Although the largest market is on Saturday, there is a very wide range of wares available throughout the week in the Plaza de los Ponchos, and the many local shops.

[3] During the market's peak, almost one third of the town becomes full of stalls selling textiles, tagua nut jewelry, musical instruments, dream catchers, leather goods, fake shrunken heads, indigenous costumes, hand-painted platters and trays, purses, clothing, spices, raw foods and spools of wool.

Many people come to Otavalo to visit the market, but the city and surrounding area is also home to the Peguche Waterfall, Lagos de Mojanda, and Museo Viviente Otavalango.

The museum is located in the "antigua fabrica San Pedro," where indigenous Otavaleños worked in sweatshop style labor for generations under brutal conditions.

The museum shows aspects of Otavaleño life both historically and in present day, and allows visitors to interact with the indigenous craftspeople making textiles and farming.

In addition, a short taxi ride or hike from town you will find Parque Condor, a bird rescue centre and educational facility.

Every June the music of Otavalo, and the surrounding areas, plays a primary role in the indigenous festival for the southern winter solstice, called Inti Raymi.

It is surrounded by a very representative City Hall (Edificio Municipal) and by a catholic church, Iglesia de San Luís, with an octagonal clocktower.

The railway station is in the southern part of the town center behind Copacabana Market, 2,532 metres (8,307 ft) above sea level.