Comments on: Travel Warning for Vilcabamba Ecuador http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/ The Gringo Travel Network Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:59:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: anonymous http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/comment-page-1/#comment-1676 anonymous Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:56:22 +0000 http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/#comment-1676 As far as I'm concerned, if the same family owns it--the family that pays off the cops and keeps the pervert out of jail--then why the hell should anyone give it a second chance? Why give money to a rich family that uses their money to cover up crimes against women?? By doing that, you might as well be helping to pay off the cops, yourself. If these stories are true (and it's beginning to sound like they are), then until that hotel is sold to someone who has no connection to the rapist OR his family or any other supporters, then no one should stay there. Unless they like supporting rapists. Besides, who says that guy won't come back to hide out for a week, and jump some woman and rape her right before he leaves town? No thanks, think I'll stay somewhere else. As far as I’m concerned, if the same family owns it–the family that pays off the cops and keeps the pervert out of jail–then why the hell should anyone give it a second chance? Why give money to a rich family that uses their money to cover up crimes against women??

By doing that, you might as well be helping to pay off the cops, yourself. If these stories are true (and it’s beginning to sound like they are), then until that hotel is sold to someone who has no connection to the rapist OR his family or any other supporters, then no one should stay there. Unless they like supporting rapists. Besides, who says that guy won’t come back to hide out for a week, and jump some woman and rape her right before he leaves town? No thanks, think I’ll stay somewhere else.

]]> By: brian http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/comment-page-1/#comment-1616 brian Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:43:21 +0000 http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/#comment-1616 Hey Merilyn, Thank for your comment. Well, despite this travel warning, Vilcabamba is an incredible place. Very chilled out. Very scenic. Very agreeable climate. But check it out. The network of expats there are all very friendly. I had a nice night taking their money in a Texas hold-em game. Go to the Craig's bookshop at the edge of town that doubles as a pretty good Italian restaurant(I suggest there pesto). There is an American who lives there and is a real great guy. While his name alludes me, he's not actually Craig(Craig passed on years back) but you can't mis this guy. He's an old hippy with a grey pony tail and an expert on the many orchids that grow in the Podacarpus forest, so he's got some interesting stories to tell. They have a rotating poker game that some of the expats and locals play in so a nice time to chat with folk and get the low down. I also suggest staying out at Charlie's. He's got a guest house way out of town right at the entrance to the Natl. Park. He's a canadian guy that's lived there for almost 30 years and knows everything there is to know. It's a bit isolated, but very tranquil and he serves coffee from a little organic farm across the river--truly the best brew I've had in my life. Just tell any cab driver to take you to Charlie's, everybody knows him. good luck, any more questions please drop a note. gringo Hey Merilyn,

Thank for your comment. Well, despite this travel warning, Vilcabamba is an incredible place. Very chilled out. Very scenic. Very agreeable climate. But check it out. The network of expats there are all very friendly. I had a nice night taking their money in a Texas hold-em game. Go to the Craig’s bookshop at the edge of town that doubles as a pretty good Italian restaurant(I suggest there pesto). There is an American who lives there and is a real great guy. While his name alludes me, he’s not actually Craig(Craig passed on years back) but you can’t mis this guy. He’s an old hippy with a grey pony tail and an expert on the many orchids that grow in the Podacarpus forest, so he’s got some interesting stories to tell. They have a rotating poker game that some of the expats and locals play in so a nice time to chat with folk and get the low down.

I also suggest staying out at Charlie’s. He’s got a guest house way out of town right at the entrance to the Natl. Park. He’s a canadian guy that’s lived there for almost 30 years and knows everything there is to know. It’s a bit isolated, but very tranquil and he serves coffee from a little organic farm across the river–truly the best brew I’ve had in my life. Just tell any cab driver to take you to Charlie’s, everybody knows him.

good luck, any more questions please drop a note.
gringo

]]> By: merilyn http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/comment-page-1/#comment-1613 merilyn Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:57:46 +0000 http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/#comment-1613 I am getting ready to visit vilcabamba, and possibly move there. I realy would like to chat with other expats and see what their views are. Any help would be appriciated. Thank you, Merilyn I am getting ready to visit vilcabamba, and possibly move there. I realy would like to chat with other expats and see what their views are. Any help would be appriciated.

Thank you,
Merilyn

]]> By: brian http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/comment-page-1/#comment-1464 brian Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:37:41 +0000 http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/#comment-1464 Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I know it can be tough being a single woman on the road. I don't think men sometimes appreciate what it is like to feel the threat that we can create, especially to a person who is vulnerable--out of the safety of her everyday world back home. I always find it inspirational meeting and hearing of women doing it on their own and there are women 10xs more intrepid than I. Still though, women, take care and heed travel warnings. Take them with a grain of salt and don't be turned off from forming your own opinion, but still take care Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I know it can be tough being a single woman on the road. I don’t think men sometimes appreciate what it is like to feel the threat that we can create, especially to a person who is vulnerable–out of the safety of her everyday world back home. I always find it inspirational meeting and hearing of women doing it on their own and there are women 10xs more intrepid than I.

Still though, women, take care and heed travel warnings. Take them with a grain of salt and don’t be turned off from forming your own opinion, but still take care

]]> By: Nancy O. http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/comment-page-1/#comment-1463 Nancy O. Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:34:23 +0000 http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/#comment-1463 This is my story of what happened to me when I stayed there: http://womentravellingalone.blogspot.com/2009/07/vilcabamba-las-ruinas-de-quinara.html This is my story of what happened to me when I stayed there:
http://womentravellingalone.blogspot.com/2009/07/vilcabamba-las-ruinas-de-quinara.html

]]> By: brian http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/comment-page-1/#comment-1257 brian Thu, 12 May 2011 21:23:49 +0000 http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/#comment-1257 I don't know about all that went down at this hotel. This is before my time. So I can neither confirm or deny. I hope that it is all good there and it seems from the reports that it should be given another shot. I will talk with friends from Villcabamba to get their input and write a follow up. I don’t know about all that went down at this hotel. This is before my time. So I can neither confirm or deny. I hope that it is all good there and it seems from the reports that it should be given another shot. I will talk with friends from Villcabamba to get their input and write a follow up.

]]> By: Aaron http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/comment-page-1/#comment-1239 Aaron Wed, 04 May 2011 19:00:52 +0000 http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/#comment-1239 I am glad to hear Mauricio is no longer in charge of the hotel. I lived in Vilcabamba for a year a while back. As I was there long term I never stayed in his hotel, but I know people who did, and had several run-ins with the owner myself. If he is no longer associated, then I say give it a shot. Personally, I feel that place has bad juju and I'd stay at Izchayluma in a heartbeat. I am glad to hear Mauricio is no longer in charge of the hotel. I lived in Vilcabamba for a year a while back. As I was there long term I never stayed in his hotel, but I know people who did, and had several run-ins with the owner myself. If he is no longer associated, then I say give it a shot. Personally, I feel that place has bad juju and I’d stay at Izchayluma in a heartbeat.

]]> By: Kev Hatchett http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/comment-page-1/#comment-1106 Kev Hatchett Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:37:10 +0000 http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/#comment-1106 By the way, we have absolutely nothing to do with the hosteria, we are travelling the world by motorcycle and just felt that the reports needed updating as what was written previously is an unfair description today. By the way, we have absolutely nothing to do with the hosteria, we are travelling the world by motorcycle and just felt that the reports needed updating as what was written previously is an unfair description today.

]]> By: Kev Hatchett http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/comment-page-1/#comment-1105 Kev Hatchett Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:33:34 +0000 http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/#comment-1105 I feel that as this report came up number 3 when I searched for Ruinas de Quinara and it is so out of date a refresh on the information is required. It is now March 2011 and we are staying at the Hosteria Ruinas de Quinara for a couple of days. We have heard the stories about the previous owner from some of the guys that are volunteer workers here. The hosteria gets very little business these days because of the rumours that are circulating, however, the place is now under new management and our experience is that it is a very nice place to stay. The staff are friendly and helpful, there is a clean pool, jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish bath & spa. The rooms are clean and tidy with cable T.V. & wi-fi. Going back to the first post in this thread, Michelle - does having "soap in the bathroom" dictate whether a hostel is good or not, if so don't come back, there still isn't any!! I would highly recommend this hosteria to anyone and above all, it's nt overly expensive, from US$8 pppn (Dbl room, shared B/Room) with 12% tax on top. I feel that as this report came up number 3 when I searched for Ruinas de Quinara and it is so out of date a refresh on the information is required.
It is now March 2011 and we are staying at the Hosteria Ruinas de Quinara for a couple of days. We have heard the stories about the previous owner from some of the guys that are volunteer workers here. The hosteria gets very little business these days because of the rumours that are circulating, however, the place is now under new management and our experience is that it is a very nice place to stay. The staff are friendly and helpful, there is a clean pool, jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish bath & spa. The rooms are clean and tidy with cable T.V. & wi-fi.
Going back to the first post in this thread, Michelle – does having “soap in the bathroom” dictate whether a hostel is good or not, if so don’t come back, there still isn’t any!!
I would highly recommend this hosteria to anyone and above all, it’s nt overly expensive, from US$8 pppn (Dbl room, shared B/Room) with 12% tax on top.

]]> By: Chris http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Chris Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:16:58 +0000 http://theecuadorgringo.com/2009/02/02/travel-warning-for-vilcabamba-ecuador/#comment-35 This hotel has changed it's name to "Agua de Hierro" and while it claims new management it is still run by the same family. This hotel has changed it’s name to “Agua de Hierro” and while it claims new management it is still run by the same family.

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