Otavalo

Otavalo

Otavalo, town, north-central Ecuador, in the highlands of the Andes Mountains at an elevation of 8,441 feet (2,573 metres). The area was densely settled by the Otavalo Indians prior to its conquest by the Incas and became a Spanish-controlled settlement in the 16th century. Largely destroyed in the 1868 earthquake, the town has since been rebuilt. The surrounding land, owned in small parcels by the Otavalo Indians, produces cereals, potatoes, fruit, and livestock. The weekly Indian markets and animal markets are famous tourist attractions. The Indian market is known mainly for its cotton and woolen textiles (ponchos, carpets), leather goods, and native jewelry. The Yamor festival, a harvest celebration, takes place in the town in early September. Otavalo is connected by the Pan-American Highway to Quito. Pop. (2001) 30,965; (2010) 39,354.