The Otavalo Market in Ecuador is an important historical market town for the Inca civilization.  They come from as far as Peru to sell their goods.  You can find everything from tapestries, weavings of all types, and of course, hats.

The market is divided into two main sections, one filled with fruits and vegetables, meat, livestock, and all sorts of everyday household goods.  You’ll even see kittens being sold as pets that will protect a house from mice.

The second part is the area for the tourist.  If you are traveling to northern Ecuador, Otavalo is a stop you will want to make.  In this part you can find all of the hand made carvings, weavings, and precious arts that are so hard to find in the northern americas.

For some great photos of the colorful and diverse goods at the market check out Full Frontal Fashion on the Sundance Channel – they’ve written a great article on Otavalo!