© 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

Fruti Hortalizas.- Address: Colón 310 and Bolivar

Hostal Valle del Amanecer.- Bikes for rent.

Ecoturismo.-at Jatun Pacha Youth Hostel.

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

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.

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

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

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

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).

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.

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.

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

Communications

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

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

Café Net.- Address: Sucre and Morales.

Otavalo: