The Best Hotel In Otavalo, Ecuador To Relax And Rejuvenate

By Author: Son Pulock
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Need to get away and get refreshed? Has life got you feeling the need to get out and travel and see what else the world has to offer? The place to go is Ecuador, and the best place to stay is La Posada del Quinde. Located just a couple hours north of Quito, Otavalo is a town well known for its world-famous indigenous handicraft market and rich textile history. The hotel is simple yet luxurious, decorated with local art such as textiles and paintings. The rooms and apartment are comfortable and offer room heaters and great water pressure in the private bathrooms. The restaurant, Café Pachamama, is a delicious place to find comfort food. Homemade jams and fresh "Indian" bread accompany the complimentary breakfast, and the lunches and dinners are a wonderful variety of fresh salads and sandwiches, great vegetarian and meat-based main dishes, and fresh juices and fruit salad. If the weather's right, sit outside and enjoy your lunch on the patio, surrounded by the garden. Don't be surprised if you see hummingbirds, as they are what the hotel is named after (quinde is the word for humminbird in Kichwa, the language of the Otavalo ...
... people).
The hotel is located just blocks from the market, and surrounded by the natural wonders of volcanic lakes, waterfalls, and picturesque landscapes. Of interest to many guests are the rich indigenous cultures that founded the area and have remained impressively intact and have kept alive much of the culture and practices from before the Spanish colonization of the country. Guests can visit local indigenous communities to see what life is like, or can even volunteer time in fields of health, education and agriculture and make their travels benefit the local people. Weavers who have been handed down their back-strap loom tradition for years offer demonstrations to guests in their workshops, and give guests the opportunity to buy a hand-made rug or weaving--investor's pieces, unlike the machine-loomed weavings found in the market. The website at www.posadaquinde.com outlines the many adventures that you can find in the Otavalo area.

When you're not busy with all that Otavalo has to offer, the hotel is the best place to let go of whatever stress you might be carrying around with you. Kick your feet up with a glass of wine by the fireplace in the lounge, or find a nice spot in the garden to sit and read. Guests are often surprised how relaxing their time is, yet how much there is to do within that relaxation that you don't feel like you're losing time. The large suites (which sleep as many as 7) are a great place for families and groups of friends, and the guestrooms are perfect for one or two people. All the rooms look out onto the beautiful garden, and on a clear day they also have a view of Volcán Imbabura, sitting to the northeast.

The best times of year to visit depend on how much rain you like—Otavalo is typically driest in August and late-January/February and wettest in November and April.

Maggie Reniers is the owner and manager for La Posada del Quinde, which was formerly Hotel Ali Shungu. Check out the website for the Otavalo hotel at www.posadaquinde.com or contact Maggie directly at maggie@posadaquinde.com or by phone at (661)578-6363 (U.S.-based number) or (593)9-488-7575 (in Ecuador).

For more information about Hotel Ali Shungu please visit