Otavalo Market in Ecuador: How to Visit South America’s Largest Market
A visit to the Otavalo market is one of the most popular things to do in Ecuador. Located in a small, unassuming mountain town outside of Quito, Otavalo is known around the world as the home of the largest market in South America.
The people in this region have been weavers and artisans since before Incan times. The wares at the Otavalo market are a testament to their craft.
The moment you step into Plaza de los Ponchos, your senses will be overwhelmed. There are vibrant splashes of colors, the noise of vendors yelling out prices, kids running around playing and plenty of soft things to touch. Continuing on, you’ll find tapestries and blankets with guanacos and llamas on them, alpaca and llama sweaters, bright ponchos, hand-woven belts, beautifully carved statues, jewelry, flowers, rugs baskets – anything you want, really.
Most of the things are still handmade by the indigenous people who live in the nearby villages and have passed down their craft for decades.
Some people say that the Otavalo market is a tourist trap filled with knock-offs and hiked-up prices.
That is the case in some instances, but not all. I still think that it’s such a great opportunity to try out your haggling skills, see some local artisan goods and, ahem, the largest market in South America. Cheap imports aside, there was no question about whether it should be on my list of things to do while I was in Quito.
The best time to go to Otavalo Market
The weather in Otavalo, Ecuador is close to 60F (15C)degrees year-round, due to its proximity to the Equator and elevation of 8,345 feet (2,543 m) above sea level. The market is held at the Plaza de los Ponchos every day, 365 days a year. The hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The best days to visit the Otavalo market are Saturday and Wednesday early in the morning.
These are “market days,” and there are usually more vendors. It’s a great way to see the market in all its glory. Just be prepared to deal with a lot of crowds.
It was hard for me to believe that a small place so far away from the capital would attract so many people. And coming into town, you’d never guess that this sleepy town out of the way from the other things to do in Ecuador is home to the largest market in South America.
But, I quickly learned that the Otavalo market is the attraction. And, because of it’s worldwide fame, it’s really easy to get to on your own.
How to get to Otavalo from Quito
Otavalo is located 65 miles (105 km) slightly Northeast of the capital city of Quito, in the province of Imbabura. It should take you about 2 hours to get there, with one of these options:
- Bus (around $3.00) – Take a public bus or taxi to the Carcelén bus terminal on the North end of Quito. In the station look for one of the ticket booths that have Otavalo written on the sign and ask for the next available option. Check your ticket for your platform and seat number. It’s that simple!
- Tour ($50-$100) – You can look on sites like TripAdvisor, Despegar, and Airbnb for day tours to Otavalo. They’ll usually pick you up and drop you off at your hotel in Quito and may include lunch.
- Car ($25/day +) – It’s easy to rent a car online and pick it up from the Quito airport.
1. By bus
Buses in Ecuador are very cheap and easy to use. There are buses departing from the Carcelén bus terminal in Quito to Otavalo, Ecuador every day. You don’t have to buy a ticket in advance.
But if you are visiting during one of the big market days, it’s a good idea to check availability online with BusBud or stop in the office a day or two before.
To give yourself the most time at the Otavalo market, you should take the very first bus in the morning and return on one of the afternoon buses. The driver will stop at the main bus station in town and then you’ll need to get a taxi (around $1) to the market.
The town is really small, so your ride won’t take more than 5-10 minutes.
Just remember to give yourself plenty of time to find a cab and return to the station in the afternoon. It’s a busy market and there will be a lot of people trying to get back to Quito at the same time.
You can always ask your taxi driver in the morning for his WhatsApp and give him a little tip to ensure you have a ride taken care of in advance!
2. By tour
Any search for “things to do in Ecuador” will pull up dozens of day trips to the Otavalo market.
They may include other stops as well, taking you to other towns in the area, a local restaurant or the Middle of the World museum at the Equator. And the prices range to fit almost any budget.
You can definitely get to Otavalo Market on your own. But joining a tour could give you some unique insights into the history of the market and the culture of the indigenous people who have lived in the area since before the Spanish Inquisition.
3. By rental car
Don’t overlook the option of renting a car in Quito! It can be cheaper than a tour – especially if you have more than one person in your group – and is a fun way to explore the many towns and parks around Quito on your own time.
Even if you are a solo traveler, you could offer to split the cost with someone you meet a hostel or on a tour. That’s what I did!
I recommend renting a car in the Quito at the airport by reserving it in advance and picking it up when you get to Ecuador. If you’re staying in Quito, it’s a 40-minute drive from the airport. So, that will save you the cost of a taxi or bus and will ensure you get the best price.
Companies tend to raise the prices and tell you they are short on cars – or simply know you’re from out of town – if you show up in person.
The gas prices in Ecuador are some of the lowest in the world (the government raising the prices was actually the cause of the big riots that happened while I was there in 2019). The roads are very well kept and the roads are clearly marked.
Once you get out of Quito, there’s really only one road that goes to Otavalo.
I recommend bringing some small bills for the toll roads and a paper map. Otavalo is in the mountains of Ecuador and your phone probably won’t get a signal.
The best textiles and artisan crafts to buy
The Otavalo market is bursting with beautiful colors and crafts of everything imaginable.
As a photographer and a touchy-feely person, I was in heaven! I would have been happy just walking around and looking at everything.
As I mentioned, some of the things are knock-offs or low quality. But, if you make a lap around the plaza, you’ll begin to spot some of the authentic artisan goods. Don’t you think that picking up a locally-made craft from the Otavalo Market is a unique way to remember your trip to Ecuador?
Here were some of my favorite things that I saw – and bought!
- A colorful alpaca sweater – These are seriously warm and come in any color or pattern imaginable.
- A fluffy llama statue or keychain – These guys look so quirky and squish-able! I wished I had a bookshelf to put one on back home.
- A woven tapestry or poncho – As a former fashion student, I’m drawn to unique textiles. And I know that they are such an integral part of a place’s culture. You can talk to the vendors and they’ll tell you the significance of the motifs on them, but I saw more than one tree of life and lots of llamas!
- A necklace or ring with local gemstones – Jewelry is one of my favorite souvenirs. You can get something that looks really unique and is made from stones and materials that are native to the region you are in.
- A bouquet of flowers – Ecuador is one of the biggest exporters of flowers in the world. If you’re staying for a while, a few bright buds are a great way to cheer up a hotel room or Airbnb.
- A hand-carved rainmaker or maraca – It was so cool to learn how they make these out of gourds. And, like the tapestries, most are carved with animals and symbols that have significance to the local indigenous people.
- Panama hat – Did you know that they actually originated in Ecuador – not Panama? You can get a hand-woven hat to protect yourself from the Equatorial sun on vacation and then hang up somewhere once you return home.
- A woven piece of wall art – I love to decorate my home (when I had one!) with unique things from my travels. And the Otavalo Market will definitely deliver when it comes to decor.
How to haggle with vendors
This is one of the fun things to learn how to do in Ecuador! Like the rest of Latin America, Ecuador is a cash society. And most of the prices at street vendors and small shops are negotiable.
In fact, most of the prices in Otavalo are marked up because it’s customary – and even expected that you’ll haggle with the stall owner. Plus, the main currency in Ecuador is US dollars, so you don’t have to worry about constantly calculating exchange rates!
I talked to a taxi driver a few days before to get the unspoken “rules of the road” when it comes to getting a great deal:
- Only try something on or start touching it if you are interested in buying.
- If you find something you like, simply ask the vendor, “cuanto cuesta?”, which is, “how much does it cost” in Spanish. They’ll write the number down or tell you in English.
- Pause to think a little and consider the price.
- Don’t start negotiating unless you intend to buy the item if the vendor agrees to your price.
- Start your counter offer at 60% of their price.
- Carry small bills so that you can give them exact change. It’s always awkward to negotiate and then ask for change after handing them a large bill!
- Know that, if you’re talking to a friend, most people understand at least some English. So, you can’t talk about how much you’re willing to pay and then offer them an amount much lower.
- If you walk away because they don’t meet your price, the vendor will probably chase after you. It’s okay to simply say “no, gracias” if you really don’t want it. There are plenty of other things to buy!
Lastly, ALWAYS NEGOTIATE.
His words, not mine.
You can always start at a higher number than 60% of the asking price, to build up your confidence. Or you just pay full price, if you want. But, you’ll find that you get a rush of excitement and pride after your first successful deal.
Don’t blame me if you want to start negotiating for everything after that!
Tips for staying safe in Ecuador
Traveling throughout South America, safety is always a concern. Most of the things to do in Ecuador are not particularly dangerous places by Ecuadorian standards. But you do need to watch out for petty theft and robbery.
Anytime there’s a big crowd, there’s an opportunity for pickpockets to grab your cell phone or that wallet hanging out of your back pocket.
Here are some tips for staying safe at the Otavalo Market (and in Ecuador in general):
- Leave your jewelry and other valuables in the vault of your hotel or a hostel locker.
- Get cash and small bills before you go and put them in a few different pockets.
- Never bring out a big stack of money or a full wallet when paying.
- Avoid bringing an expensive camera – if you do bring one, use the neck strap and keep one hand on it.
- Carry a purse or backpack that fully zips.
- Wear a backpack to the front of your body and put your purse across your body if you can.
- Put your phone in the front waistband of your pants or an inner pocket of your bag.
- If you drove a rental car, don’t leave anything in your car and remember to lock it.
Honestly, these are tips you should really follow in any big crowd or while traveling.
When visiting Otavalo, I shared a rental car with one other woman. Both of us felt safe and didn’t feel the need to do anything other than what I listed here.
Other things to do in Otavalo, Ecuador
You could easily spend an entire day at the market. But there are tons of other things to do in Otavalo!
When visiting a well-known tourist attraction, I always try to see what else might be in the area. Something that is a bit more off the beaten path. In Ecaudor, I was really interested in learning more about their traditions and visiting some of the places that were important to them.
Here are some of the other things to do in Otavalo – or nearby:
- Visit a local community for a full-day or overnight immersion. You learn more about the everyday lives of indigenous people in Ecuador. I found some great options on Airbnb Experiences for this. They looked like they were authentic and hosted by true locals, not big tour companies.
- Take a taxi to the Otavalo animal market, held right outside town every Saturday.
- Participate in a mezcal ceremony.
- Stop at a local cafe for delicious Ecuadorian chocolate and to try some other traditional foods.
- Shop at the leather market in Cotocachi, full of artisan products like hats, coats, belts and more.
- Do a day hike around the crater lake in Cuicocha National Park, with stunning views of Otavalo in the valley below.
- Discover the pre-Columbian and pre-Incan ruins at Cochasquí. This is an ancient burial ground with 15 pyramids and 21 tombs.
A self-guided day trip from Quito to Otavalo, Ecuador could easily include a walk around the Otavalo market, a visit to the nearby leather market in Cotacachi, a hike around Cuicocha Lake and maybe even a stop at the pyramids later in the day.
I had to do some work the morning of our trip, so we got a late start around 1:00 p.m. But we still got to spent a few hours at the market, hike in Cuicocha National Park and make back to the hotel by 9:00 p.m.
There are so many things to do in Ecuador, it can be hard to choose what you want to see during your trip.
It’s a country that sits on the Equator, has a history that dates back thousands of years to the Incan Empire, is home to the highest capital city in the world, the imposing mountaintops of the Andes, the famous Cotopaxi volcano, the dense jungles and mysterious cloud forests in Mindo, the steamy Papallacta hot springs and the crystal blue Quilotoa Lake.
It even has some beautiful beaches, surfing, and the famous Galapagos Islands, which are one of the most biodiverse places on earth.
But you shouldn’t miss the chance to see South America’s largest market and some of these other things to do in Otavalo! It’s an easy day trip from Quito and will show you a whole different side of Ecuador. Plus, it’s something that you can easily do on your own – and at any budget.
