Humidity, blasts of hot air, heavy traffic... Embark for Guayaquil, the largest city of Ecuador even though Quito is the capital. We're off for a visit of the "Pearl of the Pacific", from its landscaped river promenade (the Malecón 2000) to the cerro Santa Ana, not to mention the city centre!

Guayaquil, pearl of the Pacific

In this article you will find a presentation of Isla de la Plata, nicknamed "the poor-man's Galapagos", which can be reached from Puerto López.

Leaving Puerto López for the little Galapagos

Ecuadorian Amazonia possesses the densest biodiversity in the world. With its 6034 square kilometres, the reserve is an incredible mix of rivers and flooded forests (due to the large quantities of annual rainfall in the Amazon). The result? A part of the Amazon that is unique and which will not leave you unaffected...

Cuyabeno, the jewel of the Amazon in Ecuador

In this article we visit Otavalo, the best market in Ecuador and perhaps the best in the world.

Otavalo and its most wonderful markets

Quito

Otavalo

Amazonia

Riobamba

12 km from Latacunga, Saquisili is a tiny, authentic  village which is well worth the trip.

South America

Ecuador

Saquisilí

Europe

Central America

Africa

North America

Asia

Middle East

Oceania

Small and less touristy than Otavalo, Saquisili market is one of my favourite souvenirs of my trip to Ecuador. Every Thursday the Indians come from the surrounding areas to sell their fruit, vegetables, guinea pigs, pigs, chickens, cows and llamas...I even saw an old woman carrying a sheep on her back like a rucksack! Cool! Just like Otavalo, this market is a paradise for photographers. I loved its feeling of being a genuine, typical local market, with a real country village atmosphere. I spent a great morning in Saquisili strolling through the stalls and I recommend you go to see and experience life in Saquisili , especially if you couldn't get to Otavalo.

12 km from Latacunga, Saquisili is a tiny, authentic village which is well worth the trip.

Saquisilí lies close to the volcano Cotopaxi on the Pan-American Highway and is not a particularly interesting place for tourists. It's a small town with no particular charm of its own, a place you simply pass through along the way, which makes it the complete opposite of the beautiful town of Latacunga a few kilometres further on. What makes Saquisilí well worth making a trip to, however, which is why I chose to visit here on a Thursday morning. The market is held across the whole town and they sell practically anything and everything there: animals, fruits and vegetables, fabrics, etc. The most impressive and interesting part of it is, of course, the livestock market, where calves, cows and pigs are bartered and sold in an atmosphere of wonderful chaos: an endless cacophony of mooing, bellowing and squealing. Lying off the beaten track as it does, it's definitely better here than at Otavalo. Mark my words!

Lying 12 kilometres from Latacunga , Saquisili is worth visiting primarily for its large weekly market, which is held every Thursday morning.

Saquisilí Holidays

Saquisilí: How to get there?

Saquisilí: See when to go?

Saquisilí: For how long?

Saquisilí: What to see nearby?

Ecuador: our articles for your holidays