Situated in the Valley of Longevity in Vilcabamba, Ecuador, this unique hotel invites you to get away from stress and just relax. Its ideal location is a great starting point for the many activities that the valley and surrounding areas have to offer to tourists. Our accommodations range from dormitories to private rooms and even private cabins- tucked away in the many lush flower gardens.
As I am writing this, I don´t know where to start and where to end. Instead of one week, we stayed 16 weeks in this amazing place and we couldn´t be more thankful and blessed that we got there before the Covid19-lockdown in Ecuador started! One might wonder now, how backpacker can afford 16 weeks in this wonderful paradise, but with Peter and Dieter as the owners and Raik as Manager, you will find a solution together for everything! They are really social, kind and nice people that want the best for everyone and focus on safety and reliability rather than making profit out of such a situation...
After such a long time it even kind of felt like home there, but for sure with all the benefits a hotel has… Roomservice, Restaurant, Pool, Bar with A LOT of games, Billiard, Ping Pong, Big TV… they even managed to handle all our individual needs in this difficult time! Not even a single day we felt unsafe being there and actually we never got bored. In total, we had three different rooms and every single one had a special charme and design, you will definitely fall in love with… and by the way, Peter designed everything himself! They have many options with different prices for the accomodations, but every single one is really quiet and you have a lot of space and room to make yourself comfortable. All the rooms are distributed on the property, so you have a lot of privacy! Moreover every room has its own hammocks and balconies or terraces… we loved it. The restaurant offers a wide range of food and specialties for all kinds of tastes! As germans, we really liked the german part of the menu and we have to say we never ever had better Spätzle, Knödel and Auflauf outside of Germany. All the other dishes were really tasty as well!
All in all you won´t get bored here, they offer Yoga classes twice a day in their own amazing Yoga Shala, you can go hiking on the property for quite some time, bird watching on some platforms with hammocks… it´s just an amazing place that we will recommend to everyone who will ever go to Ecuador and wants the perfect balance between nature, comfort, good food, activites and silence! We will definetly come back!
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Date of stay: June 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I had the good fortune, during what could have been a very stressful time, to suddenly find myself quarantined in Izhcayluma due to the covid-19 pandemic. Instead of the 4 nights originally planned, Izhcayluma became my home for 3 months. I use the word 'home' as it very quickly became 'home', due to the kindness & care displayed to us as guests by Peter, Dieter & Raik, AND all the staff. They each went over and above to ensure we as guests were looked after and had what we needed. Izhcayluma (pandemic or no pandemic) is an amazing place to stay & I can not recommend it highly enough. The main point I would emphasise is to make sure you give yourself long enough here, as it's the perfect place to relax by the pool or in a hammock, but also there are so many activities to take advantage of. The yoga shala is incredible, as are the yoga teachers & the yoga classes (the aerial yoga is sooooo much fun)!. There is also amazing therapy/massage rooms - I treated myself to a massage when I first arrived and it was heaven. If you like hiking, I strongly recommend doing as many of the hikes as you can - these range from short ones through to full day hikes & all come with amazing views. The accomodation itself is fantastic, really tastefully done and very comfortable. There are options to suit everyone, and really beautiful gardens (and birdlife) throughout the whole property. There are also several maintained trails within the property which became a much enjoyed morning routine for me to walk. As a solo traveller, Izhcayluma is great, as there is a bar & outdoor fire pit, the pool, a really great restaurant, along with other outdoor places people can gather & socialise. Speaking of the restaurant, the meals were so delicious & the menu offers huge variety. The village of Vilcabamba is a short walk into town (20 mins) but there are various longer routes to take you there depending on what you are after & how much time you have. I could go on & on & on about all the wonderful experiences I had staying at Izhcayluma, but in summary just do yourself a favour and come stay here. You will not be disappointed. Just make sure you give yourself long enough to really enjoy the tranquility & relaxation this place offers, and also allow enough time to be able to enjoy all the activities available (especially the amazing hikes). I am already looking forward to visiting again at some stage in the future.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Located in the gorgeous Vilcabamba, a little outside of town, this resort is the most relaxing and pleasant place we have stayed in South America. Me & my partner stayed in a double bed in a dorm room, which was really good value for money. Every day we did a hike with the maps provided by Izhcayluma and every afternoon cooled off in the pool. In the morning free yoga is provided, not only was it the best yoga class I have joined but also had a spectacular direct view of the mountains. The food is good and portions are large. Can’t fault the place!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The valley this is situated in is breathtaking.. I’m not sure that there are many places in Ecuador that are not. My daughter and I had a package for 7 nights. I don’t think you can beat the price. They have a spa with some wonderful women working there. The staff give off a family type vibe and I did not meet one member that I could say a bad thing about. The food and service were very good at the restaurant. The breakfast that was included was plentiful and delicious. The free morning yoga was great for any skill level and the shala has astounding views. We each had a single room with a private bathroom and they are done quite (very) nicely. The only complaint would be a lack of hot water,even though I shut the water off after getting wet I didn’t get my hair rinse before it was rinsed. The cabins are mostly privately nestled throughout the property and it’s just a beautiful setting. It’s a short walk in to town and a cheap cab ride back. Vilcabamba is a lovely little community with many expats residing there so not a traditional Ecuadorian town. The other thing that did not meet our expectations was the weather. We thought there would be far more rain! The temperature was in the low 20s (perfect for hiking) although we did see a couple of 30t days. I was expecting to get wet a lot but it wasn’t an issue. Loved the place would possibly go again. Thanks for a beautiful relaxing Place!
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It is difficult to communicate in writing the magic of Hosteria Izhcayluma. We had planned a one-week vacation, however this turned into an unexpected five-week retreat, full of renewal. We would like to share a few comments about what made our time in this amazing place so special and memorable. First the owners, Peter and Dieter, as well as manager Raik, are three of the kindest people we have ever met. They are so genuine and selfless, which was really inspiring. We feel really fortunate to have experienced this extended stay with them in Izhcayluma and to have gotten to know them. Izhcayluma is a way of life, being and inner peace. The hostel itself, the town of Vilcabamba and the surrounding valley have everything one would need during a pandemic as well as normal times. In addition to the incredible scenery, birds, butterflies, gardens, foliage, sunsets, hiking, accommodations and food, it should go unmentioned that Izhcayluma is also a brewery, making excellent German style lagers, reds and even an IPA.
We went there for the yoga and we were taught by some of the best yoga instructors in the most beautiful yoga Shala you can imagine. Vanessa, the hostel yoga master, was amazing in her cues and for the wise messages she communicated in Spanish and English. While we came for the yoga, we stayed for the community and way of life. We are extremely fortunate to have found Hosteria Izhcayluma and know that we will return for another extended stay.
Tim and Denise Gomez
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Date of stay: March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travel is very different since the inception of global awareness to Covid19. Built over the past two decades the design and openness of the resort were seemingly built to ensure guests can relax while avoiding the spread. Everything is open and outdoors here, you’re able to enjoy a meal in the open-air restaurant or lounge along the pool without fear of being encroached upon in violation of your personal space. Within 24 hours of being here I went from angry fat white man to a rational human dreaming of just staying here and making it home.
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A very relaxing experience in a beautiful setting with lovely people. Our cabin was extremely spacious and comfortable, with a balcony equipped with easy chairs and a hammock. The views across the hills were stunning, and there were a number of well marked walking trails on the property. There is a small swimming pool with sun loungers.
Although breakfast is not included in the room price, it is available at a very modest additional cost. It’s certainly worth it. For other meals, the restaurant offers varied menu of well prepared and reasonably priced dishes.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â There is a shuttle service to and from Cuenca.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I spent a week at Izhcayluma for a change of scenery. We were immediately welcomed by Peter, Raik and Dieter and they were always available for any needs during our time there. The food in the open air restaurant is amazing along with wonderful views. We felt very comfortable exploring the grounds, hiking trails and going into the nearby village of Vilcabamba. As we went there to simply relax and do nothing, we did not partake in the use of the free yoga classes, swimming pool or bar and game tables (ping pong, pool and foosbol), but we did have a great massage!
Such a peaceful environment surrounded by sights and sounds of nature!
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Date of stay: August 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have been going to this place for the past 10 years. This time was different because of the current situation but still I got to enjoy every minute of it. Everyone there was well prepared and I felt like I was able to keep my distance with everyone while still enjoying myself. I had to work there and the internet was perfect! I really enjoyed how quite it was in my room. I can only hear the sound of birds! In the afternoon after work, I had a massage and a yummy dinner. In the morning before work, you can go to free yoga in an amazing place. People were so considerate and it was just amazing ! I never felt lonely !
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Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Please beware if you are from US and stay here. The owners speak negatively about Americans and they overcharged me nearly a hundred dollars on check-out. They played you have to buy us new towels scam and did not provide billing for restaurant. I complained they was no and very slow WIFI for 4 days and they only disagreed with me. There are other resorts nearby that I would suggest unless you are from Germany.
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Â The pool is very cold.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The only kitchen is used by the hostel staff, but in front of its hostel there are some little houses for monthly or weekly rent and include your own kitchen and living room. You can ask about it to Izchaylumas staff.
There are more places to choose from in the Vilcabamba area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
hosteria izhcayluma hotel vilcabamba
LOCATION
EcuadorLoja ProvinceVilcabamba
NUMBER OF ROOMS
23
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