The oldest, biggest and most famous indian market of entire Latin America takes place every Saturday high in the Andes in Ecuador, a three hour drive from Quito. For 4000 years Otovalo has been the social and economic beating heart of the northern highlands.
From the very early morning onwards the Otovaleños, the indigenous people native to the Andeans mountains of the Imbabura province, come to Otovalo to sell their crafts, cattle and dishes. Otovaleños and other Andean people of northern Ecuador are often identified with the pre-Columbian Cara people and as descendants of the semi-mythical Quitu culture, from whence comes the name of the Ecuadorian capital of Quito.
Unlike many other tribes the Otovaleños made it through the Spanish rule as a distinct group. And though their language (Kichwa, the Quechua dialect) has evolved in the last centuries, many traditions have not been forgotten. The people still wear their traditional clothing – women in embroidered white blouses, long wool skirts, fachalinas (headcloths), woven belts, canvas sandals and strands of beads; and men in felt hats, blue ponchos and calf-length pants, hair braided in one long strand.
These people are famous for their weaving and textiles using the wool from the llama. It’s their colourful outlook and crafts that make the city of Otavalo nicely contrast with the green pastures and black volcanic giants in the background. Here’s an impression of a day walking around on the market, while capturing the spirit of the Otovaleños. Play Santaolalla’s song ‘De Usuahia a la Quiaca’ or any kind of panflute song in the background and you have a nice taste of Latin America and the Andes:
