Rating: Mid-range
Casa Mojanda is a mountainside inn and farm set in the Andean highlands near the market town of Otavalo. This is a beautiful, tranquil location which provides an excellent base for exploring both the farm and the surrounding countryside.
Casa Mojanda was built in the 1990s using traditional methods, giving it an authentic feel. The same is true of the materials and design used for both the main building and the guest cottages, which includes hand-moulded terracotta bricks, roof tiles made of native red clay, tiled floors and whitewashed walls. Each cottage has a private bathroom and a terrace with spectacular mountain views, and some have a fireplace. All feature locally antique furnishings and local drawings.
Additional facilities include a mountainside hot tub, library, games room and video library. Breakfast and a 3-course dinner are included. The home cooked Ecuadorian and international meals are served family style with organic produce harvested daily from Casa Mojanda's gardens.
A range of activities is available, from short hikes in the local area to full day trips to Indian villages. Otavalo is just an hour's hike from the inn, and there are also longer hikes to the Mojanda Lakes where kayaking can be arranged. Horse riding is a popular activity and mountain biking (please notify in advance) can be arranged, and you can take a guided tour of local villages.
Open: Casa Mojanda is open all year.
Location: Casa Mojanda is near the market town of Otavalo in the Andean highlands. It is about a 1 hour 40 minute drive from Quito.
Rooms: There are cabins and houses scattered among the gardens. The cabins vary in size, with twins/doubles, triples and quadruples. Some have fireplaces. The 2 houses are designed for families. 1 has 2 bedrooms and sleeps up to 6 people, the other has 3 bedrooms and sleeps up to 8. All rooms have a homely feel, created by the beamed ceilings, polished floors, patterned textiles and rugs.
Activities: Explore the gardens, go bird watching, walk to the waterfall about 30 minutes away, hike to Otavalo (roughly one hour) where you can visit the market and shops, go mountain biking or horse riding, visit a local village, go to Mojanda lakes to fish, kayak and watch condors. Lodge staff can arrange a number of other half and full day tours. Some of these activities need to be paid for locally.
Facilities: The lodge has a TV/games room with a collection of DVDs books and games. There is a library. Outdoors there is a Jacuzzi and attractive gardens. Massages can be arranged.
Dining: The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals are eaten together in the dining room. The food is based on traditional Ecuadorian cuisine, though continental dishes are also available. Many ingredients are grown in the organic garden.
Children: Children of all ages are welcome. Children under 4 years stay free, and those aged between 4 and 11 qualify for a reduced child rate when sharing with 1 or 2 adults.
Health: This is not a malarial area.
Communication: There is free Wi-Fi internet access in communal areas.
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