Otavalo General Tips by filipdebont

Favorite Thing: The local people are called Otavalenos.

In contrast with low social position of most Indians, this group is economical and social very appreciated.

Because of this appreciation, they managed to get some special advantages.
Like when they need to go to the military service, they could keep their pony tail, while others needed to have their hair cut very, very short.

To me they were very friendly. No doubt, it is an advantage if you speak some Spanish, like this it is much easier to get some contact with the locals.

Fondest Memory: The friendly local people

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Fondest Memory: To me, visiting a local market is the best way to see the locals in their daily life. You can see the locals selling animals, vegetables or clothing. Also you can learn a lot on local vegetables.

And with a big lens, it is possible to make pictures without disturbing this people.

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Fondest Memory: Also visiting a local market is kind of ideal to observe how the locals dress up.

And the advantage of visiting such a market is that this is not a tourist attraction point. What I mean is that the locals do not dress up especially because of the few tourists which are visiting the market. No, here you can see how the dress up daily.

It was very typical to see the ladies with such hat over here.

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Fondest Memory: Well, people who have already visited some of my travel pages will know it. One of my preferred photograph objects are children.

As to me Children always have some spontaneity, they have something innocent over them. It is always pure, honest. If they smile, they really feel happy.

That is why I like to make pictures of local children while travelling.

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Favorite Thing: After walking around for a few hours at the local markets and in the streets of Otavalo, it was great to sit down on a bench for 15 minutes and to take a small rest break.

Like this it was also great to sit and see daily life of the local people pass by. The main plaza is often the beating heart of a village or city.

Fondest Memory: It was great to see the local people walk by, wearing their colourful dresses.

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Favorite Thing: Our hotel was in Peguche, a small village besides Otavalo. It takes about a small hour to reach Peguche from the centre of Otavalo. And it is easy to find, just follow the train tracks.

As you can see on the picture, the train tracks are in the middle of the street. On this picture you can also see the hotel we stayed in, the Hostel Aye Human, which is run by a Dutch lady (Mike) and her Ecuadorian husband (Waku). And at the other side of the street is the restaurant which is serving delicious dishes.

About 2 km from Peguche you can visit the peguche waterfalls.

Fondest Memory: The great atmosphere, and life music on saturday evening.

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