Gulliver Expeditions

The Yamor Festival in Otavalo

The Yamor festival, is a celebration institutionalized from 1953, is a mixture of ancestral and religious origin. The party was born in the Monserrat neighborhood, where it was traditionally celebrated to thank the virgin María de Monserrat, patron saint of Otavalo and Pacha Mama for the harvest of corn and the work of the Otavalo habitants. In this celebration typical dishes and drinks were offered, in which there was the chicha of the “Yamor”, drink made with seven varieties of corn, which historically was given to the great chiefs to accompany their banquets. The term Yamor comes from two words Yak, synonymous with wise, and Mur that means grain. Yamor is the chicha of wisdom.Among the main activities that make up this traditional festival is the blessing of the harvest that is carried out with the participation of parishioners of the Virgin in a procession from the Sanctuary of San Luis to the cross of Socavón. The proclamation of the party with the parade of floats, dances, bands and music festivals. The election of the Queen of Otavalo.
And the Swimming Competence in the San Pablo Lagoon, which is done in the morning in the waters of the San Pablo Lake and in which the participants travel is 3.8 km between the sectors of Araque (departure) and the Costa Azul Pier (goal), the competence lasts approximately 1 hour.
This holiday is held once a year, at the end of August until the first week of September, where the various events take place in various stages of the city of Otavalo and surrounding communities.
Otavalo is one of the best places to stay in Ecuador, this town is located in the Andes highlands of the province of Imbabura, in northern Ecuador. It is surrounded by volcanoes, such as the Imbabura. It is known for the Otavalo Market experience, in the central Plaza de Ponchos, where traditionally dressed indigenous people sell handicrafts and colorful textile products. Nearby, the Obraje Tissue Museum includes weaving exhibitions and demonstrations of loom making, we have many cultural programs to know about this magnificient place, take a look in our site.