Hostal El Vaquero — Hotel in Chugchillan

Our stay here was fabulous. It is absolutely gorgeous here and while we had to walk further on our hike today to get here, we are rewarded with being right next to the start of the trail. There are many hammocks to relax in, alpacas to admire and cute dogs as well (Axle and Lucas). The hosts are incredibly kind, accommodating and patient. It was really such a pleasure to spend time with them. They also have a Turkish Bath and Sauna which were relaxing after a long day of hiking. Dinner was delicious!! There is a wood stove in the common area which is so lovely and warms the dining room during dinner. The decor is stunning and there's music played in the dining room that provides a wonderful ambience. They have wine and beer and snacks available for purchase as well as lunch boxes. Our room had a stunning Mountain View and an amazing bathroom with really hot showers! I cannot say more great things about this hostal and our stay, I only wish we could have had a little more time in this magical and...

If I had an option for 6 stars, I would definitely give it to el vaquero! It’s REALLY AMAZING! It is located a bit off the road, but it’s very quiet . From the backyard, you can directly reach the beginning of the hiking track. Room is spacious and spotless, it’s a bit cold at night, but acceptable. They have REALLY GOOD facilities, we had Turkish bath and sauna both, and it’s only for 3 dollars per person!! (They also have an indoor pool but you need to wait for summer) The diner and breakfast were quite good too. Well made, delicious! The real gem of this hostel is the owner! Very nice and funny guy! The most interesting thing is, when we were hiking from isinlivi to Chugchilan, all the way we saw loads of signages of direction, which were all made by him, to help people to stay on the track. If you have any questions about the track, don’t hesitate to ask him! He is the pro! In general, for the money we paid, it’s really worth its value! A definite...

We stayed at El Vaquero for 2 nights and loved our time there. It is family owned and everyone was is so helpful. We did not hike so the owners let us know the bus times to Lake Quilotoa and also back to Latacunga when it was time to leave. The room was very spacious and clean. There were plenty of blankets which meant we had a great sleep as it does get cold in the night! In the main areas they have a fireplace in the evening which is nice to chat to the other backpackers and also the owners too (Victor especially was great!). The food tastes delicious and it was well needed after busy days. They even offered seconds if you wanted it (but I didn’t as there was more than enough food for me)! You can take a packed lunch too with you for the day hike and they have a Turkish Bath which can also be used when coming back. I would really recommend this hostel if you want great food, a family feel and to meet some new people along...