The small Andean town of Otavalo is perhaps the most picturesque town in Ecuador. Located at an altitude of over 8,000 feet (2,500 meters), the town is surrounded by beautiful mountains and lakes and is famous for its Indigenous culture and markets. This would probably be where I’d choose to live if I had to stay in Ecuador. Its easy access to so many outdoor activities, great weather, and simple lifestyle are all appealing.
Otavalo’s city center has a small plaza that seemed to have a lot going on for a town of less than 40,000 people. The photo above shows Otavalo’s city hall, a surprisingly large and elegant building for this small Andean town. Around the plaza were plenty of shops and restaurants, and there was even live music one day I visited. It’s one of those places that can feel really lively, and then you step onto a side street and suddenly you’re almost alone.
A large part of Otavalo’s population is Indigenous, although the town also reflects centuries of Spanish and Catholic influence. Photographed above is the Church of San Luis. I visited Otavalo in December, when there were a few Christmas decorations around the city, including the large nativity scene below.
Although Otavalo is definitely a small town, it’s not so small that there isn’t much to do. There were plenty of restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops to choose from. The Indigenous markets are what really make the town interesting, but I’ll get to those in a moment. The photo above is from the center of Otavalo, while below is a lightly decorated Christmas fireplace inside one of the cafes I visited.
What really makes Otavalo stand out is its surprisingly large art and craft scene. There seemed to be more art shops and markets than I could ever visit. Mixed in with the cafes and restaurants were stores selling paintings and other locally made items. In one of the outdoor markets I took the photo below of a collection of heavily used tools. Much of what is sold here is handmade.
If you like souvenirs, Otavalo is probably one of the best places to visit in Ecuador. The markets offer an enormous range of locally made goods, from paintings and artwork to colorful textiles, jewelry, and beads.
I rarely purchase souvenirs, but there were so many things in the market that I eventually found a few that appealed to me. I ended up buying several things from this woman, who was also nice enough to let me take her photo. Most of the items here were garments and artwork, although there were also some more traditional tourist souvenirs, including the llama dolls below.
And finally, this is what I really came to Otavalo for! I wanted a nice place to hang out while also having easy access to some high-altitude hikes. Otavalo is surrounded by several mountains over 4,000 meters that are only a taxi ride away. The mountain above is Cerro Negro, with beautiful Lago Mojanda in front of it.
The photo below shows Cerro Negro as I climbed higher on an adjacent peak and got a more dramatic view of the 13,976-foot (4,260-meter) mountain.
I had come to Otavalo partly to spend some time at altitude and help acclimatize for Illiniza Sur, a technical 17,000-foot (5,000-meter) peak in the Ecuadorian Andes. Illiniza Sur itself was part of my training for Mt. Everest, so Fuya Fuya became one of the first significant mountains I hiked as I got closer to my expedition in the Himalayas.
Fuya Fuya is a great hike and, for the most part, you’re walking across grassy hills. In the photo above you can see there isn’t much of a trail when you first start off. You basically just head toward the mountain. Below is a photo I took as I approached Fuya Fuya, where you can see the trail passing between the two peaks.
And like most climbs, the rewarding part is the spectacular view. Otavalo itself wasn’t too impressive from this distance, but Lago Mojanda was front and center beneath a low ceiling of clouds.
Otavalo ended up being much more than a base for acclimatization. Between the markets, the small-town atmosphere, and the mountains and lakes surrounding it, it became one of my favorite places in Ecuador. If and when I return, Cerro Negro will definitely be my next hike.
