We are Isabelle and Serge, a French couple who travelled in South America. We could have travelled more time around, if, in 1997, we would not have fallen in love with Vilcabamba, a small village south of Ecuador. Wild and preserved beauty, a refreshing tranquility, pure air and breathtaking sunsets were attractive points among others for nature lovers.
Life was so peaceful here that we decided to settle.
So, why not open a hotel? To have this project come true we decided to go back to France and work until and accumulate the necessary funds to our new life.
January 2000, the 15th, we landed in Quito, first step to our project, to get our residency visas in Ecuador. Then we flew directly to Vilcabamba.
In the first times, we opened a crêperie Le Rendez-vous and let the tourists discover this French specialty in many flavors, without forgetting our former project. After searching around for a while we found the ideal land, ideally located, near the plaza of the village, but far enough to enjoy a pleasant quietness.
We closed the Crêperie to only think and develop our project. We drew the plans observing the traditional architecture of the area. In August 2001 we began the construction with the help of local workers.
The cabins are built of adobe, covered on the outside with natural yellow clay, and with lime in the rooms. Adobe bricks provide coolness during the day and slowly release the solar warmth throughout the night. The beams are of Eucalyptus, a frequent tree in this area, and the ceiling is made of small bamboos. The roof and floor tiles are traditionally baked in wood ovens.
We have been managing the hotel for years, enjoying sharing our experience and passion for Vilcabamba and its nature with our guests.
