The Otavaleños        

        Otavalo's beauty lies in its people, the Otavaleño Indians, and their market, undoubtedly one of the most important and spectacular in all of Latin America.
        Otavalo is a modern miracle of economic achievement that grow out of colonial oppression. Forced to become weavers by the Spanish, about half of Ecuador's Otavaleño people are today involved in weaving, which has made them the most prosperous indigenous group in Ecuador, possibly in all of South America. 
        Otavalo lies between Quito and the Colombian border.
        The modern Otavaleños are descended from the Cara tribe, which expanded from Colombia to the Ecuadorian sierra about 1.000 years ago.
        The Otavaleños were forced to learn Spanish to facilitate their conversion to Christianity, although their Catholicism today incorporates ancestral beliefs.
        The best day of the week to hit this famous and friendly corner of the Andes is Saturday, the biggest market day for gringos and locals alike. Arrive Friday afternoon, and then do what most travelers don't: set your alarm for 5:30am. After being jolted out of bed Saturday morning, walk groggy-eyed along Avenida Colon to the river and cross the bridge. Upon reaching the top of Avenida Segundo J Castro you'll find yourself in a scene reminiscent of the pages of National Geographic: the Otavalo animal market. By 6am, with the sun rising and the mountains casting improbable shadows over the town, the market is already alive with squealing pigs and clucking chickens. Plant yourself on the high grassy bank abutting the market area and watch scenes of unloading, buying, selling and bargaining unfold. Take your camera (you can happily and discreetly snap away from your grassy knoll), but leave your animal rights principles behind, as livestock tender loving care is not the highest priority on the day's agenda. By the time the sun clears the volcanoes at 7am, much of the day's business has already been done, and its time to head back into town to the artesian market.