Hacienda La Ciénega

The hacienda and its grounds are beautifully kept, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The long driveway, lined with magnificent eucalyptus trees, leads to a stunning hacienda with historic pieces and a small chapel. We spent about an hour walking around the hotel and gardens, which I recommend doing. You can safely skip the surrounding area. Inside, though, the hotel felt cold and short on atmosphere. We arrived at 14:00 on a chilly day, and none of the many fireplaces were lit. Room #4 was small, with just a queen bed and no fireplace, only a small electric heater that barely made it comfortable. There wasn’t space for chairs to read, so after our walk we went to the salon cotapaxi, where there are couches, chairs, and a fireplace. Staff lit it right away when we asked, but the wood was so wet that the fire stayed small and barely warmed the people sitting close, let alone the room. We’d read negative comments about the restaurant, so we were cautious at dinner. There was a fire going, but the dining room was still much too cold, perhaps because it had only just been lit. It wasn’t a nice place to linger, so we ordered soup and a quick spaghetti bolognese. The potato and coliflour soups were reasonable and the spaghetti was good. I can’t agree with the bad restaurant reviews based on those three dishes, though that’s all I can judge. We didn’t sleep well. The queen bed felt a little small for two, and the bigger problem was noise. At least in room #4, the walls do nothing to block sound; when our neighbor used the toilet, we could hear every drop. I suspect the hotel knows the rooms are noisy, since there are no TVs, and I don’t understand why they don’t spread guests out more. We were the only guests besides 15 other Italian guests, and there were plenty of rooms to put more space between us, but everyone was given neighboring rooms.

I stayed for three nights and found it a unique place, full of history and with a small church. The room was spacious and had a fireplace, and the restaurant served delicious food in a cozy dining room with its own fireplace. Staff were friendly and helpful, arranging mountain guides for hikes and transportation to the airport.

The place is gorgeous, truly out of this world, and the staff are super friendly. If you’re passing by Cotopaxi, it’s a must. I had a wonderful time and will definitely come back when I’m in Ecuador again.

A beautiful old place, and the front desk responded to our requests. The waiter who served both dinner and breakfast was excellent and deserves special praise. Some updates to the bedding and bathrooms would help, but it was a great place to stay for a night.