OTAVALO TRAVEL AND TOURISM
OTAVALO
In the road toward Otavalo the visitor will advance pleasant
among landscapes and towns that you/they believe in each one a strong desire to
stop and to explore. The peace, tranquility and harmony that it is perceived in
this region are product of a strong relationship between the residents and the
nature. Nature that is conceived as the exact reflection of a great divinity.
Otavalo is at the present time one of the tourist but important
destinations of the Ecuador. A place loaded with historical wealth, where the
handmade tradition is maintained with great success, dazzling the visitors for
the quality and beauty of each creation. And where, also, he/she will be able to
venture to the conquest of mountains, volcanos, lagoons and valleys, sacred
considered places for the old inhabitants of the region and that today they are
even covered with a mystic load that their being will flood.
The current Otavalo is product of a mixture of traditions, happened
after the arrival from the Spanish conquerors to the continent. As a result the
city shows proud some architectural jewels that well are worth the pain to
visit, not only to be part of the history but for its beauty.
Among the
best examples he/she is the Church The Jordan, San Francisco's Church and San
Luis' Sanctuary, each one of which it harbors an important collection of
religious art. Also, to complete the journey it can enter to the convents and to
know a little more about the old monkish life, as well as the different
atmospheres that present a beautiful colonial classic architecture.
Otavalo also occupies an important place in the field of the
archaeology, in the surroundings they have been discovered vestiges of several
before Columbus cultures of great importance in the region. In the city he/she
will be able to visit private collections (previous appointment) and public that
helped him to come closer to the cultural legacy of these towns.
Among
the private collections that are advisable to visit this that of the Professor
Vásquez Fuller, a man that has dedicated most from their life to the archaeology
and whose work has been of great help in the investigation of the history of the
Town of Otavalo, and the Professor's collection Victor Alejandro Jaramillo also
with interesting historical pieces. Also, don't forget to be given a turn by the
Institute Otavaleño of Anthropology, which conserves pieces of the Town of the
Otavalos, rescued during the archaeological works in the area. The Institute
counts, also, with the most important library in archaeology topics, sociology
and rural reality. 
But, without a doubt some, most of tourists are attracted
Otavalo by the famous one Sabatina it Trades in the Square of the Ponchos,
although the number of merchants and of public it increases the weekends, the
fair remains open during every day. This handmade fair, the biggest in Latin
America, is a conjunction of handmade traditions, there he/she will find
paintings of Tigua, tapestries of the Salasacas, carved of San Antonio of
Ibarra, articles of leather of Cotacachi and crafts of the Saraguros and of the
kichwa of the east.
And of course, they could not lack the crafts of
Otavalo, a tradition that he/she has gone increasing the variety of matters
cousins with the time and improving the quality, but that it has conserved the
essence that made it famous and that it transmits the thought and the
cosmovisión of the otavaleños. When it is in this great handmade center he/she
remembers to make use of their " bargainer " abilities (negotiator), many times
he/she will obtain prices with a 20 or 30% less than the original value, what
will allow him to be able to buy many but products.
Lagoon of San Pablo
It is a beautiful eye of water
guarded by the volcano Imbabura, it is located to 2,670 msnm and so single 5
minutes of Otavalo. Among the vegetation that surrounds the lagoon the Totora it
prevails (Scirpus sp.), one of the matters more important cousins for the local
artisans, used in the production of mats and mats. The fauna is quite also
varied, being possible to observe with White Blue beautiful easiness and Wild
Ducks, among many other species of birds and amphibians that fill the lagoon and
its surroundings of life. 
Cascade of Peguche
This beautiful fall of water is fed
by the waters of the Lagoon San Pablo, the force of the water and the step of
the time they have carved a canyon, even adding more diversity to the landscape.
This area harbors a great variety of animals and plants, characteristic of the
valleys interandinos, for that reason don't forget to visit the Cascade of
Peguche.
During the summer solstice (December 22) the residents of the
near communities go in the night to be given a ritual bathroom with the waters
of the cascade, this ceremony prepared them spiritually for the new cycle that
begins, as much in their fields as in their own lives. This ritual gives
beginning to a series of celebrations that you/they are prolonged for some days
and that they are the reflection of the enormous respect that this people keep
toward the nature. This waterfall is an excellent place to rest and to feel the
vibration of one of the places but sacred of the region. Volcano Imbabura
The Imbabura is an out volcano that reaches the 4,560 msnm, the ascent
it is recommended as part of the acclimatization and preparation if he/she wants
to ascend other volcanos or mountains of the Ecuador. The flora and fauna of the
forests that surround the Imbabura are quite diverse allowing him to discover a
little more about the natural diversity of the area.
For the local
indigenous communities the true name is on the other hand, Imbakucha (that comes
of an old dialect of the area) and it reaches the category of deity. It is
common to hear among the residents myths and legends that talk about this
protective god to which you/they call Tayta with love Imbabura."
Hill
Cusin
The Hill Cusin is located to the east of the Volcano Imbabura, in
its surroundings he/she inhabits the ethnos Kichwa Cayambi, dispersed in several
native communities, among those that the Pijal, Gualaví and Anglo are. Next to
the Community of Pijal it was discovered an archaeological place that he/she has
gotten the attention of the investigators for the discovery of " ridges "
(cultivation technique). This archaeological place, as well as the native
communities can be visited at the present time. 
Lagoons of Mojanda
This is perhaps one of the most
beautiful scenarios in the region of Otavalo, located to only 16 km of the city.
The three lagoons are surrounded of pajonales and native forests creating a
typical biodiversity of Andean Northern Moor.
The well-known big lagoon
as Karikucha is of volcanic origin, it fences her they are the Warmikucha or
female lagoon and the Yanakucha or black lagoon, all they will be able to
transmit him the tranquility of its waters and the life of its environment.
Hill Fuya Fuya
One of the favorite destinations of the
andinistas, to consent to the summit three paths of moderate difficulty exists
but that require of great effort due to the height (4.263 msnm). Once in the
summit the recompense will be enormous, from there he/she will have a
spectacular view of the Volcanos Imbabura, Cotacachi and Cayambe, as well as of
the Andean high beautiful valleys.
Pucara of King Hill
This hill
located between Otavalo and San Pablo's Lagoon, owes its importance to that it
was one of the main places of the local populations' resistance against the Inca
domain. Also, in the summit of King's Hill Pucara he/she is The milkman's
specimen (Euphorbia sp), a sacred tree inside the local cosmovisión. This place
is also visited because he/she offers a view to spectacular of San Pablo's
Lagoon, the Volcano Imbabura and the Valley of Otavalo.
But if it is you
a not very conventional traveler and he/she wants to have a more direct contact
with the culture of the region a good option it is the tourism vivencial. For it
can contact it to some families of the indigenous communities and to stay in
their houses, while it shares with them the simplicity and calm of the life in
the field.
But if he/she prefers to add a quota but big of adventure and
adrenaline Otavalo offers him the opportunity to make mountain cycling;
andinismo in Imbabura, Wet or Cusin; aquatic ski in San Pablo's Lagoon;
parapente; wing delta; chamanismo in the Community of Ilumán; camping site in
the mountains or next to the lagoons; calm walks to horse and relajantes walks.
Finally remember that Otavalo and the near towns have many options to
make of their trip something only and special. For cheers up to visit one
another, discover the magic of an entire town hidden in each lagoon, hill,
volcano, monument or art piece, share with their residents a rich tradition that
he/she has survived years and leave you to catch for the charm of the Ecuador.