| Destination Ecuador: Hosteria Izhcayluma offers nature-rich lodging in Vilcabamba |
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| Sunday, 20 December 2009 00:00 | |||
(NaturalNews) If you're coming to visit Vilcabamba, Ecuador -- the Valley of Longevity -- you'll need a comfortable place to stay. One of the best is called Hostería Izhcayluma. (The locals pronounce it "ish-ka-loo-ma.")Located less than 5 kilometers South of town, Hostería Izhcayluma is noted as a comfortable, quiet hotel surrounded by beautiful nature. With everything from private cabins to dormitory-style rooms, Izhcayluma is far enough away from town to offer its own tranquility, yet
close enough to be easily accessible.They're multi-lingual at the check-in desk, too, speaking English, Spanish and German. They also offer massage services, a book exchange, and they can help you schedule all sorts of tours such as horseback riding or hiking adventures around the Valley of Longevity.Fresh local food, hot from the kitchenWhat I'm most impressed by, however, is their restaurant: It's simply one of the best anywhere around. Their kitchen serves up local dishes, fresh regional juices, or even western fare such as hamburgers or fresh-baked pizza. I've eaten there several times, and both the food and the service has always been fantastic. The view from the dining area is also breathtaking: A panoramic view of the Valley of Longevity!When we held previous gatherings in Vilcabamba, many of our guests stayed at Izhcayluma, and they always had nice things to say about their experiences there. Bring a good flashlight, though: Power outages happen with some regularity in Ecuador at the moment, so you can expect to spend a few hours without electricity (affecting the entire country, not just the hotel). For a simple, light-weight flashlight, I recommend a head-worn LED light, which you can buy at any camping store or even at more popular retailers like Target or Wal-Mart.Hostería Izhcayluma has a very nice pool, a bar and a wonderful garden area with walking paths. Room costs currently run from $10 / night (dorm bed) to $44 / night for a quadruple room that sleeps four. With that price, you get a free buffet breakfast (which is quite nice), all the mineral water you wish to drink, and unlimited use of the pool and other amenities.To my knowledge, they currently don't accept credit cards at Hostería Izhcayluma. This may have changed without my knowledge, but just in case, be sure to confirm this when you make a reservation, and bring enough cash to cover your stay there. It's a strange thing, but I've learned that almost all tourists run out of cash when visiting Ecuador. They think they'll use credit cards for most things, but in reality, Ecuador is primarily a cash-based economy, and few merchants accept credit cards at all. (Which is one of the reasons why the Ecuadorian people aren't buried in personal debt, by the way...)How to contact Hostería IzhcaylumaWebsite: http://www.izhcayluma.com
Phone: Country code for Ecuador is +593, then dial 7 2 64 00 95
Email: izhcayluma@yahoo.deThe closest airport is the Loja airport, which is available via a domestic flight from Quito on Tame Airlines (pronounced "Tah-may"). Tame Airlines flies a modern, upscale Boeing jet from Quito to Loja, so don't think that you're going to have to rough it on a prop puddle jumper! The taxi ride from the Loja airport (which is actually in Catamayo) to Hostería Izhcayluma is roughly 90 minutes, more or less, depending on who you ask and which taxi driver you get.I recommend negotiating the cost and the speed of your transportation from the airport before you get into a taxi there. Make sure you know the price, in other words, and also make sure your driver agrees to drive at a reasonable speed for the trip. The Hostería Izhcayluma can probably help you arrange for a trusted taxi if you're staying with them. Always make such transportation arrangements in advance, as the airport is quite small and there really aren't many spare taxis just waiting around there.If you do make a reservation with Hostería Izhcayluma, let them know that you heard about them from Mike Adams, please. I don't earn anything from it, but it's always nice for local businesses to know where people first heard about them.About this articleI have no financial involvement with the Hostería Izhcayluma, nor do I earn any commissions on any reservations there. This profile is part of an ongoing series of Ecuadorian destinations that I'm publicizing in cooperation with Ecuador's tourism offices. You can read my original announcement about this cooperation here:
http://www.naturalnews.com/027568_Ecuador_tourism.htmlMy aim with these articles is to publicize eco-tourism opportunities, places to stay and things to do throughout the magnificent country of Ecuador. As a journalist who lives in Ecuador full time, I have been privileged to be introduced to many unique adventures and tourism destinations that I greatly enjoy sharing with readers around the world. View some of my photos from Ecuador right here:
http://www.naturalnews.com/Photos.htmlThere are other lodging destinations around Vilcabamba that I'll be covering here on NaturalNews, too. My next such article will profile Madre Tierra, a resort and spa located just minutes from town.Please note: I very much welcome personally visiting with NaturalNews readers who come to Vilcabamba, but because I work very long hours, I am unable to visit with people who stop by my farm unannounced, so please, if you wish to visit with me in Vilcabamba, make prior arrangements by emailing
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-- and please understand that I may not even be here when you are here, as I'm frequently away on my own adventures throughout Ecuador!If you're coming to Vilcabamba any time soon, enjoy your stay here! You'll find the people to be extremely friendly and helpful, and the natural beauty of the valley will astound you. Be sure to check out the Sunday market in Malacatos, just north of Vilcabamba, where you can find fresh produce, panela (sugar cane blocks), and all sorts of exotic fruits that you normally don't see in North America.Quick travel tips: Bring small bills, $1's and $5's. Ecuador is largely a cash economy, and it's very difficult to break a $20. Also bring a raincoat, a good LED flashlight and some tissues. Stay safe and secure as you travel, and be mindful of your surroundings.
Upcoming event in May, 2010By the way, there's an upcoming even in Vilcabamba planned for May, 2010: It's the Raw Food Gathering organized by Matt Monarch, Angela Stokes and David Wolfe. Read more about this event here: http://rawinecuador.ning.com/events/vilcabamba-world-raw-foodIf you plan to come to that event and wish to stay at Hostería Izhcayluma, you may wish to make a reservation as early as possible, as the rooms there will likely be all booked up before May arrives.Enjoy Ecuador!Read entire article: Destination Ecuador: Hosteria Izhcayluma offers nature-rich lodging in Vilcabamba
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