With our
hectic, non-stop lives, many of us seem to be forgetting about the
joy of relaxation. At La Posada del Quinde in Otavalo, Ecuador,
relaxation is a must. Life moves slowly in Ecuador, and the gardens
and lounge of this Otavalo
hotel
are excellent places to make it even slower. You
can enjoy a glass of wine by the fire after hiking around the crater
of a volcanic lake, or eat lunch outside on the patio after visiting
a master weaver who is trying to keep the hand-made textile art
alive. Or, you could simply relax in the lounge, reading by the fire.
The rooms
and apartments of the hotel, which are too large to be called suites,
are all decorated with local art, textiles and many plants. They all
have private bathrooms and views of the garden, and on a clear day,
they all have views of Volcán Imbabura, looming above the hotel to
the northwest. All of the guestrooms have heaters for chillier
nights, and the hotel provides extra locally-made wool blankets if
you'd prefer. La Posada has excellent water pressure and consistently
hot water, both of which are not so common in hotels in Ecuador, and
are welcome after a week on a boat in the Galápagos or the jungle.
Otavalo has
long been sold as a market town, and while the market is intriguing
and beautiful, there is far more to this area than shopping.
Naturalists will enjoy the nearby volcanic lakes, waterfalls and
striking Andean landscapes. Those guests who are interested in the
cultural side of the Otavalo area can visit local indigenous
communities and even take the time to volunteer in one of the
villages in such areas as education and farming. Guests often visit
two well-known master weavers, and are moved by their demonstrations
of the textile work on back-strap and pedal looms. There is truly
no limit to things to do. In fact, many guests leave saying that they
wish they'd had more time.
The
restaurant at La Posada del Quinde, Café Pachamama, is named for the
Kichwa word for Mother Nature. All the dishes on the menu are
hygienically prepared using mostly organic ingredients, and served in
a dining area that exhibits local hand-woven textiles and paintings
that are for sale. The menu is largely international food, but it is
slowly evolving and will include more and more native ingredients
(quinua, various beans).
La
Posada del Quinde is the best of the hotels to choose from in
Otavalo. Rated #1 by past guests on TripAdvisor, the hotel and
restaurant are places to rejuvenate and relax.
Maggie
Reniers is the owner and manager of the hotel, which was formerly
Hotel Ali Shungu.
Check out the website at www.posadaquinde.com
or contact her at maggie@posadaquinde.com
for more information or to make a reservation. You can also call
within Ecuador (06)292-0750 or to U.S. Based (661)578-6363.