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An update from Evaneos
Marché de Saquisili

Marché de Saquisili (Ecuador)

Practical information on Marché de Saquisili

  • Encounters with locals
  • Handicraft
  • Off the beaten track
5 / 5 - One review
How to get there
12 km by road from Latacunga
When to go
All year round on Thursday
Minimum stay
One day

Reviews of Marché de Saquisili

Seasoned Traveller
54 written opinions

Every Thursday morning Saquisili is very busy because of its weekly market. It's something you really shouldn't miss during a trip to Ecuador!

My suggestion:
Get there really early (around 7 a.m.) in order to make the most of the atmosphere at the animal market which finishes earlier than the other markets.
My review

Saquisili weekly market is absolutely fantastic! There are hardly any tourists, it's enormous and it's much more authentic than Otavalo's...Everyone in the region goes there and for good reason, there are at least 10 different markets.

I arrived very early in the morning from the little village of Insilibi, about 2 hours away by road.

Even though it was barely 7 a.m. it was already really lively. I went to the animal market first, which is on a sports ground a bit out of the centre. Everything is very well organised: cows on one side, llamas on the other, sheep here, horses there...You can also find something to eat on the go which was good because I hadn't had any breakfast.

Once I'd been there, I went to see the other markets in different parts of the town: the potato market, clothes market (which did have a few llama wool pullovers and other souvenirs to sell to the few tourists who were there), the orange market...Then there was another animal market, this time for smaller animals, poultry, rabbits and the famous cuys ( guinea pigs), awaiting their sad end...it was impressive!

Llamas for sale in Saquisili market