Otavalo

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Otavalo with Imbabura in the background.

Otavalo is a largely indigenous town in Imbabura Province, Ecuador. The town, which is in a valley, is surrounded by the peaks of Imbabura, Cotacachi, and Mojanda volcanoes.

The Otavalo Indians are famous for the weaving of textiles, a practice which they have had for 400 years. Although its primary market day is Saturday, there are wares available for tourists throughout the week in the Plaza del Poncho.

Otavalo was traditionally an area made up principally of farming communities, but with the growth of tourism the town has begun to focus more on the making of 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 hotels have been set up in colonial buildings along with a number of restaurants.

The Saturday market in Otavalo, showing the colourful fabrics.

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 [1].