Alpaca wool spills across wooden stalls. Ponchos and tapestries provide oodles of colour. Bizarre sculpted faces speak of shamanistic practices. Then there are hammocks, souvenirs, baskets of fruit and so much more. 

Otavalo Market is the most iconic of Ecuador’s traditional markets. Traders arrive from all across the region, descending on the market to sell their various wares. This massive market is a mass of vibrant and vivid scenes, especially thanks to the variety of indigenous people who trade here. 

Explore Otavalo with a local guide, who can introduce you to traders and their histories. There are other Ecuadorian markets you can discover as well, with local travel designers sharing their intimate expertise.