Located in the Andean highlands, the town of Otavalo, Ecuador, is inhabited primarily by the Otavalo indigenous group and well-known for its traditional handicraft market. In this series, we will walk alongside diverse individuals who will teach us some of the most important traditions and customs of this fascinating region.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Meet Alberto from Otavalo, Ecuador, who has sold his handmade bracelets throughout the world.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
Ecuador
Meet Manuel Leon, an Ecuadorian artist who makes effigies for the "Año Viejo" tradition which symbolically brings in the New Year by burning them as representations of the negative aspects of the past one.
Difficulty:
Beginner
Ecuador
Natalia from Ecuador introduces us to the largely indigenous and extremely fascinating city of Otavalo, considered to be the "intercultural capital" of Ecuador.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
Ecuador
Meet the volunteers of Faithful Friend Patrol, a dog rescue organization in Otavalo, Ecuador.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
Ecuador
Meet Cesar Flores, the owner of the Kory Malku Andean shoe store in Otavalo, Ecuador.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
Ecuador
José Enriques, who works in the goat milk industry in Otavalo Ecuador, explains a bit about his typical day as well as the health benefits of goat milk.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
Ecuador
Humberto Morales from Ecuador teaches us about the Zampoña, a traditional Andean instrument.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
Ecuador
An Ecuadorian player of the siku, a traditional Andean instrument, tells us how his music has taken him around the world.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Natalia takes us on a tour the beautiful San Pablo Lake in northern Ecuador, explaining to us about its many natural, sporting and leisure attractions.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
At the Obraje Fish Farm in Otavalo, Ecuador, one can dine on the trout they catch, prepared with local flare by the Obraje staff at an incredibly affordable price.
Difficulty:
Beginner
Ecuador
Jullia introduces us to a wide variety of fruits cultivated in Ecuador and beyond, some of which are familiar to us and other, more exotic ones that probably aren't.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
Ecuador
Ecuadorian antique shop owner, Víctor Echeverría, shares with us its history and some of its unique treasures.
Difficulty:
Beginner
Ecuador
Julia introduces us to a variety of vegetables and herbs found at an Ecuadorian supermarket.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Welcome to Otavalo, Ecuador's "Carbón del Palo" restaurant, a unique spot known not only for its unique Colombo-Ecuadorian-Spanish fare, but also for its warm atmosphere and spectacular service.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Residents of Otavalo, Ecuador, explain to us how they celebrate "Inti Raymi," an Inca Empire celebration in honor of the sun god, "Inti," and how it helps them to preserve their culture.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
Ecuador
Luis Jaramillo, a professional soccer trainer, tells us all about his experience working with kids.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Marcelo talks about the properties and benefits of quinoa and amaranth, "superfoods" which have been cultivated since ancient times but are currently gaining international notoriety as nutritional powerhouses.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
Ecuador
Marcelo continues to edify us on the benefits of amaranth and quinoa for various parts of our minds and bodies.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Fabricio Sandoval, a fire captain in Otavalo, Ecuador, teaches us how to prepare ourselves for an earthquake, including which items to include in our backpacks.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
Ecuador
Dreamcatchers are a type of talisman that are thought to ward off bad energy while retaining the good. Jorge Musuña, who makes them for a living in Otavalo, Ecuador, talks to us about their many sizes and varieties and their process of creation.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Jose Quinchuqui, a craftsman from Otavalo, Ecuador, fills us in about some of the details of his work, the different materials he employs, and the various ways in which he and his siblings contribute to the family business.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Let's get to know baker, Humberto Velasquez, who tells us about his small, family-operated breadmaking business in Otavalo, Ecuador.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Let's get to know Gato Amantu Cabascango Garzon, a world-renowned violin maker who resides in Otavalo, Ecuador.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Our hostess, Claudia, explains the Kawsaymi family project in Otavalo, Ecuador, which seeks to preserve and share this people's rich traditions with a focus on its scrumptious cuisine.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Claudia teaches us to prepare some delicious dishes from Otavalo, Ecuador's Kawsaymi culture.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
In this segment, Claudia teaches us how to prepare a delicious white carrot locro, or hearty stew. Learn the ingredients it contains and how they are cooked in order to obtain that delicious flavor, unique to the Kawsaymi indigenous family.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Following the steps indicated by our hostess Claudia, let's finish off and plate our delicious white carrot locro.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Learn to cook step by step a delicious dessert that is typical of the community of Otavalo: Llama Chaqui, which is also known in different communities as Chaqui Tanda.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Claudia puts the final touches on her Chaqui Tandas, a scrumptious traditional dessert from Otavalo, Ecuador.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Claudia brings us another traditional recipe from the Kawsaymi family: potatoes with amaranth and squash seeds and an herbed pork chop. Step by step, she'll explain to us how to prepare this delicious and nutritious dish.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Let's watch Claudia finish off her delicious dish: potatoes with amaranth in squash seed sauce, accompanied by a scrumptious herbed pork chop.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
In Otavalo once again, we will learn about the innumerable benefits of honey and how our bodies can benefit from this natural product.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
From Otavalo, Ecuador, Blanquita Arias shows us the different components of the indigenous clothing from her community, which is most typically worn to attend weddings.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Claudia, a painter and fine and visual artist, explains to us the importance of being able to express herself through her art and how she began to paint for others on commission as well as creating her own brand of "Capullu" caps.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Vicky from the KIRU Dental Center in Otavalo, Ecuador, shares with us some home remedies for oral hygiene.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
From Otavalo, Ecuador, Silvia Ruiz immerses us in the brilliant world of costume jewelry and tells us how this project created by a group of families works.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Milmarte is a family workshop in Otavalo, Ecuador, that specializes in making wool products. Anita Ramírez explains to us the processes they follow to create their beautiful garments.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Welcome to Tarpuy, a nursery near the city of Otavalo that launched during the pandemic to grow and sell cacti, succulents, and other types of plants that are thought to help people to connect to themselves and nature.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
The owner of the Tarpuy nursery near Otavalo, Ecuador, tells us about some of the different plants, pots, and prices they offer as well as a bit of her philosophy regarding their care.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Feeling the need to try something different during the pandemic, Ayriwa starts her own brand, Mali Tea, a business devoted to producing and selling tea, dried fruit, and granola. In this video, she shows us her products and explains their various benefits.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
Juan Carlos, the chef-owner of the Yannuk cafe in Otavalo, Ecuador, shows us how to make a mimosa cocktail, a very popular— and very simple— North American brunch drink.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Ecuador
From Otavalo, Ecuador, our friend Ñusta takes us to the Peguche Waterfall, a site of enormous touristic, ritual, and spiritual importance that is associated with a fascinating legend.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
Ecuador
From the Plaza de Ponchos, in Otavalo, Ecuador, Luzmila tells us how the pandemic and quarantine has affected her and her fellow dolly load carriers.
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