Las Palmeras Inn

A cosy and friendly countryside hacienda with a peaceful setting in the Ecuadorian Andes.

What a find! This welcoming hacienda set in luxuriant gardens up in the green Andean mountains just outside the market town of Otavalo is overwhelmed with Spanish colonial references to an affluent past, while at the same time offering a really homely, rustic atmosphere. Golds and crimsons dominate the colour theme in the two-storey, heavily tiled main building which abounds with rich textiles, elaborate carpets and cosy sofas.  Polished wood and tiled floors gleam, local at decorates the walls.

You stay in one of a clutch of cottages with pitched wooden ceilings, each with its own wood-burning chimney which is lit for you every night. Meals are served from menu of recipes featuring produce from the local area, including the property’s own organic orchard. Many activities can be organised, such as horse riding and cookery classes; it’s a great stay for families.