During our trip to Latin America, a friend we met in Sao Paulo highly recommended a spot in Ecuador: La Casta
We decided to follow his advice and check it out, and it definitely didn’t disappoint!
Located in the Banos region, this family-run guesthouse is the perfect base. Just 30 minutes from the town of Banos, it lets you enjoy all the great activities this town is famous for (check out our article: the best things to do in Banos), without the tourist crowds.
The best place to stay with a local family
Here, you are staying in a 3-star hotel, but it’s a world away from those standard hotel chains. The place was built by a couple 23 years ago, and they have been expanding and improving it ever since.
Today, La Casta still keeps its family DNA fully alive, with the couple’s two children (now adults) having joined the adventure alongside their parents.
Every family member plays a part in running La Casta, and that is exactly what makes this place so special and full of character.
To top it off, one of the sons speaks perfect French and is a professional guide! It’s the absolute best setup for exploring the region and getting insider tips (we told you this place was perfect…!)
Other spots we highly recommend, curated by a professional guide
In fact, we’ve gathered all the great spots he shared with us in our articles on Ecuador, which you can find right here:
Lush gardens, refreshing pools, and pure relaxation, everything La Casta has to offer you
The facilities and decor turn this place into a true haven of peace, where you can wander through the garden where the ingredients for the restaurant are grown, or simply unwind in the wellness area. It features two pools, a jacuzzi, a steam room, a sauna, and even a cold plunge pool for the brave!
And you can dive in completely guilt-free: the pools are heated by solar energy and the water is salt-filtered, which is much better for both the environment and your skin.
If you are in the area, you can actually access La Casta’s outdoor areas (including the pools) with a day pass.
If you take your time strolling through the garden, you might even spot some of the many local birds, including beautiful hummingbirds!
The rooms at La Casta
As for the rooms, they’ve just been renovated in a warm, modern style featuring huge beds (a major plus for us, being 1.79m and 1.96m tall!), spacious showers, and a stunning view of the lush garden.
Plus, it’s not a massive resort, so you can truly unwind without the constant hustle and bustle of other travelers. A real little slice of paradise!
Local, refined, and hearty cuisine: the restaurant at La Casta
To wrap things up, as mentioned earlier, La Casta has an on-site restaurant, run for over 20 years by the family’s mother. Here, it’s all about local cuisine, fresh fruits and vegetables from the garden, and always some delicious new treat to discover.
Our personal favorite: the cheese arepas. A local specialty that’s especially popular for breakfast, but its sweet and savory flavor makes it the perfect snack for any time of day.
You don’t need to be staying at the hotel to enjoy the restaurant, so if you’re in the area or just passing through, we highly recommend stopping by to savor some authentic Ecuadorian cuisine.
To wrap things up
Alright, I think we’ll stop with the praise here, otherwise you’ll think we’re laying it on too thick! But believe us, we loved our stay at La Casta so much that we could honestly talk for hours about the peaceful vibe of the place, the delicious dishes at the restaurant, or the wonderful warmth of the family who built and continually renovated this spot.
We have so much admiration for this family, as they truly represent the new generation of patateños who are reinventing their heritage without losing its soul.
What to see nearby: from waterfalls and lagunas to the active Tungurahua volcano
- Patate Gardens ⭐ 4.5/5
A mountain that was leveled to build a neighborhood, which today is home to a huge landscaped park filled with fir trees and native flora. It’s the perfect starting point for taking in a bird’s-eye view of the city. On weekends, locals gather here to chat, children play around the artificial lake, and there are even places to grab a bite to eat. It’s also from this park that you can catch a glimpse of the peaks of Tungurahua on a clear day, a view that’s well worth the trip.
Access : 1,5 dollars · 10h-17h 📍 Google Maps
2. Cascada de Mundug ⭐ 4.7/5
Considered the natural treasure of Patate, this waterfall features two crystal-clear cascades tucked away in a lush, green setting. The trail to reach it (about a 45-minute walk, and completely flat, I promise!) winds through an Andean forest where you can spot a wonderful variety of birds, including several species of hummingbirds. Managed as an ecotourism zone, the site is run with a genuine focus on preservation, making it perfect for hiking, wildlife watching, and nature photography. Pro tip: head out early in the morning to catch the mist enveloping the falls, which gives the place a magical atmosphere. There is also a small, reasonably priced cafe waiting for you at the entrance.
Access: We didn’t have to pay entry · Open during the day 📍 Google Maps
3. The community-minded TASIN cafe ⭐ 4.9/5
Located right at the start of the hiking trail to Cascade Mundug, the TASIN cafe is sure to leave a lasting impression. Here, on top of enjoying delicious hot and cold drinks at a very reasonable price, you can play a part in preserving the local flora. Patate struggles with corn monoculture, which impacts the entire ecosystem. That’s why the creator of TASIN came up with an inspiring idea: buy back the land behind his cafe to cultivate purely native trees and plants. He needs a hand to make it happen, for a small contribution, you can plant a tree or shrub, become its sponsor, and receive regular updates on its growth every month!
Doing good while treating yourself, what’s not to love?
Access: Open Monday to Sunday 📍 Google Maps
4. Museo Religioso y Arqueológico Señor del Terremoto ⭐ 4.3/5
This small museum, housed inside the main church, displays artifacts from the pre-Columbian Panzaleo and Puruhá cultures, who inhabited the region long before the Incas arrived. The collection of ceramics, tools, and textiles may be modest in size, but it is rich in heritage. The religious art section features colonial oil paintings, hand-carved wooden saints, and the ceremonial garments of the Señor del Terremoto. It’s a quick 30 to 45-minute visit that helps you wrap your head around the historical layers of this valley. If you enjoyed discovering Inca ruins on a walking tour in Cusco, this museum offers a great complementary look at the pre-Inca civilizations of the Sierra.
Access: 1 USD · Open Monday to Saturday 📍 Google Maps
5. Lagunas de San Borja ⭐ 4.6/5
For hikers chasing high-altitude views, the Lagunas de San Borja are an absolute must. Perched in the high-elevation grasslands known as the páramos, this natural lake system offers wide-open views of the Tungurahua, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, and Carihuayrazo volcanoes. Legend has it that Copete San Borja, the hill overlooking the lakes, served as a strategic lookout for the army of Rumiñahui, the Inca general who famously resisted the Spanish conquistadors. Plan for a full day out, pack plenty of warm layers (it gets quite chilly up there), and bring lots of water. Having a local guide is highly recommended to help navigate the less-marked trails.
Access: free · Full day recommended 📍 Google Maps
6. Pasaje Soria (Wall Murals) ⭐ 4.8/5
This passage is a lovely cultural highlight in Patate. The murals, painted by Geovanny Mosquera, tell the entire history of the region across about twenty colorful panels. Set aside 20 to 30 minutes to take it all in. You can wander through this passage at any time of day.
Access: free · 24/7 📍 Google Maps
Now you know where to spend your next vacation!
