Casa Hotel Loma Wasi en Cotacachi — Hotel in Cotacachi

My family stayed with this lovely family for a week and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. They were very open to including us in their daily activities, if we were interested. Mario took us for a nice hike in the woods and told us about the plants we were passing. My children helped milk the cows, harvest corn, pick blackberries and there were 7 baby pigs born during our trip.

The house is made of adobe, as are most of the homes in the neighborhood. There are several adobe ovens nearby, where you can see people making bricks from adobe that are then baked.

Isabel is a wonderful cook, and made us delicious meals from scratch, with primarily home grown foods. There are numerous crops that are cultivated in this area that are not widely available, so the food was very good. All of the meals were large and they were eager to provide seconds, if we were interested. As vegetarians, she was open to accommodating us.

The home had the strongest wi-fi internet we have encountered so far on our trip. Not mentioned in the ad, they also provide filtered water and they washed our clothes (for no additional charge). My son got sick after eating out in the town and they made medicinal teas for him.

Rolando speaks English and he met us in town to take us to the house, which is located outside of the town of Cotacatchi. There are many interesting sites nearby (artisan tours, a waterfall, hiking, a lake with boats, the Otavalo market, a cultural museum in Cotacatchi, etc). A bus can let you off within a 15 minute walk to the house, or a taxi costs around $3 from Cotacatchi. Many people in the area speak the indigenous Kichwa language, so it is a good place to learn some phrases.

For travelers that don't want to try new foods, who want a TV in their room, and want to stay right in town, it isn't the ideal location. I would highly recommend this home for people interested in a more authentic traveling experience, while getting to know the local...

I spent three nights at Loma Wasi at Tunibumba, an indigenous community three kilometres above Cotacachi. This is the home of an indigenous family headed by Mercedes and helped out by her son, Mario and daughter, Isabela. There are two comfortable guest rooms with their own separate bathrooms. The family has a smallholding where they grow various crops including corn (maize); potatoes; broad beans; squash; melons and avocados. They have pigs, hens and a cow and two calves. The food is largely from their own crops. You eat with the family in their kitchen, dining area, The food is delicious. This is an opportunity to get to know the life of a Highland Quechua family. Mercedes took the couple who were staying at Loma Wasi at the same time as me. on a walk in the highland above the house and showed us amongst other things a Quechua spiritual site, where the equinoxes and the solstices are celebrated. Mario took me on a walk with the cattle to their pasture and explained things on the way. The house is situated in a beautiful spot on a hill with a view of the local mountain and the rural settlements. I would love to return. Mercedes, Isabela and Mario were all very welcoming and helpful. Nearby is Laguna Cuicocha. a Cordillera lake, and they will arrange transportation for guests up to the lake. There is taxi service from Cotacachi to Loma Wasi for $3.00. I am looking forward to...

This is a unique way to experience rural indigenous life near the city of Cotacachi. The rooms have all the modern comforts you could want--hot shower, wifi, good mattresses, privacy--not to mention grand views of the valley and Cerro Imbabura. I loved the wholesome and plentiful home-cooked food (lots of vegetables!), the majority of which is grown by the family themselves. You can learn about various traditional dishes and foods, and how they are prepared or cultivated. The whole family is kind and humble but mostly reserved as they go about their daily life and work. If there is anything you are curious about, you should ask (in Spanish unless you happen to speak Quichua), and they will happily share if you do. Note that filtered drinking water is available in the kitchen so you can fill your bottle for the day. Also, taking a taxi is the easiest way to find the place for the first time but once there, you can walk and/or take the cheaper bus or taxi to and from town. This place is really special and the longer you are there to observe, the more you will...