The history of the Otavalo Market, also known as the Plaza de los Ponchos (Poncho Plaza), goes all the way back to the 16th century, when the indigenous merchants played a crucial role as traders and travelling salesmen. In 1870, former President Gabriel Garcia Moreno declared the opening of a formal market for the sale of artisanal goods from the town of Otavalo, which gradually developed into the market we know today, one of the biggest and best known in Ecuador. Nowadays, its exceptional offerings of textiles, jewellery, musical instruments, crafts and more, make it a must see for shopping but also for an authentic market experience that has remained alive for centuries.