SAVE OUR FAMILY HOTEL AYA HUMA DURING THIS PANDEMIC

Voor de Nederlandse versie: http://bit.ly/HotelAyaHumaNL
Para la versión en español: http://bit.ly/HostalAyaHumaEsp


Dear friends, family, guests, travelers and all other people who know us. We don’t like to say it, but we need your help.
 
Hostal Aya Huma is a traditional Indian guest house that has grown into an attractive hostal in 30 years, in a rural area in Peguche, an Indian village in the middle of the Andes mountains. Peguche is 2.5 km away from the town of Otavalo and 100 km north of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Our hostal is known for its great social and cultural involvement with the residents of Peguche.

In our hostal I, Mieke de Vet, work together with my 2 sons, their wives and 3 staff members.
From left to right: Mieke, PachaCutic, Paola, Juliana, Paola, Sisa, Nuwa, Qinaya, Kiriary, Tuamari, Twarayi and our dog Yurayac

Why are we asking you for help?

Covid-19 has turned the world upside down, including ours. Ecuador has been in a complete lockdown since the end of March 2020. This has major economic consequences for the people who work in tourism.

In Otavalo - Ecuador, at the moment, next to the virus itself, it is mainly the economic situation that has put many families in trouble. Since March 2020, foreigners have had a hard time visiting the country and because the economy of Otavalo and the surrounding area depends on tourism, our community has been hit hard.

Unfortunately, our hostal's reservations were canceled in the past year. Missing income is a major problem, especially with 3 employees who depend on our Hostal for their income. Our staff are like family to us and we feel a great responsibility for their well-being.

Knowing that there is no government support at all in Ecuador, we have had to put our staff on part-time. Our expectation was that we would at least receive domestic tourists, as in previous years during holidays, around All Saints and All Souls and the New Year. However, this turned out to be wishful thinking because from March 2020 we have unfortunately barely been able to welcome any visitors in our hostal.
Front hostal AyaHuma, reception and 2 rooms

Restaurant across the street from the railway reception.

Everyone has to tighten their belt. From July 2020, our employees and their families will live on a reduced salary and food supply.

And our piggy bank is running out.

Due to the pandemic, we are forced to adjust our sources of income. Among residents of the city, a need has arisen to live in the countryside and that is possible with us. If we convert half of our hostel (we now have 20 rooms empty) into 3 mini apartments, we no longer have to depend on tourism solely.

What we will continue to offer are good food or cooking, rest, hiking, camping, tourist information, workshops, Indian rituals and massages, all will be possible!

Realizing mini apartments

Every donation makes a difference. To give you an indication: for a total amount of 30.000 euros we can stabilize the emergency situation of our 3 families and our employees and create a sustainable economic situation. With 12.000 euros we can realize 1 mini apartment.
1 euro today is 1.21 dollar

The Dutch architect Elza Heemskerk, who was visiting for another construction project in the jungle of Ecuador (Quinacare), came to stay with us for a week and also wanted to contribute by making sketch designs for the renovation of part of our hostal into mini apartments.

The apartments will be named after the 3 largest donors (in consultation and with permission).

We are confident that better times will come!!!  We hope to be able to restart thanks to your donation.

When we receive your donation, we naturally want to reward you with a present!!
Gifts with a donation of:
 
€ 1 - 50 a typical Otavalo handicraft surprise.

€ 1 - 50 Make your own pan flute or dream catcher at an Indian workshop in our village.

€ 50 to participate in a Sweat Lodge Ceremony

€ 50 a Pachamanka meal, this is food that is ceremonially prepared in the earth on hot volcanic stones.
(photos below) Or a dinner in our restaurant.
 
€ 100 healing massage for one person, a Pachamanka or a dinner in our restaurant for 2 persons.

€ 100 horseback riding, a 3 hours tour with us in the area.

€ 250 two days all-inclusive stay in our hostal plus meals for 1 person.

€ 500 two days all-inclusive stay in our hostal plus meals for 2 persons.
 
€ 500 five days all-inclusive stay in our hostal plus meals for 1 person.

€ 500 for 4 days of Spanish lessons, one on one, 4 hours a day.

€ 1000 five days all inclusive stay in our hostal plus meals for 2 people.

€ 1000 Dutch-speaking private guide for 5 days through the Andes mountains, the coast or the Amazon region of Ecuador for a maximum group of up to 8 people. The guide can be: Mieke, Pacha Cutic or Tuamari.

€ 1500 Dutch-speaking private guide for 7-10 days through the Andes mountains, the coast or the Amazon region of Ecuador for a maximum group of up to 8 people. The guide can be: Mieke, Pacha Cutic or Tuamari.
 
PACHAMANKA meal,  food ceremonially prepared in the earth on hot volcanic stones.


You can also hand your gift over to someone else.
After your donation, we will send you a voucher, which you can claim until 2025!
 
In an old medicinal eucalyptus tree of our hostal the names of all donors will be hung.

From left to right: our children-grandchildren Nuwa, Kiriary, Twarayi, Qinaya and next door friend David.

Many thanks in advance from all of us: Paola, Sisa, Juliana, Mieke, Pacha Cutic & Paola, Tuamari & Lizbeth, Kiriari, Nuwa, Rayi and Qinaya.
 
We look forward to seeing you all visit Peguche in the near future.
For now: Be safe, stay healthy.
 
Please take a moment to share this message with family and friends so we have the best chance of being noticed.

PACHAMAKA meal, ceremonially prepared in the earth on hot volcanic stones.

Enjoying a Pahamanka meal when my dear husband Huacu, father, father-in-law and grandfather was still with us