Otavalo, Ecuador

Otavalo, Ecuador, with the volcano Imbabura in the background
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Otavalo_Imbabura_nina_urkuwan.jpg
Author: Bcasterline
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Otavalo is a major town of mostly indigenous people in Imbabura Province, Ecuador. The town is surrounded by majestic peaks including that of the 4,630m Imbabura, the 4,995m Cotacachi and 4,263m Mojanda volcanoes. In recent decades it has developed into a tourist destination.

Otavalo is famous for its native Saturday market, a place where tourists can enjoy shopping for crafts made by the indigenous people. There is a vast array of souvenirs and trinkets to browse through in Otavalo, from shawls, blankets, ponchos and textile to hats, leather goods, musical instruments and more.

Apart from the Saturday market, such souvenirs and local crafts can also be found at many of the local shops, particularly at the Plaza de los Ponchos.

Saturday Market, Otavalo
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Otavalo_market.JPG
Author: Sputnikcccp
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Visiting Otavalo

You can take a bus to Otavalo from Quito. The journey takes between two to three hours.

Places of Interest in Otavalo

Imbabura Volcano
Inactive stratovolcano intermittently capped with snow.
Mercado 24 de Mayo
The biggest food market in Otavalo, a good place to look at and sample the local dishes.
Mercado Artesanal
The local crafts market that takes place every Saturday at the Plaza de los Ponchos, where you can browse and shop of indigenous items.
Mercado de Animales
The livestock market where the local people shop for their meats.
Peguche Waterfall
A magnificent waterfall about 3 km outside of Otavalo.
San Pablo Lake
Lake at the foot of the Imbabura volcano.

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