Otavalo - Beautiful town, easily one of the best markets in the continent! (Otavalo)

Member Name: lula71

Product:	Otavalo
Date:	14/04/09 (119 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastic market, lovely locals

Disadvantages: You will need another rucksack to fit all the souvenirs you will end up buying

Otavalo is a beautiful small town in the Andean highlands of Ecuador, most famous for the magnificent indigenous market held every Saturday (in La plaza de ponchos)... This is honestly one of the best markets for artisan crafts you will find in South America.

***Things to see and do***
Being situated in the mountains there's some good hiking or trekking in the area, on foot or on horseback but the thing that attracts tourists is undoubtedly the market.... it's huge! In this market you can find some of the best textiles in the continent - I never found such beautiful wall hangings anywhere else, and the variety is incredible meaning you will be wanting to save plenty of space in your rucksack for the billions of things you wont be able to resist buying in Otavalo. Besides textiles there are heaps of instrument stalls where you can pick up the usual panpipes and things, and there are some fabulous guitar shops in the surrounding streets. The plaza is surrounded by artesan craft shops which offer jewellery and beautiful woven hammocks, and the great thing is that you can go in and watch the indigenous people hand weaving the fabrics in the traditional way they have probably been doing it for hundreds of years.

The locals in Otavalo are some of the friendliest in Ecuador, but be prepared to barter as they are no afraid of trying to rip you off. Nonetheless they wont be offended by a good barter, but you will probably end up paying way over the odds just because they are so good natured that you wont be able to avoid wanting to give them your money. The crafts here are all amazing quality and so well worth it, and whatever you end up paying, it will be a bargain compared with British prices!

Restaurants in the area are good quality and good value. The portions are enormous and the fruit salads contain every fruit you could possibly imagine. The food market is also a lovely visit - the locals, poor as they are, are always willing to offer free portions of fruit to try, fruits that more than likely you will never have heard of before. It's also a photographers paradise.

***Where to stay***
I can't recommend enough 'Hostal Valle del Amanecer', a beautiful wooden place built around a central courtyard, with plenty of trees, a fire, and the all important hammocks strung up in the middle. A lovely place to relax and meet fellow travellers. Simple rooms but clean, with en-suite shower rooms. A decent breakfast is included in the price.

***Verdict***
Otavalo doesn't have the usual selection of tourist acitivities that many nearby areas have to offer but it is DEFINITELY one of the places to go in Ecuador, for the atmosphere and for the beautiful market. For me this was hands down the best market in South America. It's just a shame that all my souvenirs got stolen with the rest of my luggage a week later haha.

Summary: THE place to go for all you South American gifts and souvenirs