The Otavalo Market

The market at Otavalo, in the Andes north of Quito, is the best-known indigenous craft market in South America, centred on the Plaza de los Ponchos. The Otavalo are weavers who built a textile trade that now reaches well beyond Ecuador, and they fill the square with ponchos, blankets, weavings, jewellery and handicrafts, most heavily on the Saturday market that spills through the surrounding streets.

What you actually see

• The Plaza de los Ponchos - the heart of the craft market.
• The textiles and weavings - the colourful ponchos, blankets and crafts.
• The Saturday market - the huge weekly market spilling through town.
• The Otavalo culture - the traditional dress and weaving heritage.

When to go

Year-round, as there is a daily market, but the huge main market is on Saturdays, when it is at its biggest and most vibrant, spilling far beyond the plaza, including a traditional animal market at dawn; go early on a Saturday for the full spectacle.

Honest expectations

It is at its biggest and best on Saturdays, so a weekday visit sees a much smaller market. It is touristy and geared to selling, so haggling is expected and part of the fun. The quality of crafts varies, from genuine handwoven to mass-produced. It is an easy, colourful day trip from Quito, best combined with the nearby lakes and villages.

Nearby

The Cuicocha crater lake, the Peguche waterfall and the artisan villages are nearby.