The heart of Otavalo and one of the most famous indigenous markets in the Americas. Every Saturday the square and the streets radiating out from it fill with vendors selling hand-woven textiles, ponchos, tapestries, hammocks, jewellery, leather goods, and carved woodwork. The quality is high and bargaining is expected — vendors are seasoned traders who travel across South America and Europe. A smaller daily market runs throughout the week for those who miss the Saturday spectacle.
The market has operated here for centuries, long predating the Spanish conquest. The Otavaleño people are renowned weavers, and the goods on sale here are largely produced in the surrounding villages rather than imported. Look for the distinctive ikat-dyed tapestries from Peguche and the finely woven scarves from Ilumán.