Hostería San José

The Quilotoa Loop


Located 2.5km south of Sigchos on the road to Chugchilán, this converted hacienda and working dairy farm has gorgeous gardens, whitewashed walls, a remarkably quaint chapel and comfortable rooms with thick mattresses and a few rustic touches. The enclosed (heated) pool, sauna and steam room are open for nonguests ($10); it is well worth the stop for dusty trekkers.

There's a games room with table football, a pool table and a karaoke machine, and you can hire horses ($20), quad bikes ($20) or book a massage ($40).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Quilotoa Loop attractions

1. Laguna Quilotoa

10.21 MILES

About 14km north of Zumbahua, the famous volcanic-crater lake of Laguna Quilotoa is a gasp-inducing sight. A lookout on the precipitous crater rim offers…

2. Galería Arte de Tigua

15.85 MILES

The outstanding Galería Arte de Tigua and three other art galleries sell paintings and wooden masks at lower prices than those in Quito. If the gallery is…

3. Saturday Market

16.63 MILES

Zumbahua (zoom-bah-wah) has a wonderfully authentic Saturday market at which indigenous vendors from the mountains sell their wares. Check out the men on…

4. Thursday Morning Market

17.53 MILES

The Thursday morning market in Saquisilí is one of the best in the central highlands. It’s a mostly authentic and fascinating place to observe the array…

5. Mercado Cerrado

23.7 MILES

Latacunga’s large markets are quite utilitarian, but that’s what makes them interesting. The food stalls on the second floor of the Mercado Cerrado …

6. Casa de la Cultura

23.89 MILES

This cultural center is built on the site of a former Jesuit watermill known as Molinos de Monserrat and houses a small ethnography and art museum. The…

7. Church of La Merced

23.91 MILES

At the Church of Mercy you'll find an image of the Virgen de las Mercedes, the protector of Latacunga, who is celebrated during the Fiesta de la Mama…

8. Casa de los Marqueses de Miraflores

23.92 MILES

Take a break in this archaeological and religious museum housed in a colonial-era mansion. It has good background on the Mama Negra festivals. The museum…