Otavalo Market

Editor’s Note: Jessica Marati will be traveling the globe over the next several months and plans to send us dispatches about the local artisans, trends and amazing finds she uncovers during her stay. This is a first in a series of posts about her observations during a recent trip to Ecuador. Be sure to read her prior articles on Argentina and Chile.

I am a complete sucker for markets. I love everything about them — the chaos, the colors, the sights and the smells. Whenever I visit a new place, one of the first things I do is seek out the closest market. It’s my favorite way to immerse myself in local culture.

Imagine my excitement when I discovered that the largest handicrafts market in South America is located just outside of Quito, Ecuador, my latest travel stop. The Otavalo Market, located in a large town of the same name in the Imbabura Province, draws thousands of locals and tourists every Saturday. The best time to experience the marketplace is early morning, so I set my alarm to an ungodly hour and traded a Friday night out with fellow travelers for a good night’s rest.

Merchant at Otavalo Market

The journey to Otavalo was long and tiring. It started at 6 a.m. and ended four hours, five buses and a taxi ride later, at the foot of the marketplace. After grabbing a tamale and a cup of café con leche, I surveyed the scene — the chaos, the colors, the sights and the smells. Totally worth the trip.

Most of the market’s vendors are indigenous Otavaleños, whose distinctive traditional dress and wonderful hospitality are reason enough for the trip. Rather than try to hassle passersby, standard practice at most markets, they sat calmly by their stalls, letting the merchandise speak for itself. They were a pleasure to purchase from.

Hand made jewelery at Otavalo Market

Hand made wallets at Otavalo Market

Among the highlights of the items on display: unbelievably soft alpaca wool throws, traditional gold-beaded necklaces, brilliantly colored hand-woven textiles, instruments crafted from local wood and chunky Andean-themed scarves. I took my time wandering through the maze-like aisles, but despite my best efforts, I couldn’t stop myself from going a little overboard. I like to think of it as cultural immersion at its very best.