This is an off-the-grid experience for those looking for a rural setting, nature walks, smallholder tasks like , organic veg, basket making, coffee production , waterfalls, cloudforests, birdwatching, lots of domestic birds and animals, horse and pony rides, cultural experience with Patricia's family and neighbours and friends. Ned is English, 15 years in Ecuador, biologist/farmer - currently a local councillor, interested in conservation and sustainable alternatives to the mining company proposals. The decor is rustic, wood cabins. Good food, mostly organic, much of it home grown and cooked. Views spectacular, 650,000 acre (220 000 hectare) national park just a couple of kilometres away. In short, hopeless if you are looking for an urban experience or 5 star - but could be a good fit if you are looking for something different. Hot shower, internet, private rooms and bathrooms (but shared shower) - great family service. European/Ecuadorean couple with a 5 year old son. I suppose what is unique is that Patricia, Alba and her family are genuinely hospitable and very capable in the best tradition of rural Ecuador - a strange mix of humour, self-reliance and down-to-earth skills. From August 2022, we have switched the location to the nearby farm of Patricia's sister, Alba Rodriguez, in the community of Rosario, in the same parish - the experience is very similar, and we still greet guests on arrival at the nearby small town of Cuellaje, from where there is a 30 minute journey to Alba's farm and house.

Our place is probably a bit different from what you would mostly find on accomodation sites. We offer a family experience - so no good for those who would prefer a distanced, anonymous approach from their hosts - we think you'll have a memorable time here - mainly thanks to Alba, and her amazing family, who offer hospitality in the old-fashioned sense of the word. They can accompany you on excursions - there is loads to do - and don't charge you for this - same applies with basketmaking and other activities, and there are 2 farms (a total of 90 hectares) to explore. This is the Andes, so lots of ups and downs, not a good choice if you have severe mobility restrictions - and there's a 15 minute walk from the end of the road to our farm, which some people like and others do not. Watch out for the long journey to get here - about 2.5 hours by taxi from Otavalo, and about 3.5 hours by bus/taxi - this is a spectacular journey, but long and quite tiring, so we are probably not a good choice if you are just after an overnight stay. There are lots of farm animals - this is a working farm - which some people like, and some people do not - rabbits, guinea-pigs, ducks, 2 pigs, mules, cattle.

This parish (cuellaje)is surrounded by cloud forest national Park - so it's a good choice if you like native forest, and connection with nature. It's also almost 100% agricultural in its economy, consisting of about 300 smallholdings, and 18,000 hectares (40k acres), and we live by producing local exotic fruits (granadilla , tree tomato, beans and naranjilla) also avocados, coffee, sugar cane and cattle. It's a great area for trekking (the Piñan lakes trek is especially recommended), bird-watching, waterfall excursions, and relaxing in natural surroundings. Also good for learning spanish, as only spanish is used here, apart from me. We are based in the Rosario community, and also work with the Río Lindo coffee Lodge in the nearby community of San Alberto. The landscape is spectacular, with views of Cotacachi, Cayambe and Cotopaxi volcanoes. This is an "off-the-beaten-track" experience, so away from mainstream tourist destinations, which some people like, others don't. Terrible for nightlife, fashionable bars and nightclubs are absent here, and the roads get lots of potholes in the rainy season. It rains a lot during the rainy season. Please take time to contact us before travelling, so we can meet you in Cuellaje, and also to make sure that you have all the information you need to decide whether or not this destination could be a good match for your expectations.