Inraki Lodge

We had to leave much sooner than we'd have liked. We only had half a day before our flight, but Francisca gave us a walking tour of the dry forest, the flower farm and the horse boarding they do. We had a wonderful breakfast first thing in the morning, and she was a wonderful person to spend time with. Since she was heading to town around our flight time, we paid her for a ride to the airport. Great value. We arrived late, and she was there for us and gave our taxi driver directions. We just loved the place.

I stayed in the double room lodge. It's rustic and quite small, with space for two single beds and a small desk. The bathroom is a reasonable size, and the shower had good pressure and plenty of hot water. There's a little verandah outside, but the curtains are thin and let in the daylight. I missed having a kettle or coffee maker. The lodge sits in beautiful, quiet woodland, and there's a pretty, well-marked short walk around the property. Guayllabamba, the nearest town, is a $2 taxi ride away, with a Tia supermarket and several restaurants. La Casa Vieja at the square is worth trying. I'd happily stay here again. If you're making your own way there, let them know roughly when you'll arrive so someone can meet you. And keep your taxi at the main gate: the lodge is about 1.5km further in. The security man on the right is the person to speak to, not the Inraki sign on the left. Inraki lodge is a beautiful, peaceful setting that feels a world away from Quito.

The cabins have Wi-Fi, plus a mini-fridge, microwave, kitchenette and kitchenware. The place itself is lovely, with peaceful surroundings, beautiful plants and wildlife, and some nice spots for photos. A few things could be better. It gets completely dark at night, so leaving some lights on would help with safety and emergencies. The entrance to the lodge needs improvement, and someone should stay overnight in case anything happens. We understand that tourists and lodge owners are encroaching on other species' space, but the cabins could be more airtight to keep insects from coming in at night. It's a lovely place to visit and relax, and worth it, though a few small details need attention.

A peaceful, beautiful spot, with a long trail winding through the dry forest.