Hotel Rural La Esperanza

The woman who served breakfast was incredibly kind, and the hotel was peaceful. Those were the few bright spots on a really disappointing return visit with my family. I hadn't been back in three years, and the place was nothing like I remembered. Making the reservation was a struggle. I was told to use WhatsApp, but nobody replied, so I had to keep calling and insisting. When we arrived, reception smelled musty, old, and dusty. The room I got was awful: the toilet didn't work, and water dripped onto the bed until the blankets were almost soaked. We went to reception to ask for another room, but there was nobody there. It was hard to believe no one was available, especially since a more serious emergency could have left us in a much worse situation. My relative's room smelled strongly of urine, too. When they checked the bathroom, it hadn't been cleaned, with hair in the shower and urine in the toilet. The animals were badly neglected. Chickens and roosters were kept inside without protection from the cold at night. Rabbits were stuck in small, filthy cages with barely any space, surrounded by feces and urine; the smell was unbearable. The taxidermy animal "museum" was neglected as well, and many specimens had mold. The green areas had trash and excrement scattered around, and patched wires were left exposed. We had to come back because one of my relatives started feeling very ill. We planned to rest for an hour in the common areas while he recovered before driving. A Venezuelan man, who I assume was the handyman, made an inappropriate comment to us. He was rude and strange. The hotel's condition is depressing. I hope they listen to the negative feedback and suggestions and can bring it back to its former glory.

The food was good, and the staff were helpful. The grounds are lovely and have a lot of potential, but they could be put to better use, and the place is difficult to access for people with disabilities. There is plenty of space here for doing great things, but maintenance is badly lacking both inside and out. Rustic style is one thing, neglect and dirt are another. It needs urgent repairs and a thorough clean. They also don't clean rooms during a guest's stay, which only adds to the cleanliness and upkeep problems.

The park and its scenery were lovely, and the walks were great. We had so much fun over New Year's Eve, and the people there made it feel warm and enriching. It's peaceful at night, and the kids loved having so much to explore. I liked the healthy food, too.

It felt like a magical place, with quiet, clean rooms and lots of activities. The food was delicious and the service was spectacular. I'd happily come back many times. Thanks so much!