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
An Ecuadorian player of the siku, a traditional Andean instrument, tells us how his music has taken him around the world.
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: Adv-Intermediate
Ecuador
Ecuadorian antique shop owner, Víctor Echeverría, shares with us its history and some of its unique treasures.
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: 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: 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
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: Adv-Intermediate
Ecuador
In Latin America, Construction Workers' Day is celebrated on May third to honor this important profession. Priscilla Rivera tells us the story behind this holiday.
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