Otavalo with Imbabura in the background.

Otavalo is a largely indigenous town in Imbabura Province, Ecuador, well known for its Saturday market. The town, which is in a valley, is surrounded by the peaks of Imbabura, Cotacachi, and Mojanda volcanoes. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1598x910, 266 KB) Summary Imbabura in the background with the town of Otavalo on the floor of the valley. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1598x910, 266 KB) Summary Imbabura in the background with the town of Otavalo on the floor of the valley. ... The term indigenous peoples has no universal, standard or fixed definition, but can be used about any ethnic group who inhabit the geographic region with which they have the earliest historical connection. ... Imbabura is a province in Ecuador. ... Imbabura is an inactive stratovolcano in northern Ecuador. ... Mojanda is an inactive stratovolcano of the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes in northern Ecuador. ...

The Indians of Otavalo are famous for the weaving of textiles, which has a 400 year history. The town has an expansive market and although main market day is Saturday, in the Plaza del Poncho there are wares available for tourists throughout the week. Sunday textile market on the sidewalks of Karachi, Pakistan. ...

Otavalo was traditionally an area made up principally of farming communities but with the growth of tourism has begun to focus more on the handycrafts which have made the Saturday matket a popular stop with visitors to Ecuador. Tourism had become the town´s main industry and as a result many beautiful hotels have been set up in colonial buildings and in the spectacular surroundings as well as a number of restaurants.

The Saturday market in Otavalo, showing the colourful fabrics.

As Otavalo is famous for its textiles, many of the nearby villages and towns are famous for their own particular crafts. Cotacachi, the center of Ecuador's leather industry, is known for its polished calf skins. In San Antonio, where the local specialty is wood carving, the main street prominently displays carved statues, picture frames, and furniture. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 1092 KB) The Saturday market in Otavalo, Ecuador, showing the colourful fabrics. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 1092 KB) The Saturday market in Otavalo, Ecuador, showing the colourful fabrics. ... Cotacachi is a canton of Imbabura province of Ecuador. ... Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides, pelts and skins of animals, primarily cows. ... Carved wooden cranes Wood carving is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool held in the hand (this may be a power tool), resulting in a wooden figure or figurine (this may be abstract in nature) or in the ornamentation of a wooden object. ...

Also of note, Otavalo is also known for its Inca-influenced traditional music and musicians. There are many musical groups currently traveling around the world promoting Inca music (sometimes known as Andean New Age). This style of music has had notable commercial success worldwide [1]. Andean New Age (music) is a product of Peruvian flute and Paraguayan harp music. ...

External links

• Otavalo municipality
• Visiting Otavalo
• Otavalo Marketplace Online
• The Textile Market of Otavalo

Coordinates: 0°14′N 78°16′W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...