Otavalo, Market town in Imbabura Province, Ecuador.
The Plaza de los Ponchos hosts hundreds of vendors presenting textiles, leather goods, jewelry, musical instruments, and traditional crafts under concrete umbrella structures.
Founded in 1534 by Spanish conquistador Sebastián de Belalcázar, Otavalo transformed from a farming settlement into a major textile production center.
The Otavalo people maintain their identity through traditional dress, with women wearing embroidered blouses and men displaying dark blue ponchos with white trousers.
The market operates daily at Plaza de los Ponchos, reaching its peak on Saturdays when additional streets fill with vendors selling crafts and livestock.
Located at 2,550 meters elevation, the city sits between three volcanoes: Imbabura, Cotacachi, and Mojanda, creating natural boundaries around the settlement.
Location: Imbabura Province
Location: Otavalo Canton
Inception: December 1534
Founders: Sebastián de Belalcázar
Elevation above the sea: 2,550 m
Website: http://otavalo.gob.ec
GPS coordinates: 0.23333,-78.26667
Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:14
Ecuador contains photographic subjects from Quito's colonial streets to Galápagos Islands landscapes. The country features architectural monuments, volcanoes, crater lakes, waterfalls and national parks. Locations include the National Vow Basilica, Cotopaxi Volcano, Quilotoa Lake and cultural centers like Otavalo Market.
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