Hope I can get a response since the Ecuador boards seem pretty slow.

We are going to for 2 weeks at Xmas and instead of staying in Guayaquil the last 3 nights thinking of heading back to Quito and the area before heading home.

Not finding many reviews outside of Quito for lodging but hoping to find a decent Hacienda $200-$300/night we could spend the time before heading back home.

Any one have any good suggestions?

Travel and Leisure has an article on Hacienda's this month. Four are in Ecuador. Maybe one will work out for you.

oh cool, thanks!

Still would love some fodorite input though since I trust this group so much...

Hi

I am currently in Quito and have been for the last 11 days and will be here for the next 10 (at language school)

The following are links to two haciendas in the Cotapaxi area.
This is the avenue of vocanos area south of quito (1 1/2 hours or so). Cotapaxi is the worlds tallest active volcano (but hasn´t erupted for 150+ years, but I make no guarantees.) It is picture perfect with a permanent snowcap. The surrounding country side is beautiful. It is possible to go for hikes, horseback riding, downhill bicycle ride from the refugio up on Cotapaxi.

http://www.hosterialacienega.com/htm...i_ecuador.html

http://www.incahacienda.com/pages/history.html

There is also a nice hacienda near Otavalo. this is about 1 1/2 hours north of quito.

http://www.haciendapinsaqui.com/html...el_otavalo.htm

Otavalo has one of the largest Indian Markets on Saturday and is also near Cotacachi, which is renowned for it,s leather shops. Also nearby are some pre incan pryamids at Cochasqui.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you want more info about Quito or Ecuador in general. I am staying with an Ecuadorian family so I have a good source of information.

Pamela

Hey Pamela, thanks so much! I think we are deciding how to spend the days prior to our Galapagos trip. We thought of taking a guided tour to Otavala and the volcanos but that doens't seem to really be coming together. I'm leaning towards Otavala for a few days and doing some day trips out of there since we'll be on a guided tour the entire rest of our trip.

The volcano region sounds really great though.

Decisions, decisions, decisions!

I'm going to do more research and might be circling back to you. Thanks! And enjoy your time in Quito.

PS, any restaurants not to miss?

pinsaqui is the nicest one i've seen. Cusin is the most famous, but is overpriced and a little run down.

I just returned from Ecuador yesterday and had a fabulous time. Here are my recommendations: Quito- If your into churches there are many to see. Don't miss La Compania de Jesus Church It has close to 53 kilos of gold leaf and is stunning.You can also take a cable car to teleferiQo hill. I met a guy at the airport who was robbed at gunpoint with 4 other companions hiking down instead of taking the cable car down.. We didn't take the cable car but instead hired a car and guide to drive around the city. The guide had lived in the U.S. and his English was very good. We booked him through the hotel but he would be much cheaper booking directly. You can reach him at santiago_mata1@hotmail. The Driver was Edison. He was from Otavalo. The 2 were great. They customized a tour for our family. When you go to the equator skip the traditional monument. Several years ago they discovered the monument was off by 600 meters by using a GPS. A private family has another museum near the original site. Ask your guide to take you to that museum instead. It was amazing and much better than the large tourist one. In 4 days we saw the equator, a planetarium program, many churches and sites in Quito, hiked the Andes, went to the market in Otavalo, visited the leather town of Cotocachi,saw demonstrations by musical instrument makers in Peguche, hiked Peguche falls, saw a weaving demonstration in a private home, hike the cloud forest in Mindo and zip lined through the forest,and saw the bleeding trees (Sangre de Dragon), visited a butterfly farm, went bird watching, and inner tubed down a river. Otavalo: We stayed at La Casa Sol in Otavalo. It was amazing. It was right next to Peguche Falls and you can hear the water from your private balcony. All rooms were large with a fireplace. The beds were great! The price for 2 was $60 including tax and included breakfast and dinner. Both were exceptional. The service was incredible. The hotel was one of the romantic, peaceful places I've ever stayed. Their sister hotel in Quito was exceptional as well, cheap safe and great food. We spent the next 5 days in Ibarra for the world climbing championships. My son was representing the U.S. We stayed at the Hostelria Chorlavie. If you can I'd avoid this place. It was outrageously expensive, dirty, musty, food was mediocre, beds had craters, and the staff not nearly as helpful as we found in other parts of the country. I would recommend you lock your passports in the hotel safes and keep a copy with you. The only time we needed a passport was when using a Visa card. A copy is sufficient. We took a lot of small bills $5 and $10 it worked great. Food is cheap. Only in the western hotels will you overpay for everything. Taxis are cheap. Don't rent a car. The most dangerous part of our trip was on the roads. Stop lights and stop signs are mere suggestions. In the news one night they reported 6000 bus accidents in the month of June alone. Hire a driver. These trained professionals are worth there weight in gold. Many streets are unmarked and it is easy to get lost. We walked around Quito at night in "Gringoland" but it was well patrolled. I wouldn't go out alone at night anywhere else. Use common sense and you will be fine.

Thanks for the info Kanaisally. Can you suggest any good restaurants in Quito? Also did you stay over night in Mindo? If so can you recommend a nice place to stay in Mindo? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Echoing Lilypoo's request for restaurants. We would like to line something up for Xmas and Xmas eve, preferably that doesn't serve traditional Xmas dinner that includes canned cranberry sauce (yup, that's what last years xmas dinner in guatamala was!)

Hi

I had a wonderful dinner at Cielo Quiten(~)o (don't know how to get the ~ on top of the n) The restaurant has good food and also has a marvelous view overlooking the old city at night. All the churches and the basilica are lit at night. The restaurant even had a telescope set up so that you could get a better look at the illuminated churches and government buildings.

I have also heard good things about Cafe Mosaico but have never eaten there. It also has a wonderful view overlooking the city.

Cielo Quiteno is at Manual Samaniego N8-52 y Antepara. Telephone # 2581334 or 2586658 (assuming you are dialing from Quito)

Have a great trip!

Pamela

Mindo and a place to stay. If you are into birding one of the nicest places we have stayed while traveling in S.A. was the Tandayapa Bird Lodge. You will not believe all the hummingbirds on the deck outside the lodge.

K - Now that was a great travel report. Thanks so much.