Otavalo – 3700m asl
Otavalo’s beauty lies in its people and surroundings, the Otavaleños and the towering volcanoes that surround the andean town. The Otavalo Market, which makes this market town famous, is undoubtedly one of the most important and spectacular markets in all of Latin America. The Otavalo market is attractive to visitors for both its outstanding shopping and its cultural significance. Local people use market day much the way their ancestors did during Ecuador’s pre-Colombian history. The Otavalo market is a fascinating way to experience traditional Ecuadorian culture and the traditions of the Andes. The best day of the week to hit the market is Saturday, which is the biggest market day for gringos and locals alike. This market is centered around ‘Poncho Plaza’ but extends up and down Salinas street and all intersecting streets for several blocks in each direction. All day long, the whir of cotton candy machines, Andean pipe music, and Quichua, the native tongue derived from the Incan tongue, drift across the square. A blinding maze of colored textiles spills from the square out across town, encompassing the area between Quito and Calderón and Bolívar and 31 de Octubre. As you stroll the streets you’ll find everything from jumpers to armadillo shell guitars, wall hangings to ceramic fried eggs. On the stretch of Jaramillo between Quito and Quiroga streets, mothers and infants share the street with geese, puppies, pigeons and cuyes (guinea pig –a popular local food). Down on Quiroga between Jaramillo and 31st de Octubre (in front of the Plaza de Toros), the ponchos and babywear are supplanted by potted plants, skinned calf heads and bleating goat herds. The northern edge of the textile market is bounded by Calderon, where salesmen extolling the joy of Tupperware stand between stalls of snakeskin, herbal remedies, and bars of magical soap used to ward off jealousy. A few blocks north, the streets are overtaken by stalks of ripening bananas and pyramids of citrus fruit. The produce market (open roughly the same hours as the Artesanias market) begins on 31st de October at Calderon and runs past the former cock-fighting pit (which was outlawed in 2012, but there may be clandestine fights aroundOtavalo still) to a covered market bursting with tropical fruit and vegetables. Non-carnivorous folk will have to avert their eyes, as some of the meat stalls — splattered with eyes, jaw bones, ears and muzzles — are straight out of Vegetarian Hell. On Plaza Copacabana by the small fun fair and the local train station, there’s a smaller but still interesting food market, featuring mountainous piles of potatoes and multicolored sweets. Source: www.ecuadorexplorer.com
Otavalo’s beauty lies in its people and surroundings, the Otavaleños and the towering volcanoes that surround the andean town. The Otavalo Market, which makes this market town famous, is undoubtedly one of the most important and spectacular markets in all of Latin America. The Otavalo market is attractive to visitors for both its outstanding shopping and its cultural significance. Local people use market day much the way their ancestors did during Ecuador’s pre-Colombian history. The Otavalo market is a fascinating way to experience traditional Ecuadorian culture and the traditions of the Andes. The best day of the week to hit the market is Saturday, which is the biggest market day for gringos and locals alike. This market is centered around ‘Poncho Plaza’ but extends up and down Salinas street and all intersecting streets for several blocks in each direction. All day long, the whir of cotton candy machines, Andean pipe music, and Quichua, the native tongue derived from the Incan tongue, drift across the square. A blinding maze of colored textiles spills from the square out across town, encompassing the area between Quito and Calderón and Bolívar and 31 de Octubre. As you stroll the streets you’ll find everything from jumpers to armadillo shell guitars, wall hangings to ceramic fried eggs. On the stretch of Jaramillo between Quito and Quiroga streets, mothers and infants share the street with geese, puppies, pigeons and cuyes (guinea pig –a popular local food). Down on Quiroga between Jaramillo and 31st de Octubre (in front of the Plaza de Toros), the ponchos and babywear are supplanted by potted plants, skinned calf heads and bleating goat herds. The northern edge of the textile market is bounded by Calderon, where salesmen extolling the joy of Tupperware stand between stalls of snakeskin, herbal remedies, and bars of magical soap used to ward off jealousy. A few blocks north, the streets are overtaken by stalks of ripening bananas and pyramids of citrus fruit. The produce market (open roughly the same hours as the Artesanias market) begins on 31st de October at Calderon and runs past the former cock-fighting pit (which was outlawed in 2012, but there may be clandestine fights aroundOtavalo still) to a covered market bursting with tropical fruit and vegetables. Non-carnivorous folk will have to avert their eyes, as some of the meat stalls — splattered with eyes, jaw bones, ears and muzzles — are straight out of Vegetarian Hell. On Plaza Copacabana by the small fun fair and the local train station, there’s a smaller but still interesting food market, featuring mountainous piles of potatoes and multicolored sweets. Source: www.ecuadorexplorer.com
Peguche Waterfall
is a beautiful waterfall of 18 m in height, formed by the river of the same name, which starts at Lake San Pablo. The waterfall is a beautiful and spiritual ritual site, where people the night before the Inti Raymi eve come to the waters of the waterfall for a holy bath in order to prepare themselves spiritually and celebrate the holidays that last a few days. It is considered a sacred place in the culture of the peoples of Otavalo because a property of the Indians is their relationship with the natural environment, especially the mountains, water, trees with respect to whom remains a cluster of meanings that inspired and inspire tales, myths and legends and rituals. The main legend keeps Peguche Waterfall, is that inside there is a cauldron of gold guarded by two black dogs and one side of it sat the devil with a plate of sand, which is exchanged for the gold pan and daily gradually casts away the sand and when finished takes the soul. In the vicinity of the waterfall you can find a wealth of plant and animal species, typical of the Andean valleys. The main species are: the Quilico, the dove, the owl field, swallow, sparrow, Sigchos, velvet, Quinde long tail, the Real Quinde, hummingbirds, reptiles, lizards, frogs, toads, small snakes .
Quichua Community: The community living near the waterfall are skilled craftsmen, dedicated to the design and manufacture of textiles and travel the world as traders of crafts. His hands, teachers in the art of weaving and heirs of ancient traditions, they create wonderful textiles in different materials, carpets, blankets, sweaters, jackets, bags, and many others, known worldwide for its excellent quality and attractive designs. Source: www.ecostravel.com
is a beautiful waterfall of 18 m in height, formed by the river of the same name, which starts at Lake San Pablo. The waterfall is a beautiful and spiritual ritual site, where people the night before the Inti Raymi eve come to the waters of the waterfall for a holy bath in order to prepare themselves spiritually and celebrate the holidays that last a few days. It is considered a sacred place in the culture of the peoples of Otavalo because a property of the Indians is their relationship with the natural environment, especially the mountains, water, trees with respect to whom remains a cluster of meanings that inspired and inspire tales, myths and legends and rituals. The main legend keeps Peguche Waterfall, is that inside there is a cauldron of gold guarded by two black dogs and one side of it sat the devil with a plate of sand, which is exchanged for the gold pan and daily gradually casts away the sand and when finished takes the soul. In the vicinity of the waterfall you can find a wealth of plant and animal species, typical of the Andean valleys. The main species are: the Quilico, the dove, the owl field, swallow, sparrow, Sigchos, velvet, Quinde long tail, the Real Quinde, hummingbirds, reptiles, lizards, frogs, toads, small snakes .
Quichua Community: The community living near the waterfall are skilled craftsmen, dedicated to the design and manufacture of textiles and travel the world as traders of crafts. His hands, teachers in the art of weaving and heirs of ancient traditions, they create wonderful textiles in different materials, carpets, blankets, sweaters, jackets, bags, and many others, known worldwide for its excellent quality and attractive designs. Source: www.ecostravel.com