otavalo.. Ali Shungu in town.. out of town or neither?
 

I will be visiting Ecuador in the Spring. I am looking for a hotel in Otavalo. I was considering staying at one of the Ali Shungu hotels. Has anyone stayed there? They get great reviews on Trip Advisor but alot of the posters are first timers and when they get a bad review they comment in an almost sarcatic way. Would love some input or if anyone has other ideas they would be welcome. Thanks

I like both places, but they are entirely different experiences. If you stay at the one out of town, you're there for the solitude and the nature. You're there, period. It's kind of hard to come and go on your own. You're at the mercy of the schedule of one of the staff who might be going into town if you want to go into town. Whereas staying at the in-town hotel (also very nice), you can come and go as you please a lot more easily. You can walk anywhere, anytime. That I see, that's the biggest difference between the two places.

Jeff,
Thanks for your quick reply. That is exactly the advice I was looking for. Although the Mountain Lodge looks wonderful I think it would be best for our group to be in town. Do you think that Ali Shungu in town is our best bet? Thanks

Sure, ttraveler. I think the in-town Ali Shungu is a great choice. I'd go for it. :)

Don't get me wrong. I love their mountain lodge, but I value my independence when I travel and I like not to have to plan my day's schedule around someone else's. That's just me.

Not only have we thoroughly enjoyed our stays in Ali Shungu (in town) 3 times, but we are going again this June. The facility's decor is typical Ecuadorean....clean and comfortable. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and you are walking distance from the gargantuan Otavalo Market. I highly recommend Ali Shungu.

Note to future travelers looking for the Ali Shungu in town. It closed in 2010. :( (I just looked for it.)

We just stayed at Ali Shungu Mountaintop Lodge which is right outside town. They closed their place in town years ago. We loved staying at the Ali Shungu Mountaintop Lodge. They have drivers readily available to take you into town or anywhere, fabulous owners and place.