10 Best Flea Markets in Ecuador

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If you are a traveler looking for some unique souvenirs to bring home from your adventures for a bargain, look no further: a local flea market is a place for you.

Flea markets have always been an interesting way to shop, but when you consider shopping at flea markets on your vacation, you can guarantee that you will come home with a souvenir that no one else has. 

Flea markets offer all sorts of goods at a bargain.

The products are always second-hand and are priced reasonably, so you can find anything from an old book to a great sweater, from used tools to a fun board game.

Flea markets are a great way to hunt for a treasure that you can take home and remember forever.

If you are traveling to the country of Ecuador in South America, there are many flea markets to choose from for your flea market souvenir needs.

Here are ten of the best ones. 

The Ten Best Flea Markets in Ecuador

1. Otavalo Market

The Otavalo Market is located in the town of Otavalo and is the largest market in all of Ecuador.

In addition, the Otavalo Market is the largest market of its kind in all of South America.

Otavalo Market is an indigenous market that sells all sorts of goods, including blankets, scarves, bags, food, souvenirs, and more.

The market can take 2-3 hours to walk through it in its entirety.

You can also get a great lunch at Otavalo Market if you are making a day out of shopping there.

Otavalo Market is an ideal place to get all kinds of unique souvenirs at a bargain.

Many shoppers say that many items that you may buy are sold at two or more booths, so you can barter for the best price. 

2. Market Guamote

Located in Riobamba, Market Guamote sells a variety of everything you can think of.

In Ecuador, many markets primarily sell food, but also sell goods like fabrics, clothing, and souvenirs.

Ecuadorian fabrics are vibrant and beautiful, and they make great souvenirs to take home and show off to your peers.

At Market Guamote, you can buy your groceries for dinner, get a quick lunch, and shop around for some of these souvenirs or just general goods like clothing and books as well.

Market Guamote is also located in the Andes mountains in the quiet town of Riobamba, so it is a quaint and sleepy little area that will give you its own special experience altogether.

3. Mercado Central

Mercado Central is located in the capital of Ecuador, Quito, and is visited every single day by both locals and tourists alike.

Mercado Central is very large and is an experience that tourists will relish.

This market is three stories tall and, like many markets, offers so many items that you can buy, from the fish you need to cook for dinner to the clothing you need to add to your wardrobe.

There is also an extensive flower section at Mercado Central that can help you pick unique floral arrangements to display at your home or office.

The market moved to this three-story covered building in 1952 so that it could operate in any weather, and it has been thriving ever since. 

4. Mercado Copacabana

Located in Otavalo, Mercado Copacabana is smaller than the other market in town, the Otavalo Market.

However, it provides something completely different for its customers altogether.

It is much smaller and has more normal items than the other indigenous market.

If you are in Otavalo and you want to avoid the headache of tourists, artists, and more at the Otavalo Market, try Mercado Copacabana.

You will be able to find groceries, food, flowers, and some basic household goods for sale. 

5. Mercado Centro Comercial Loja

In Loja, you can do your flea market shopping at Mercado Centro Comercial Loja.

This market is relatively small and takes less than an hour to walk through and see all the booths.

However, it is clean and organized, and shoppers have said that the lunch you can buy there is delicious.

Mercado Centro Comercial Loja sells cooked food for quick sit-down lunches and dinners in the market, as well as selling groceries and household goods that you can take home.

The market does have multiple levels and also sells clothing and other goods as well.  

6. Centro Comercial Artesenal Machala

Centro Comercial Artesenal Machala is located in the large Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil.

This market may not look like much from the outside, but there are many great things that can be found when you go on a treasure hunt through all of the goods inside.

Ecuadorian clothing, hats, and traditional items can be bought here.

These items can make some really great and very unique souvenirs.

You can also buy musical instruments, books,  artwork, and other kinds of souvenirs inside.

Centro Comercial Artesenal Machala is a great place to find those unique gifts and keepsakes that you can bring home from your Ecuadorian adventure. 

7. Plaza Civica

The Plaza Civica is located in Cuenca, Ecuador, and is a very unique local market.

The best thing about Plaza Civica is that not only are most of the crafts, clothing, and art you can buy authentically Ecuadorian, they are actually even more local than that.

Local artisans from the city of Cuenca sell their goods and art at Plaza Civica.

You can find some handmade and very one-of-a-kind souvenirs and treasures when you shop at Plaza Civica.

Items that you can buy range from clothing to pottery and local crafts and artwork.

8. Thursday Market

The Thursday Market is located in Guamote and is very unique compared to the other markets on this list.

Many markets in Ecuador sell household goods and other fun things in addition to food.

Then there are other markets that are aimed more towards tourists and sell souvenirs and gifts in addition to the food and goods that the locals need.

Thursday Market, however, is different than both of those types of markets.

At the Thursday Market, you can come and watch as the locals from the area come and set up their booths to sell and trade their wares with other locals.

Most of these locals are indigenous people, and they are dressed in the traditional Ecuadorian colorful dress.

Visiting the Thursday Market is a true experience that you cannot compare to anything else in the area: seeing the local indigenous people go about their business in their normal daily way is like stepping into another world, or a time long past. 

9. Mercado 9 de Octubre

Located in Cuenca, the Mercado 9 de Octubre is a multi-level market housed inside a historical building, so you can visit it anytime, rain or shine.

Inside, you can find clothing stores, grocery and meat vendors, restaurants where you can grab a quick bite to eat, souvenir shops for tourists, and juice bars.

The colors of Ecuador carry all throughout the market, and you can barter for a great deal on something great to take home while snacking on some authentic Ecuadorian food and drinking a great jugo as you browse.  

10. Festival Street Station

Festival Street Station is located in the Ecuadorian capital city of Quito.

This street market and flea market are much like others, but it is right in the middle of the bustling city of Quito.

Buy your groceries for the week, pick up some fish and meat, browse through some clothing and souvenirs, and stop for a quick bite to eat or a freshly made juice.

All of these things are possible at Festival Street Station.

They also have outdoor seating, so you can enjoy an Ecuadorian lunch and juice while watching the city hustle and bustle. 

The 10 Best Flea Markets in Ecuador – Summary Table

Ecuador Safety Overview

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Safety Index:

55

• OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
• TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
• PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
• NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
• MUGGING RISK: HIGH
• TERRORISM RISK: LOW
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