“Otavalo Luxury Stay: A Quiet Night at La Casa Sol Under the Andean Stars”

🕔 05:00–07:00 | From Quito to Otavalo, Dawn Air of the Andes

The clock pointed to 5 a.m., and damp mist wrapped around my ankles.
The air was 8°C. I got into the taxi I had reserved and entered the northbound E35 highway.
The lights of Calderón, Cayambe, and nameless villages guided the way.

After driving for a little less than three hours, the ridges of the Andes gradually came closer.
Clouds were hanging low, billowing as if they could be touched above my head,
and the air felt heavy with moisture, as if soaked in rainclouds.

At last, we reached the center of Otavalo,
where the lights along Simón Bolívar Street twinkled as if to welcome me.
The lights of Calderón, Cayambe, and unnamed villages flowed past the car window.

🕖 07:00–09:00 | First Breakfast on the Terrace of the Ancient Land’s Casa Sol

The breath of the mountains of Otavalo gently touched my skin at La Casa Sol.
Beyond the stone wall, sunlight pierced through the trees, streaming in between branches.
The temperature was 11°C, and the warm steam rising from a mug kissed my cold nose again and again.

Morning light poured over the stone wall of La Casa Sol Otavalo.
On the table were soft, warm yuca bread releasing gentle steam,
scrambled eggs still steaming, and a glass of papaya lemon juice.

The air, just like the ridgelines of the Andes, held a deep breath,
rising from the ground like morning haze,
wrapping around the body with quiet warmth.

🕘 09:00–11:00 | Plaza de los Ponchos – A Market Where Naturally Dyed Fabrics Flutter in the Wind

Colors fluttered in the wind, weaving between the fabrics.
I stepped, one foot at a time, into Plaza de los Ponchos.
Spanish and Kichwa intertwined in the air, and the cobblestone ground was damp with moisture.
The temperature was 15°C.

There were hand-stitched, multicolored cushions, shawls dyed with the hues of natural herbs, and alpaca blankets—
not a single item there was unnatural.
A ray of sunlight pierced through and shimmered like a wave in the eyes of an artisan.

Deeper into a small alley, a young man was carving patterns by hand onto a silver bracelet with a hammer.
Children played in the street, making rings from thread and wildflowers.
Nearby, eucalyptus leaf herbal tea was being sold, subtly tinting the surrounding air with its earthy aroma.

🕚 11:00–13:00 | Mirakel Café – The Stillness of Lavender Scent

Wildflowers were blooming abundantly around me as I stepped into Mirakel Café, a place built with emotional charm in white brick.
The rich scent of dried lavender filled the air, followed by the lingering aroma of wood.
The interior, crafted entirely of wood, from the decor to the furniture, radiated warmth.
By the window, the fragrance of blooming wildflowers gently drifted through the air.

I ordered a rosemary latte and a fresh fig tart with syrup.
Each sip moistened my throat and spread a meadow through my chest.
It felt as if I were drinking in the essence of this quiet space itself.

🕐 13:00–15:00 | Peguche – Village of Weaving and Kena

We arrived at the village of Peguche.
Dust shimmered under the sunlight.
Inside Taller Ñanda Mañachi, a young-looking artisan dipped alpaca yarn into water,
then sat at a loom, weaving patterns with rhythmic hand movements.
Around him, the soft sound of a waterwheel echoed gently.
The droplets and the weaving seemed to be woven together in harmony.

🕒 15:00–17:00 | Cascada de Peguche – Misty Waterfall Forest

I walked and walked again along the winding path.
The forest revealed a trail.
Between the densely packed, moisture-laden trees, the faint sound of a waterfall was heard.
From afar, Cascada de Peguche sent its mist flying like a rainbow.
The water crashed down the rocks, bursting and pouring in torrents, the mist kissing every inch of my body and soaking me entirely.
I sat on a nearby bench and bathed in sunlight that refracted softly through the low-lying clouds.

🕔 17:00–19:00 | Restaurante La Cosecha – A Warm Andean Evening

The red sun was slowly hiding behind the ridgeline of the mountains.
On the way back, I stopped by La Cosecha restaurant for a cozy evening meal.
On the walls were hand-embroidered artworks, and on each table were charming wooden dishes gathered neatly, like a small family.
One by one, dishes began to grace the table—
onion and cucumber pickles, corn soup, and chicken soup—
each arriving like gentle brushstrokes coloring the evening.

🕖 19:00–21:00 | Night by the Fireplace – Tea and Stars

In the lounge of La Casa Sol, the sky outside was so full of stars it looked as though they might pour down at any moment.
The fireplace exhaled a gentle glow, filled with the rich scent of wood and leaves.
In front of me, a cup of coca leaf tea shimmered softly in the firelight.

The outside temperature was 10°C.
I brought the tea to my lips, held it quietly in my mouth, and savored it.
Its bitter, tingling taste sent a shiver through my body, as if aligning my spirit with the calm glow of the fire.

Sip by sip, I drank it slowly, savoring each mouthful.
The warmth of the day coursed through me, rising from within.
The stars that filled the sky pierced through my eyes, and starlight gathered quietly between my closed eyelids.

🕘 21:00–23:00 | Me, Flowing Quietly Under the Stars

I returned to my room at La Casa Sol.
All around me was utter stillness—
only the fireplace quietly pulsed with a soft, amber glow.
Through the gently swaying silk curtains,
the stars shimmered densely,
as if they might pour down at any moment.
I lay down on the pillow,
not falling asleep right away.
Through the slightly open curtain,
the cool Andean breeze quietly circled the room.
The fireplace in front of me sparkled—
its delicate light so magical
that it felt like Santa Claus might suddenly descend through it.
And in that glimmering warmth,
I simply watched, as the room glowed in silence.