Finding my Home away from Home in Cotopaxi, Ecuador

When you’re traveling and find a place that truly feels like home, and you don’t feel restless, and you don’t want to leave because you’re scared the next place won’t be as good, is the feeling I crave. People don’t realize that not every destination you travel to is the best place ever. Sometimes you feel lonely, you feel homesick, you feel tired, but when you find a place where the days quickly turn into weeks, and suddenly your travel schedule is pushed back because you’ve fallen in love with a spot and stayed for six weeks without realizing it, those are the moments I cherish.

When I decided to do a solo backpacking trip, I knew I would want to work in a hostel, for many reasons. First being, I love working and before I’m the hippie traveler, I needed some adjustment and structure. Second, I love leaving my bag in one place (which is kind of contradictory to the fast pace backpack travel many are used to), but to have a place to call your bed each night is incredible. Third, I like to connect with communities, I like to be more than a tourist and get to know locals, find the hidden gems, and truly feel like I lived in a place.

So when I arrived at Secret Garden Cotopaxi, I didn’t know what to expect. This hostel is a hotspot in Ecuador. Backpackers will gush over their experience tucked away with beautiful views of Cotopaxi Volcano. This hostel, while a higher price point than most hostels, truly is a favorite among backpackers (I didn’t have to pay because I was a volunteer). So I was naturally excited, especially when I heard there was 24/7 banana bread.

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I was a bit overwhelmed on arrival because I quickly realized as a hostel volunteer, you got almost no days off, and this definitely threw off my traveling schedule, but as I eased into the volunteer life, I truly fell in love with my schedule.

Each morning at 6:30 AM (yes it seems early, but I was in bed by 9), the other volunteers and I would set up the deluxe breakfast. One of the best aspects of this incredible hostel was the food. The food was on a rotating schedule, so each day for each meal, we got something new. A luxury I have never experienced. From avocado toast, to french toast, to pancakes, to scrambled eggs, breakfast was a four course meal.

After this morning time, we would have a break, and if I wasn’t leading a hike, I would go on a run. There wasn’t too many places to go, but the hostel was extremely cozy, and I would go on runs along the road, the insane rolling hills flying by, Cotopaxi in view, and a variety of wild life sometimes interrupting my path. I would do yoga on the deck, go hot tub for a brief minute, or go explore a hiking path of my own.

Essentially the rest of the day we would set up for lunch, snack time, and dinner, and in between, I would dive into interesting books, talk to guests from around the world, and snack on banana bread. There is no wifi at this hostel which creates the most beautiful and organic experience to meet people. You would be shocked how many card games, conversations, and friendships begin with no phones.

On other days, I would get to lead hikes. I got in the best shape of my life hiking 30,000 steps daily, at almost 15,000 feet. One hike was an enchanting and adventurous river hike up to a water fall, including shuffling along a small cliff, and hopping on rocks. The other hike, Pasachoa, was a super difficult but beautiful hike that led to a view of all of Quito.

Of course the hikes, the food, and the environment was amazing. But truly this became my home because of the people I met. The guests that stayed there ended up being friends, and of course the volunteers ended up into blooming international friendships. Each volunteer had to stay at least a month, so we all got to know each other super well.

By the end, we would go on daily adventures, hiking up to hidden water falls, going skinny dipping at night, and playing different games around a campfire. The feeling I had with these people made it so difficult to leave. Every day was so fun and simple. Hiking, eating, playing games with these incredible people. I learned so much from the variety of backgrounds and made what I believe will be lifelong friendships.

I have such a deep nostalgia for this place and truly feel like I developed into my best self there. Of course the rest of my trip was amazing for different reasons, but when people ask me the best part of the trip, Secret Garden definitely comes to mind because of the beautiful friendships I made and the crazy luxury I lived to wake up with llamas outside my door, to get to hike everyday, and to have my only worry ensuring that the guests were fed.

I highly recommend everyone check this place out, but even more so, I hope everyone while traveling finds a home away from home. A place you never want to leave, where you feel so welcomed, and where some of your fondest memories are held.

Anyone have a place similar to this or an experience where you stayed in a place way longer than expected?