Termas Papallacta Hotel Spa — Hotel in Papallacta

A global traveler’s enjoyment of natural hot springs up in Andes😎😎. …. Tucked away in a valley, about 1.5 hour-drive west of Quito, Termas Papallacta is a highland oasis. It’s easily a day trip to/from Quito.

Whilst the property includes a hotel, THE SPA/BATHS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR DAY-USE 😎.

THIS REVIEW IS ONLY FOR THE SPA, not the hotel since we are day-users

There’s a day user fee that includes a bath towel and cap, bath robes and slippers extra fee.

There’s a well maintained communal lockers area. But bathrooms/showers and changing rooms are separate for men and women.

The buildings and pools are cleverly designed to fit the local topography 👏👏👏.

The pools, ALL NATURAL HEATED HOT SPRINGS WATERS, are each uniquely designed with the majestic views of the Andes😎😎😎.

They are mostly all wading/soaking pools, constructed for safe use of all ages.

Two pools are deep enough to at least do a 4-stroke lap (depending on the height and reach of the swimmer😊).

There are shelters on each pool area, all equipped with chairs/tables and recliners.

There’s a separate WC in the pool areas.

THROUGHOUT THE RESORT ARE UNIQUE VEGETATION that grow only at high altitude 👏👏👏. The grounds are very well kept.

There is a decent restaurant in the resort. BUT it is high priced, especially for village and even for urban Ecuador.

*The menu is typical of resorts: cocktails and grub.

• The rather larger sit-in menu is NOT very exciting 🫤🫤🫤, but has sufficient selections for a day visit.

THE FOOD IS OKAY, nothing special. — This seems to be the place for Trucha (mountain trout). What we tasted however is nothing special. They are HIGH PRICED for Ecuador.

The staff are very helpful...

Just visited the restaurant. Waited in the bar area for the restaurant to open, very pricey.

As soon as the restaurant opened, a waiter came a called us in to the restaurant. We sat down and had to wait 15 minutes before a waiter came to our table and asked if we had ordered - everyone else was already served and started.

The food came out of the kitchen very quickly. I got the Potato soup for starter and the chef trout for main. My girlfriend got Andean trout salad for starter and Spaghetti Bolognese for main. The soup was a bit uninspired and tasteless. The Andean salad had almost frozen cold fish, which did not taste entirely fresh. The mains was ok, but nothing impressive at all - plain food, nothing as expected, as the prices are up there.

When we had finished our disappointed meal, i asked for the check, which took about 10-15 minutes. The waiter ran around (many at work) doing a lot of other things than bringing the check, and looked at me like he forgot - and made a gesture. When the check finally came, i gave him my card, and had to wait additionally 10-15 minutes before he came back to the table and told me he needed ID. So we went to the counter to pay.

We told the waiter in the beginning that we had waited 15 minutes, we told the guy with the check and we told the guy at the counter before paying, that the service was very slow. They all kind of grinned and laughed.

Look at the cheap restaurants on the way up there, if you do not want to pay overprice for horrible service and mediocre food.

I was here 12 years ago, and was amazed with the food and service of the place. It has gone straight downhill...

The facility is modern and beautiful. The entrance fee (2024 approx $23) gives you access to the facility. We didn't lodge but used the hot springs and the ice-cold dipping pool although there is also a warm but not hot pool.

Steam rises out of the pools since the location is at a very high altitude and thus quite chilly. The pools feature hot water running from many individual faucets. The pool interiors are ceramic but surrounded by stonework.

You get a spacious wooden locker, the hot spring pools and well equipped private bathroom showers with shampoo, conditioner and bodywash dispensers. Private dressing areas and a counter area with blow dryers allow you to avoid the chill of wet hair. Polished granite counters, beautiful ceramic and interior glass walls showing gorgeous plants and many thoughtful details make the experience delightful.

A waiting area offers the warmth of a wood stove, comfortable seating and a tray of herbal teas, including coca tea for altitude sickness.

The staff is obsequious as well as professional. Fresh towels and bags for wet clothing are offered. There is a full menu of spa services including a comprehensive array of different massages for additional fees. There is a basic but pricey restaurant on the premises. (a water bottle...