Casa Mojanda is deeply committed to principles of ecological and community-based tourism.Our style of building and working exerts a minimum impact on the natural environment. Each guest visit supports Casa Mojanda's community and conservation projects. Interested guests are invited to interact with our community in positive and mutually beneficial ways -- exchanging ideas, art, crafts, technologies and professional skills. From a cozy rammed earth cottage, you will wake up to bird calls and breathtaking views of forested mountains, terraced farms and legendary volcanoes. During the day, you will immerse yourself in a splendid natural setting -- and learn about our thriving indigenous culture. Walk, horseback ride or bike on mountain trails, passing terraced farms, gorges humming with birds, waterfalls and crater lakes. You will be on top of the world when you explore the Mojanda Lakes, the surrounding paramo grasslands and high montane cloud forests. And you won't miss the fascinating Otavalo markets, only ten minutes by vehicle or a lovely hour's walk. You can buy handcrafts directly from artisan families, and even arrange a visit to a yachac or shamanic healer.
All of the buildings on the grounds of Casa Mojanda utilize traditional methods of construction. Structural walls of rammed earth provide cooling during the day and retain and slowly release their solar gain throughout the evening. Enormous hand molded terra cotta bricks link structural details while complementing the brilliant adobe walls. Hand formed roof tiles, of native red clay, and red tile floors provide the perfect counterpoint to the massive white walls.
Within each structure, open eucalyptus roof beams contribute textural warmth and a sense of quiet structural strength. White ceramic tile is selectively used to visual and practical advantage throughout the enormous country style kitchen and within each cottage bath. Diego and Betti designed the many tables and chairs of Ecuadorian cedar which were made in the shops of local craftsmen and provide a wonderful complement to the structural materials. Selective use of native wooden flooring, antique furnishings, hand carved Ecuadorian masks, and an outstanding collection of lithographs & drawings reinforce the quiet architectural strength of Casa Mojanda.
