Otavalo:

Overview I How to get there I Getting around I Markets I Accommodation I Restaurants I Fun I Festivals I Shopping I Activities I Tour operators I Transport I General interest I Around Otavalo I Museums I Spanish schools I Write a review about Otavalo

Overview

The city of Otavalo has around 26,000 inhabitants and is infamous for its crafts and weavers that predates back to Inca times along with its colorful Saturday markets.

© Picture by Isabel de Wuth. 02-2282841.

The Otavaleños have sophisticated business distribution logistics and are equipped with wholesale warehouses combined with several international freight forwarders that distribute to many parts of the USA and European countries. They have also marketed well a series of good restaurants, hotels and cafes to suit the travelers varying tastes in addition to 1000s of small stalls for the visitor to peruse at his leisure.

The Otavaleños..

As previously mentioned the Otavaleños are world famous for their weaving prowess and commercialization in the modern world while maintaining a sense of tribal identity of culture and customs.

A fine example of the latter may be seen in their dress codes, visitors will see them in typical daily attire consisting of fully reversible ponchos (blue or gray), roped leather and rubber sandals, white pants, calf length and dark hats made of felt along with their long plaited ponytails. The women on the other hand wear colorful embroidered blouses, shawls and black skirts with head cloths while their wrists are decorated in red and golden colored beads as are their necklaces.

The Otavaleños are a strikingly proud race of people and also have meticulous sense of personal hygiene. These highland Indians also speak Quichua as their primary tongue and of course Spanish as their secondary language.

In regard to their origin some researchers have concluded that the Otavaleños are descendants of forced migrants while others propound they originate from Chibcha salt traders from Colombia but perhaps the final postulation is more correct which comes from modern Otavaleños who prefer to think they came from local pre-Inca roots.

How to Get there

The bus station is located towards the northeast side of the city on Atahualpa and Ordoñez. See transport, for more information. There is a monument showing Otavaleños Indians dancing close to the bus terminal. From the bus station get a taxi or a local bus to the city center. Or, if you wish to stay near the bus terminal there are some hotels around it.

Getting around

One of the main features walking around the town is the artesanias craft market at "Plaza de Ponchos" along with the produce market in plaza 24 de Mayo.

To check out the town fully it is a good idea to visit the Tourist office information center at Cámara Provincial de Turismo de Imbabura, Bolivar 8-14 and Montalvo. As well as buying a local map. Some travelers report the website www.otavalo-web.com is also worth checking out.

On a final note do watch out for pickpockets and keep your cash in your front pockets or take a money belt for additional security because where there are throngs of tourists be sure you'll find the odd thief looming close by.

Festivals

The Inti Raymi celebrations by the end of June (On June the 21st), together with the Fiesta de San Juan (On June the 24th) and the Fiesta de San Pedro and San Pablo (On June the 29th).

The three celebrations together are also known as Los San Juanes held by the indigenous people in Otavalo. The celebration starts at the Peguche waterfall with a spiritual private ritual. The smaller villages close to Otavalo celebrate with musicians, dancers and lots of drinking. In Otavalo, the indigenous people celebrate with costume parties in the streets and Plazas. This is a week long celebration.

The last day on the 29th of June, there are other events including fireworks, bullfighting and the magnificent boating regattas on Lago San Pablo, which starts in Cabañas del Lago.

The Fiesta del Yamor and Colla Raimi.- These celebrations are held on September, on the first 2 weeks. A well known and the largest celebration in the province of Imbabura. The yamor chicha (Local drink made of several corn types) is prepared and given to the guests along with local delicacies. There is a lot of dancing, processions, cockfights and local music is played everywhere, all this together with fireworks and other amusing events.

Mojandas Arriba.- (31 October) This is an annual celebration that commemorates the day that Otavalo became recognized and declared a "city" by Simón Bolívar.

Shopping

Tagua Muyu.- Tagua (vegetable ivory) and wood carvings. Address: Sucre 10-11 and Colón.

Le Petit Cadeau.- Religious art. Address: Roca 9-03.

Galería Inti Ñan.- Salinas 509 and Sucre (Plaza de Ponchos).

Palos de Lluvia.- Nice crafts. Address: Morales 506 and Sucre.

The Ethnic Collection.- Fine crafts. Address: Jaramillo at Plaza de Ponchos.

Hilana.- Wool blankets amongst others. Address: Sucre corner and Morales.

The Book Market.- Address: at Jaramillo 6-28 and Salinas. The cheapest option for selling, buying, or exchanging books in all languages.

Galería de Arte Quipus.- Native paintings. Address: Sucre and Morales.

Food supplies

Fruti Hortalizas.- Address: Colón 310 and Bolivar.

Activities

Mountain bikes (The average rate is between US$4 and US$6 per day)

Hostal Valle del Amanecer.- Bikes for rent.

Taller Ciclo Primaxi.- Bikes for rent. Address: García Moreno 2-49 and Atahualpa.

Ecoturismo.- at Jatun Pacha Youth Hostel.

Other activities

Yanayacu complex.- Lies on the Panamericana, with volleyball courts, swimming pools, etc. On weekends it's very crowded.

Cockpit (gallera).- Only on Saturdays and Sundays (US$1.00). Address: 31 de Octubre and Montalvo.

Pelota de mano.- It is a popular ball game played on Quiroga and Sucre street, very close to the market. Same as in Ibarra, but the ball is a "leather" table-tennis ball size and the players hit it with the hands.

Tour operators

Important Notice: If you wish to book in advance through any of the below listed tour operators in Otavalo for Eco tours, City, Mountain biking, horse-riding, Hiking or any other desired activity in Otavalo and surrounding areas including Cotacachi. Direct reservations are available through our online Travel Agencies and Tour operators network reservation form, a BOE specialized agent will direct your inquiry and search for the best and most affordable tours and rates!.

Most of the agencies listed below offer day trips to Mojanda, Cuicocha, Intag, Nangulví thermal baths, horse riding tours, etc.

Chachimbiro Tours.- They run trips to the thermal baths on Complejo de Ecoturismo Chachimbiro. Address: Roca 904 and Morales.

Intiexpress.- Horse-riding tours. Address: Sucre 11-06. Another branch on Bolívar and Salinas (corner).

Zulaytur.- They run attractive tours to local artisan villages and provide maps and useful information. Address: Sucre and Colón, 2nd floor.

Suni Tours.- Horse riding tours and day trips to Intag. Address: Morales and Sucre.

Diceny Viajes.- Trips to the Cotacachi volcano with native guides. Address: Sucre 10-11 and Colón.

Transport

Bus

There is a frequent bus service from Quito (Terminal Terrestre). The most known bus cooperatives that travel this route are Cooperativa Los Lagos and Cooperativa Otavalo. You can also catch these buses if not from the Terminal, along Av. de la Prensa in Cotocollao or Av. Occidental. The cost is around US$2 (2 1/2 hours).

Taxi

Regular taxis cost is around US$30 one way. There is also a frequent taxi service which is faster running this route such as Supertaxis Los Lagos (2 hours, US$5 per person). The address in Quito is: Asunción 3-81. Tel. 2565992. In Otavalo: Roca 8-04,Tel. 923203. Buy the ticket in advance at their office.

Other routes by bus

There are frequent bus cooperatives running from Otavalo to lbarra (US$ 0.50, 35 minutes). To Tulcán, Cayambe (US$0.65), Cotacachi. To the surrounding villages such as Lago San Pablo (US$0.25). There is also a frequent local bus service to Peguche for around US$0.25. To travel to the villages on the west such as Peñaherrera, García Moreno and Apuela, several buses leave from Colón and 31 de Octubre.

General interest

Money matters

Vaz Cambios.- Address: Jaramillo and Saona on Plaza de Ponchos.

Banco del Pacífico.- Cash advances, Visa ATM and, Mastercard ATM.

Communications

Andinatel.- Address: Calderón between Jaramillo and Sucre.

Post Office.- Address: On Sucre on the Plaza de Ponchos corner, 1st floor.

Internet (Average rate US$1.80 per hour)

Micro Control.- Address: Bolivar 14-22 and Ordoñez.

Amor y Café.- Address: Bolivar and Quito.

Café Net.- Address: Sucre and Morales.

Native Café Net.- Address: Sucre and Colón. Tel. 923540.

Otavalo:

Overview I How to get there I Getting around I Markets I Accommodation I Restaurants I Fun I Festivals I Shopping I Activities I Tour operators I Transport I General interest I Around Otavalo I Museums I Spanish schools I Write a review about Otavalo

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Overview I Accommodation I Restaurants I Transport I Banks I General interest I Communications I Tour operators I Bars and Discos I Excursions

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