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Hotel de La Rabida
An Elegant and Charming
Hotel
in Quito, Ecuador |
Guest Comments
Hotel - Quito, Ecuador
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Call
Today For Prices, Information, or Reservations!
TOLL FREE IN THE USA & CANADA: 1-800-327-3573
LOCAL
/ INTERNATIONAL:
1-863-439-1486
FAX:
1-863-439-2118 |
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March 21, 2007
I am happy to provide this report to you on our trip to Ecuador that was planned using the services of LARC. When we began planning our trip we knew that we wanted some advantages of a tour but also wanted an individualized travel plan. We worked with LARC tour agent, Judy Martin, who helpfully and pleasantly helped us to craft a travel plan that was perfect for us.
Essentially, we designed 4 mini-trips within our overall tour of
Ecuador using Quito as our base. Judy arranged lodging, guides and side trips for us, including transfers to and from airports and hotels, when necessary.
First, we arrived in Quito for a few days where my daughter, Leah, is working as a teacher at El Colegio San Francisco de Quito. We stayed at the
Mansion del Angel, which had a lovely rooftop cafe.
Next, we then headed to the Southern Highlands to the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca. We stayed in the Crespo Hotel, which we loved. From there we took three main side trips: Ingapirca (Inca ruins), Cajas National Park, and the lovely villages and markets of Gualaceo and Chordeleg.
After four fabulous days in Cuenca we flew back to Quito. We stayed at
La Rabida Hotel, a quiet and clean place with a very helpful staff. While we loved
Mansion Del Angel and Crespo for their ambiance,
La Rabida felt "like home."
Next; when we headed to the Oriente very near the border of Peru for a trip to the Amazon Jungle and
Kapawi Eco-Lodge and
Reserve. This was an amazing trip! After 4 or 5 awesome days we headed back to Quito.
We took a day trip to Cotopaxi, the world's highest active volcano, and to the incredible hot springs of Papallacta. Back on Quito and
La Rabida, we did several things on our own such as visit Quito's Old Town, the Golden Church, Cafe Mosaica high above the city for a cocktail at dusk, the Guaysamin Museum, and visited the markets and street venders.
Lastly, we headed north, stopping at Calderon and other small villages arriving at our final destination of
La Mirage, a gorgeous place with gardens, birds, extraordinary cuisine, and an amazing spa. We also visited the leather town of
Cotacachi and the grand market town of Otavala.
It was definitely a whirlwind 3 weeks but the plan was perfect for us to be able to see most of the country, stay in a variety of great hotels, have expert guides and efficient transfers, and be able to "tour"
Ecuador just the way we wanted to. The tour guides were very professional and knowledgeable and fun to be with. Thank you Judy for your patience, humor, and perseverance in working with us to create the perfect South American vacation! You are the best - we felt like you truly took a personal interest in making our trip exactly how we wanted it to be. And it turned out BETTER than we expected as a result of all our planning together. Without a doubt, we will certainly use your services again. Thanks so much!
Gera [Last name withheld in compliance
with the LARC privacy
policy.]
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June 8, 2004
Dear Judy,
Cathy K. and I are extremely happy with the way our trip of May 14-May 28 turned out. All of our guides and hotel people met us right on time at the airport and right on time to take us back to the airport. We had 9 flights! So, it is amazing that it all went so well.
When we flew into Quito we pulled up right before touching down--there were some bad winds. After making a big circle we tried again and this time we landed safely. Later, other flights had to go to Guayaquil instead. All of our pilots were wonderful. The airport tax was always sort of a pain. Our guide at Lima got us through that process. Later, at Quito we waited in one tax line only to find out that you had to have your boarding pass to be allowed to pay the airport tax---but fortunately American Airlines let us pay at the counter so we did not have to line up again.
Our accommodations were excellent. The little
Hostal La Rabida in Quito was wonderful and convenient to a big shopping street and within walking distance of the wonderful Galeria Latina. Cathy didn't like our guide very much, but I thought he was fine. He just wasn't as intellectual as our other guides. Our Cuzco guide knew everything, our Machu Picchu guide took good care of us and gave a great tour (and the Machu Picchu Inn was great--we had the best room with its own garden at the top of the steps).
A funny thing--every hotel room seemed to be split level--a step up to the bathroom so we had to keep a light on at night so that we would not fall if we had to get up.
The six-stop Cuzco afternoon tour was definitely grueling. Our guide was very knowledgeable and easy to understand, but I think three stops would have done it. Cathy was a little ill by the sixth stop and when we got back she threw up 3 or 4 times. The Hotel Prisma clerk said we should summon a doctor--but Cathy did not want to and she was fine by morning. But they did not offer oxygen, which many hotels do have. This hotel was convenient and lovely, with a big atrium, and the staff was very friendly and helpful--but the towels were on the raggedy side and the toilet broke twice--once I fixed it myself. The guide reconfirmed our flights for us.
The Vista Dome train to Machu Picchu was wonderful.
When we got back to Cuzco our wonderful guide, Odelia, I think, unexpectedly and fortuitously met us at the top of the valley, so we did not have to do all the time-consuming switchbacks to get back to our hotel.
The next day was our bus trip with a different guide to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with many sites to visit.
We had a big buffet lunch at a lovely hacienda--but immediately afterwards we were expected to climb to the top of a 1,000 ft temple--very bad for people's health on a full stomach. Cathy and I decided to wait prudently at the bottom and we missed this opportunity. So, wouldn't it be nice if the climb could take place before lunch. The market town with 8 sq blocks of interesting artistic creations was marvelous. But we were definitely tired by the time we drove to see the village at 12,400 feet with more folk art--and more steps for us to climb. Then back to Lima for the Gold Museum and City by Night Tour--and where we hired our guide to come again the next day and take us to the museum of anthropology and to the Pachacamac
archaeological site.
Then on to Quito and the Galapagos. The boat
Floreana was excellent. The crew was wonderful, the food was excellent, and we had both a sun deck and a shade deck and the most wonderful guide in the whole wide world,
Jorge Campoverde--who knew everything and shared it with us with enthusiasm. And he also went snorkeling with us and made sure a panga was nearby if anyone had any trouble (no one did). We saw his "vegetarian" sharks, sea turtles, 3 or 4 types of sea urchins, sea stars, and many, many kinds of tropical fish including the most beautiful parrot fish-even schools of fish that formed rivers. And we had the thrill of having sea lions swim with us on several different occasions. Jorge took us wading in the surf on one island--and stingrays swam over our feet--caressing us with their velvety bodies!!
We were so lucky to see nesting blue-footed boobies and the mating dances of these boobies, nesting frigate birds with their wonderful rituals of inflating their throat pouches--throwing their heads back and spreading their wings, nesting brown pelicans, and even nesting waved albatrosses with their wonderful mating ritual of loudly clacking their beaks together and then suddenly pointing to the sky. Then we flew back to Quito for a night and were lucky enough to see the largest hummingbird in the world!
Our sincere thanks for arranging such a great trip for us!
Very Best Regards,
Joanne G. and Cathy K. [Last name withheld in compliance
with the LARC privacy
policy.]
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November 18, 2003
Hi Judy,
Just a quick note to let you know that the trip that you arranged for me
to Equador turned out to be fabulous.
Ernesto, the driver/guide from Turisvision was a delightful, charming
companion for 3 days in the Cotopaxi volcano area and Latacunga.
I especially enjoyed the peaceful surroundings at Hosteria La
Cienega. The gardens were lovely, and the suites with a fireplace warm and
comfortable.
Hotel de la Rabida in Quito met my needs for overnighting between
transfers and on arrival and prior to departure. The staff were ready
to help where needed and provided breakfasts and dinners at a reasonable
price. I particularly enjoyed trading my paperbacks for a new supply in
their library.
And La Mirage..., words cannot do it justice. I was sad to leave
there. The elegance of the rooms and superb dining experiences were
only a part of the picture. The staff, especially Rafael and
Clemencia, were most gracious and kind. I enjoyed a Purification Treatment
performed by the shaman, Esthela, at the spa (though, I acknowledge that
it is not something that everyone might want to experience). The spa
does offer a variety of more traditional options, and I highly recommend
its services.
Cotacachi, the leather town; the Indian market at Otavalo; San Antonio,
the wood carving town; and other points of interest made traveling this
area most enjoyable.
I can highly recommend this trip to others, including single woman who
enjoy traveling alone.
Thanks again, Judy, for all your help!!!
Nancy [Last name withheld in compliance
with the LARC privacy
policy.]
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What our guests say:
ECUADOR & GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Open Road Publishing
Gracefully robed in whitewashed walls and stately French doors, La Rabida exudes elegance and refinement. The eleven rooms inn is located in a quite residential neighborhood, but within easy walking distance of the restaurants and activity in New Town. You should opt for at least one meal in the cozy dining room as the menu, although as diminutive as it residence, offers more an enticing
Italian than many of Quito's trattorias...
...Breakfast includes homemade breads and marmalade, fresh juices, and other delights that range from healthy to hearty.
Admire the two-foot thick walls as you pass from room to room. The den is furnished with tasteful, comfortable sofas from which you can be entranced by a crackling fire. The next room is the bar and library where guests enjoy pre-dinner drinks and animated conversation surrounded by European naturalist prints. The dining room follows an then leads out into the courtyard and luxuriant garden. Most of the rooms surround this small piece of Eden.
A QUITO BEAUTY: HOSTAL DE LA RABIDA
By Mona Moore Birch, TRAVEL WORLD NEWS
A good choice, and a LARC recommendation, is the Hostal de La Rabida, in the north part of the city. The building was once a private home, but since 1994 has operated as an 11 rooms hotel. Congenial owner and very accessible hostess is Nora Giraldi, an
Italian transplant to Ecuador. The house has the air of a gracious past, with hard wood floors and closet armoires...
...The intimate restaurant, which looks out onto the courtyard, serves breakfast and dinner with continental cuisine and service...
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Call
Today For Prices, Information, or Reservations!
TOLL FREE IN THE USA & CANADA: 1-800-327-3573
LOCAL
/ INTERNATIONAL:
1-863-439-1486
FAX:
1-863-439-2118 |
|
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Latin America Reservation
Center, Inc. All rights reserved.
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