The Hostelz.com Review - Genuine, independent review you can trust.
Hostal La Luna is an excellent hostel more akin to a mountain lodge than a backpackers lodging. At more than three thousand meters altitude surrounded by a beautiful and enormous garden as green as the eye can see, it offers private rooms, a dorm, and camping area in its grounds.
The Location
The hostel is located several kilometers outside Otavalo, a market town and popular tourist destination in the northern highlands of Ecuador. You can get a taxi or wait for the public bus that goes every hour to get there. It consists of a main building and another one for the dormitory. It has breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside and the town of Otavalo.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The seven-bed dormitory is in a building of its own with three toilets and three showers and a small kitchen. The most interesting quirk of this hostel is that all rooms are heated with a fireplace, including the dormitory. It is always a nice feeling to sit beside a fire at a mountain lodge and enjoy the coziness. But the fireplace is not just a decorative artifact, it is really necessary because at this altitude nights get quite cold! If you are worried about how to start a fire, don't -- because the very helpful staff are always ready to do it for you, you just need to ask.
Common Spaces
The common spaces consist of a small kitchen in the dormitory, the lobby and restaurant area in the main building with two fireplaces, and the best of all, the amazingly huge garden. There are several hammocks next to the main house overlooking the garden where you can chill, have a nap, read, or simply enjoy the breathtaking view.
Summary
Hostal La Luna is more of a B&B with the addition of a dormitory and camping grounds. It is set in an extremely beautiful location away from the noise of the city, perfect to enjoy the nature, go for a few hikes, or alternatively do nothing but chill. The restaurant is a bit on the expensive side, but not so much, and drinks are still reasonably priced. It is a unique hostel and definitely deserves a visit. It can be a relaxing hideout for those who are looking for a calm and quiet place to enjoy themselves for a while.
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.
Existenziel
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
Published on Jun 17, 2018
Location and Contact
Location
• From Otavalo bus terminal you can take a taxi for 4 US dollars. From the town centre taxis charge just 3 US dollars. • Buses and vans also occasionally pass by the Hostel (for more details on this please visit our website). • If you are walking take the road signposted to The Mojanda Lakes and after about 3.5 km you'll pass Casa Mojanda.We're just half a kilometre further.