The Indigenous Market Town of Otavalo

Our search for sunny skies and warm temperatures certainly have not come to reality in Otavalo but that aside, it is a delightful town. It is a very wealthy town, funded mostly by a world famous market, run by the local indigenous people. It is active every day of the week but on Saturdays it is enormous and spreads out into the adjoining streets. And tour busses with occupants from all over the world arrive and the locals are experts at negotiating them out of their money. We visited this town a couple of times we think 11 years ago and there has been a huge change in the infrastructure of the village. They have used their wealth wisely.


We had gotten a tip of a very nice hostal in Otavalo so upon arrival, we got a taxi to take us there. It is 4 km from the town and most of those kms were up. So instead of being at 3000m in the town we were at 3300 m at the hostal and it is hard to believe but there was at least 5 degrees C difference in the temperature. This is the path to our cabin and here it looks very nice but when it is dark and it is pouring rain and the water is running down the path it was not so nice.
And this is what was at the end of the path, our home for one night.
Here is the main lodge of the complex but no sun to enjoy the hammocks.
The view in front of our cabin.


This fireplace was in our room and there was some dry wood outside the door and we tried for a long time to light a fire but both the wood and the paper were so damp from the rain and humidity that it just would not light. We sure could have used some gasoline. A couple who were staying there also got their fire going but said all the heat went up the chimney so was a bit useless.

This is Emma, the child of the owners of the hostal. She will grow up not knowing what was her first language as her father is a Scot and her mom is Ecuadorian.It was just too cool for us up that mountain so the next day we moved down to Otavalo.
This lady is only about 1.2m tall and we saw many people, both men and women just as short as she was. There must be a short gene in the population.
Just one corner of a very busy market. The market is not a food market but a crafts market, filled with very beautiful weavings, art and jewelry, all made by the locals. It is easy to look after your child if you run a stall in the market. Just plunk him down in the middle of everything.

This is one thing that has not changed over the years. What a great way to carry your baby and save money on strollers as well. The typical dress of this particular indigenous group. It is very striking.
And this child is using mom's ears as a steering wheel. A street scene in Otavalo.
The central park is very beautiful, particularly with all the rain they have had.

We are leaving here tomorrow, to another famous Ecuadorian town called Baños. It is much lower in altitude than Otavalo and should be much warmer.