The Otavalo market occupies many blocks in the city center and has become a tourism destination featuring high quality goods at modest prices. For Europeans with a strong Euro, the prices are downright cheap!

Otavalo is a largely indigenous town in Imbabura Province, Ecuador, well known for its market. The town lies in a valley, surrounded by the peaks of Imbabura, Cotacachi, and Mojanda volcanoes. The Indians of Otavalo are famous for the weaving of textiles, which has a 400 year history. The town has an expansive market and although main market day is Saturday, in the Plaza del Poncho, there are wares available for tourists throughout the week. Otavalo was traditionally an area made up principally of farming communities but with the growth of tourism has begun to focus more on the handicrafts which have made the Saturday market a popular stop with visitors to Ecuador. Tourism had become the town's main industry and as a result many beautiful hotels have been set up in colonial buildings and in the spectacular surroundings as well as a number of restaurants. The Saturday market in Otavalo, features the colorful fabrics, as shown in these photos. As Otavalo is famous for its textiles, many of the nearby villages and towns are famous for their own particular crafts. Cotacachi, the center of Ecuador's leather industry, is known for its polished calf skins. In San Antonio, where the local specialty is wood carving, the main street prominently displays carved statues, picture frames, and furniture. Otavalo is also known for its Inca-influenced traditional music and musicians. There are many musical groups currently traveling around the world promoting Inca music (sometimes known as Andean New Age). This style of music has had notable commercial success worldwide.

(Adapted from: Otavalo. (2008). From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia)

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Free pictures of scenes in and around Otavalo Market, Ecuador. Otavalo City scenes are separate.

01otavalomarket.jpg Bright textiles on display at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador.	02otavalomarket.jpg Brightly colored wood carvings on display at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador.	The YouTube collection of videos of Ecuador   Watch the latest Ecuador videos on YouTube.com
03otavalomarket.jpg Bright ceramic bowls on display at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador.	04otavalomarket.jpg Bright drums and stringed instruments made from local animals on display at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador.
05otavalomarket.jpg Policeman patrolling the market in Otavalo, Ecuador.	06otavalomarket.jpg Bright handbags and textileson display at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador
07otavalomarket.jpg Bright hats and textiles on display at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador.	08otavalomarket.jpg Children hanging out near their mothers' display at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador.
09otavalomarket.jpg Bright textiles on display at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador	10otavalomarket.jpg Beautiful clothing worn by indigenous women at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador. Many carry their blanket on their head for when they need to sit.
11otavalomarket.jpg Bright clothing worn by indigenous women at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador.	12otavalomarket.jpg Bright hats, masks, beads, and textiles on display at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador
13otavalomarket.jpg Bright textiles on display at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador	14otavalomarket.jpg Typical indigenous clothing and b right textiles on display at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador
15otavalomarket.jpg Young girl with a baby on her back, at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador. VERY large children are often carried this way.	16otavalomarket.jpg Typical indigenous clothing, complete with a baby on the back, at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador. VERY large children are often carried this way.
17otavalomarket.jpg Typical pancho and hat clothing worn by indigenous men at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador.	18otavalomarket.jpg Trying on Panama hats at the original source at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador
19otavalomarket.jpg Security guard and typical clothing worn by indigenous people at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador	20otavalomarket.jpg Typical clothing and jewelry worn by indigenous women at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador
21otavalomarket.jpg Typical clothing worn by indigenous people at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador. Muck boots are popular in many rural areas.	22otavalomarket.jpg A sword made from a swordfish lies on top of a table of brightly cover nick nacks at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador
23otavalomarket.jpg The remains of one of many whole cooked pigs at a restaurant at the Otavalo market in Ecuador	24otavalomarket.jpg A clash of cultures: manikens of a clothing store stand behind women in typical clothing worn by indigenous people at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador.
25otavalomarket.jpg Pots and pans for sale at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador.	26otavalomarket.jpg Young vendors of beads and belts at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador.
27otavalomarket.jpg Feather ornaments for sale at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador	28otavalomarket.jpg Brightly painted trays and carvings for sale at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador
29otavalomarket.jpg Sea shells and other goods for sale at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador. The Incas used beads from these shells as money, similar to that of the Northeast USA Indians.	30otavalomarket.jpg Children eating a mainstay of hot soup at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador. Several vendors have huge pots of different soups.
31otavalomarket.jpg Local men buying meat from a vendor at the Otaval omarket in Ecuador	32otavalomarket.jpg Local women and produce at the Otavalo market in Ecuador
33otavalomarket.jpg Produce at the Otavalo market in Ecuador	34otavalomarket.jpg One of many whole cooked hogs after a morning of sales at the Otavalo market in Ecuador
35otavalomarket.jpg Various beans at the Otavalo market in Ecuador	36otavalomarket.jpg Produce at the Otavalo market in Ecuador
37otavalomarket.jpg Various beans and produce at the Otavalo market in Ecuador	38otavalomarket.jpg Bright textiles on display at the market in Otavalo, Ecuador
39otavalomarket.jpg Local women buying chicken from a vendor at the Otavalo market in Ecuador	40otavalomarket.jpg Disconcerting security guard with hand grabbing his pistol whenever asked a question