with tight schedules, however, 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, Peguche for its weaving, and San Antonio de Ibarra for its age-old woodcarving techniques.
Read More
Ask a Question
Do you have a travel question about this destination or can you provide a tip to a fellow traveler?
Join the discussion with Away.com's in-house experts in our travel Q&A.
Hotels
We're sorry, we have no hotels matching this destination.
Powered by Trip.com