When visiting Otavalo, I shared a rental car with one other woman. You could easily spend an entire day at the market. But there are tons of other things to do in Otavalo! When visiting a well-known tourist attraction, I always try to see what else might be in the area. Something that is a bit more off the beaten path. In Ecaudor, I was really interested in learning more about their traditions and visiting some of the places that were important to them. A self-guided day trip from Quito to Otavalo, Ecuador could easily include a walk around the Otavalo market, a visit to the nearby leather market in Cotacachi, a hike around Cuicocha Lake and maybe even a stop at the pyramids later in the day.
I had to do some work the morning of our trip, so we got a late start around p. But we still got to spent a few hours at the market, hike in Cuicocha National Park and make back to the hotel by p.
There are so many things to do in Ecuador, it can be hard to choose what you want to see during your trip. It even has some beautiful beaches, surfing, and the famous Galapagos Islands, which are one of the most biodiverse places on earth. If you enjoyed this post, don't forget to share it! Your email address will not be published. I want to get updates on adventure travel! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam.
Learn how your comment data is processed. The best time to go to Otavalo Market The weather in Otavalo, Ecuador is close to 60F 15C degrees year-round, due to its proximity to the Equator and elevation of 8, feet 2, m above sea level.
The best days to visit the Otavalo market are Saturday and Wednesday early in the morning. How to get to Otavalo from Quito Otavalo is located 65 miles km slightly Northeast of the capital city of Quito, in the province of Imbabura. In the station look for one of the ticket booths that have Otavalo written on the sign and ask for the next available option. Check your ticket for your platform and seat number.
By bus Buses in Ecuador are very cheap and easy to use. The best textiles and artisan crafts to buy The Otavalo market is bursting with beautiful colors and crafts of everything imaginable. Here were some of my favorite things that I saw — and bought! A colorful alpaca sweater — These are seriously warm and come in any color or pattern imaginable. A fluffy llama statue or keychain — These guys look so quirky and squish-able! I wished I had a bookshelf to put one on back home.
If you are traveling independently, the most common way to get to the Otavalo Market is via bus. It is common for visitors to travel from the nearby capital, Quito, which is around a two hour bus ride. However, depending on where you are in Quito, another bus or cab ride to the bus station may be required, adding another two hours to your trip both ways.
Because the Otavalo Market is so vast, it may be better to find a hotel or other lodgings overnight in Otavalo, so that you can spend more time exploring the market and the surrounding city. Although the market is open every day, Saturday and Wednesday are the two biggest days.
On these two days, there will more vendors and options, but along with that comes much bigger crowds and possibly pickpockets. Getting there early is another way to avoid crowds and get to know some of the vendors there.
Again, the Plaza de los Ponchos is so large that it may take more than just one day to get through it all. Hacienda Chorlavi. Chorlavi is one of the oldest and most charming haciendas of all of Ecuador. It was awarded the most popular hotel of Ecuador by Tripadvisor. It is located at about 20 minutes from the Otavalo Indigenous Market and in the center of all the tourism destinations of the Imbabura province. An ideal location in an idyllic historical hotel if you want to spend several days in the northern part of the country.
City tours are almost daily available. Please contact us for information, rates and bookings. For detailed information on climate and weather conditions read: climate of Cuenca , Ecuador ; climate Galapagos Islands in Ecuador ; climate in the Amazon of Ecuador and climate of Ecuador.
If you want to learn more about the country, read Ecuador Facts. Panama hats. Cuyabeno Loop. Cuyabeno Lakes. Napo River Tour. Ecuador-Peru Cruise. Download Brochure. Packing List. El Angel Reserve. Cotacachi Cayapas. Peguche Waterfall. Machalilla Park. Churute Reserve. Cajas Park. Always be sure to look after your belongings, at every tourist spot there is a potential for theft and pickpocketing.
Because of the lower elevation, altitude sickness should not be a problem if you have already acclimatized in Quito. The best way to get to Otavalo Market is from Quito.
The town of Otavalo has many rich traditions and a huge amount of history. The customs of the town are intricate and the celebrations are sacred. Everything from marriage to the day of the dead is celebrated. There is even a festival once a year specifically to cleanse the air from bad or unwanted spirits.
Otavalo also has a rich indigenous music scene, with musicians traveling worldwide to showcase their art at different festivals and events. The town also plays a major part in the indigenous festival called Inti Raymi. This takes place every year in order to celebrate the summer solstice. The musicians play music and the people dance.
They were incorporated by force alongside the Inca empire, providing them with textiles. When the Spanish came, their labor then began to profit the Spanish. Their superior skills in weaving led the Spanish to create workshops for the people of Otavalo. The conditions of these workshops were hard and the labor was intensive. Despite this, the textiles industry in Otavalo remained active after the Spanish left and continues to bloom to this day.
After colonial times, the people of Otavalo reclaimed one of the textile factories that was previously used during the colonial era. These days it is a living museum to show the fabrics are made. It is highly recommended to visit the Museo Vivente Otavalango in order to understand the effort required to make these intricate pieces and the history behind textile production in Otavalo. The Peguche Waterfall is also worth a visit to help you understand the lives of the indigenous people.
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