Hostal Runa Huasi

Staying at Alonso's hostel was like staying with family. He and his family made every effort to make our stay comfortable and interesting. Their demonstrations of transforming raw wool into completed, beautiful weavings was fascinating. We were encouraged to try our hand at carding wool and weaving fine threads. Amazing experience. The hostel is located well off the main road. Be sure your taxi driver knows where he's going or have a cell phone handy so that the driver can call Alonso for directions. Food was excellent. Plenty of hot water. Beds were very comfortable. Hostel was spotless. The garden and the view were spectacular. We enjoyed visiting with the resident cow, burro and sheep. Especially enjoyed meeting Alonso's favorite pet pig! She was so sweet!!! Would definitely stay here again, and, indeed, hope to visit again.

This hostel was set up by Alonso Pilla about 10 years ago. I have been taking student groups there since it opened. It is basic but all the important amenities are very good and well maintained. The views from the hostel are wonderful, it is quiet, and good base for exploring Salasaca. The food is traditional. There are options to see Alonso and family weave or climb Teligote. Highly recommend a few nights here to get a taste of rural indigenous Ecuador.

Hostal Runa Huasi is an excellent option for those looking for a real experience off the beaten path. It is a family run establishment with room options for large groups or individuals. Alonso and his family are kind, welcoming, and very willing to share their culture and experiences. The food is traditional, and there is always plenty. There are hammocks, incredible views, and a fire pit to enjoy, in addition to excursions that can be arranged such as hiking or weaving demonstrations. Come here to relax, or to just get away from the big city and tourist traps.

Hostal Runa Huasi is a hidden gem within the hidden gem that is Salasaca that I visited with my wife and two boys, ages 10 and 8. The hostal is run by Alonso Pilla, a welcoming gregarious host who enthusiastically shares his rich cultural heritage with his guests.||||The hostal is located off of the busy highway to Baños. After turning off of the road lined with a random assortment of restaurants, hardware stores and mechanic shops, you quickly enter into a traditional Quichua community that retains many pre-Colombian customs to this day. Driving to the hostal you will see women dressed in colorful traditional clothing weaving while walking, carrying babies in scarves, or leading donkeys laden with grasses from a river below. ||||The hostal is situated at the top of a small canyon overlooking the river below and the Andean countryside and highlands in the distance. The hostal itself is surrounded by fruit trees and flowers. Alonos grows traditional foods, herbs and medicines which he is happy to share with his guests. He will also cook one of his guinea pigs for you if you dare!||||The hostal is designed and decorated in a traditional style with thatched roofs. The rooms are comfortable, with lots of different options for guests including a cool bunk house for large groups. There is an eating/common area where Alonso and his wife prepare a fantastic breakfast. There are also several levels of outdoor patios, including one with hammocks, all with views of the canyon below.||||Alonso offers tours of cultural and sacred sites in Salasca and explains their historical and/or religious significance. He also gives weaving lessons on a traditional loom and explains the symbolism of the many designs found on Salasacas clothing. Alonso's tours are a highlight. He reveals a mysterious and mythical culture hidden in plain sight. He took us to a sacred rock where Salasacas make offerings for musical skills where Salasacas believed the the Inca General Ruminahui visited when travelling in the region! He also gives tours to a nearby mountain called Teligote where Salsacas make an annual pilgrimage. There is a rare cloud forest at the top of the mountain and a hidden watering hole where legend has it you can enter the Llangantes mountains.||||Hostal Runa Huasi offers a unique and immersive cultural experience for those who are willing to take a detour off of the beaten path!

Hostel Runa Huasi is run by Alonso and his wife Julia - both are wonderfully friendly, open and helpful. Alonso is one of Salasaca's artisan weavers and is very knowledgeable about the indigenous Andean culture.|The hostel itself overlooks the canyon and the view, in particular from the terrace, is stunning. The rooms and the bathrooms are very clean (with constant hot and cold water - not always a given in this part of Ecuador). |There is a kitchen and dining room available for guest use.

Alonso and his family make this authentic quichua experience worth a return visit. Food is wholesome, good neighborhood walks, interesting Salasaca weavings. Check out the walk up Teligote for a study of native plants and their uses.

So cute!!!

Fantástico lugar y fantástica atención. Alonso y su mujer, de los Salasaca, nos hicieron sentir como en casa, nos ayudaron en todo lo que necesitamos y compartieron con nosotros sus vivencias. ¡Que no os asusten el camino de acceso y la escalera de bajada! ¡Las vistas, la calidad de las habitaciones y el fuego en la noche lo suplen todo!