OUR DESTINATIONS
Let us help you find your perfect holiday by phoning us on
We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
Alternatively, check out some of our holiday offers below.
- Destinations
- South America
- Ecuador
- Quito
- Otavalo
Otavalo
Ecuador is famous for its colourful, indigenous markets, and the
best known of these is market day at Otavalo. It dates back to
pre-Inca times, when jungle products were brought up from the
lowlands to be traded for highland goods. Every Saturday is a
wonderful sprawling mix of rich colour, smells and the sounds of
energetic bargaining, an essential part of trade and an art in
itself. Spread over three plazas and the surrounding streets,
thousands of local
otavaleñosin striking traditional dress sit among their
wares, doing hard business with tourists and locals alike. The
Plaza de los Ponchos is the main area for crafts like woollen
blankets, bright ponchos and jerseys, colourful bags and woven
tapestries. It is possible to buy almost anything from fresh fruit
and rain sticks, to jewellery and dried lentils. First thing in the
morning is the noisy animal market on the edge of town where
llamas, pigs, horses and cows are bought and sold after furious
haggling.
Information & Facts
Language
Spanish is the official language, but Quechua is the main
language spoken among the indigenous people.
Money
The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency in Ecuador. In 2000
the sucre was replaced by the dollar as the legal currency, but
despite dollarization, the sucre will likely persist in rural areas
for a while longer. It is recommended that travellers bring both US
dollar notes and travellers cheques as other foreign currencies are
difficult to exchange outside of Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca. Small
denominations in good condition are the easiest to exchange outside
of the main cities. In the main centres most currencies can be
exchanged at banks and exchange houses (
casas de cambio) at variable commission rates. ATMs are
available in the cities, and major credit cards are accepted in
tourist areas and large hotels although a commission of 6-8% is
often charged.
Opening Times
Plaza de los Ponchos: 7am to 6pm. Animal Market: 5am
to 10am. The Produce market on Plaza 24 de Mayo is open from 7am to
2pm