Faces of Otavalo

 

 

 

 

 

Otavalo is only about 48 km from Quito as the crow flies, the road however is considerably longer and takes about 2 hours by car. The main part of the population in the area is indígenas (indigenous people). They mostly live in nearby villages, dress primarily in traditional attire. Men with dark felt hats, short cotton pants, blue ponchos and long ponytails. Women braid their hair and wear frilly, embroidered white blouses, long black skirts, fachalinas (headcloths) and bright layered necklaces.

Otavaleños are the wealthiest and most commercially successful indígenas in Ecuador with a long tradition for weaving and woodcarving and Otavalo is  Ecuador’s most popular destination outside of the Galápagos.