Tales from the Trail (and Places I've Been): Otavalo Market tour

This morning we meet the rest the people who will join us in the Galapagos, and our local Quito guide, Carlos, who takes us an hour drive north to explore the Otavalo market. Otavalo’s history goes back before the Inca arrived in the early 1400s. People from the lowlands would bring produce up to Otavalo to trade for mountain products. Six hundred-plus years is long time for a market to endure.

A Little History
The Inca state was the ‘Kingdom of Cuzco’ before the 1430s. Through peaceful assimilation and some more fierce and aggressive efforts, the Inca incorporated a major segment of western South America, centered on the Andean mountain range. Quechua, a language with ties to the Inca, is most often linked to a substantial area of Peru, and is also still spoken in parts of other South American countries (including Ecuador).

The Inca retained control of the area until the arrival of Francisco Pizarro in 1532. The Otavalo market continues to this day.

Today’s market serves two purposes. Local people still come to buy goods and barter for livestock. But now tourists take in the atmosphere, explore the stalls and admire and buy native crafts.

Often the clothing of those in the marketplace shows their local ties-- robes, dresses, scarves, hats... Just as often, they're dressed in 'typical' modern casual wear. I'm especially impressed by the way so many people are carrying baskets of goods on their heads (on my best day, I don't think I could do that.)

Otavalo is a busy area filled with tourists, natives, children, and animals. Two things strike me: women have a major role in the Otavalo market. And there seem to be many native children here of school age... but they're obviously not in school.

This is an area where a picture truly is worth a thousand words.

The first group of photos provide some sense of the market that targets the native population---more produce and practical goods in the various stalls.

We also see a blend of the native population and tourists (easy to spot--people with backpacks, cameras, purses, and/or modern-looking clothing) in areas selling less produce and more items that would make great souvenirs.