Anna Insuasty,
Correspondent (Travel)
Otavalo is a small city in northern Ecuador that spreads out through a rich and great valley and is hemmed in by a couple of magnificent volcanoes. The Otavalos indigenous community inhabits the city and its surroundings since the days they settled in this land 28.000 years ago and they are widely known for their success in trading activities. They can be found around the world selling the same products offered in Otavalo’s market place and wearing their typical clothing: women with golden necklaces, embroidered white blouses and men with hats, black pants and sandals, both with long hair braids.
Even though Otavalos have a strong culture sense of belonging that’s noticeable in their clothing, language and the goods they sell, they live a constant struggle to preserve their original culture and keep their millenary values alive. With his particular accent, 63-year-old local fabric trader recounts how he was raised and educated in their ancestral language, Quechua, and how through the years he found himself forced to learn Spanish to be able to communicate with people outside his native community, his proud words are full of passion and respect towards his origins and show how important and genuine is his will to protect his heritage.
Nowadays, he gloomily sees the striking contrast in the way his grandchildren are growing up, caring each time a little bit less about their roots, language and values. Overwhelmed by the shimmer of the broadly well-known economic bonanza of their community and the modern things money brings with it, youngsters are leaving behind the legacy their ancestors left them thousands of years ago.
Otavalo offers different activities to its visitors: extreme sports, archeological tours, and visits to museums and parks; but the main reason why it’s visited lies in the heart of the city where an extensive host of kiosks raises like a real fairyland of colors in front of the eyes of its visitors, it’s the local textile market, settled at Plaza de Los Ponchos and overflown on Saturdays (main market day) to the neighboring streets.
Wandering through the market place becomes a fascinating journey while starring at the amazing handicrafts produced by the local families at home. Alpaca’s scarves, hats, blankets, ponchos and sweaters as well as endless designs of straw hats, jewelry and souvenirs are part of what this amazing and colorful place offers to the thousands of tourists that visit Otavalo each year.
This place, known for being the largest indigenous market in South America and famous for the quality and richness of their textile products, is definitely a must see when traveling to Ecuador.
Image Courtesy: Anna Insuasty
Anna Maria Insuasty Khripounkova
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