Escape to Paradise: Sangay Spa Hotel, Baños, Ecuador
Escape to Paradise: Sangay Spa Hotel – Baños, Ecuador: A Review That's Actually Honest (And Maybe a Little Rambly)
Okay, folks, let's get real. I've been tasked with reviewing the Sangay Spa Hotel in Baños, Ecuador. But not just a review. A real review. One that tells you the good, the bad, and the slightly bizarre. So, buckle up, because this could take a while… and might involve a few tangents.
First Impressions (and a Little Wheezing about Oxygen):
Baños itself? Stunning. Jaw-droppingly, ridiculously, "I need to buy a postcard NOW" beautiful. Jungle-clad mountains, roaring waterfalls… you get the gist. Finding the Sangay Spa Hotel? Easy. It's perched up there, looking all fancy and sophisticated. (Okay, maybe I was slightly wheezing from the altitude. My bad.)
Accessibility - Because Everyone Deserves Paradise:
This is a biggie for me. It matters. The website says they have facilities for disabled guests, and that's a huge plus right off the bat. [Accessibility, Facilities for disabled guests, Elevator, Exterior corridor] While I didn't personally require any specific accommodations (thank goodness, because the altitude was enough!), I saw an elevator, and the layout seemed relatively manageable. I'd definitely suggest directly contacting the hotel if you have specific needs. Don't just trust websites – make sure it works for you.
The Rooms: Your Personal Sanctuary (or Maybe Just a Really Nice Hotel Room)
Okay, let's talk rooms. [Available in all rooms, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens] Honestly, these rooms are pretty darn good. Mine had a balcony with a ridiculous view. (Seriously, the view… I’d get up at 5 am just to stare.) The bed? Heaven. Especially after a long day of… well, we’ll get to that. Loved the blackout curtains – crucial for those impromptu afternoon naps after a long day of exploring. The "extra long bed" description is no joke, and I’m tall, so a massive win. The free bottled water was a lifesaver. And definitely the Wi-Fi was free and reliable. More on that later… Internet (And My Endless Quest for Connectivity):
[Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Wi-Fi in public areas, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Wi-Fi for special events] Look, I'm from the internet. So, connectivity is everything. Free Wi-Fi in the rooms? YES. Wi-Fi in the public areas? Double Yes! And… while it wasn't lightning-fast internet, it was more than adequate for checking emails, posting to Instagram (essential!), and researching the next adventure. It held up, and that’s all I need. Didn't test the LAN connection myself, but it's there if you really want it. The Spa – My Own Personal Slice of Heaven (and Maybe Some Mild Torture):
This is where the "Sangay Spa Hotel" part really shines. [Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]] Okay, I'm not usually a spa person. I'm more of a "hike to the top of a volcano in torrential rain" kind of person. But wow. The spa. The pool with a view? Spectacular. (And yes, I took a million photos.) But let’s talk about the massage. I opted for the "Deep Tissue" option (regrettably), thinking I’d be tough. I'm now convinced the masseuse had arms of steel and a personal vendetta against my shoulders. But… it was amazing. Afterward, I melted into the sauna. Pure bliss. The steam room? Yes, I steamed. The whole experience was… look, it was worth every penny, and every wince. Highly recommended. My Honest Anecdote: The Great Slippery Pool Fiasco:
Okay, here’s an embarrassing story. I was feeling all zen after the amazing massage, and headed to the pool. It's a gorgeous infinity pool overlooking the mountains, and I was feeling invincible! I got out… and promptly slipped. Like, full-on, starfish-on-the-tarmac slip. Faceplant. Luckily, no serious injuries, but my dignity… well, that was seriously bruised. (I'm blaming the slippery tiles, and maybe the blissed-out-ness.) Lesson learned: walk slowly near the pool. Seriously.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Food Glorious Food (and Maybe a Little Overeating):
[A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant] The food at Sangay Spa Hotel? Solid. They had a buffet for breakfast, which is my weakness. [Breakfast [buffet]]. And the breakfast was good. Very good. Waffles, fruit, eggs… I may have eaten my weight in waffles. The a la carte menu [A la carte in restaurant] at the restaurant offered a nice mix of international and local cuisine, and I was especially fond of the Ecuadorian soup. [Soup in restaurant] There's a poolside bar. [Poolside bar]. Hello, cocktails. They’ll bring a bottle of water to your room [Bottle of water]. My only complaint? They didn't offer snacks in the lobby. But that's my personal problem. The staff was super accommodating to alternative meal arrangements. [Alternative meal arrangement] Cleanliness and Safety – Feeling Safe (Sometimes Too Safe?):
[Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment] Okay, let's talk COVID era. The Sangay Spa Hotel takes hygiene seriously. I saw staff cleaning constantly, hand sanitiser everywhere, and the "daily disinfection in common areas" was definitely happening. They used anti-viral cleaning products. My room was spotless, and I felt safe. Maybe too safe. There was definitely, a slightly over-the-top emphasis on cleanliness. The "room sanitization opt-out" is probably just for their peace of mind. Things to Do – Because Sitting Around in a Spa, While Amazing, Gets Old:
[Things to do, Ways to relax, Fitness center, Gym/fitness, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor], Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal, Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking] Look, Baños is an adventure playground. The hotel can arrange airport transfers [Airport transfer] and there's a free car park [Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site]], so getting around is easy. The hotel itself has a gym, [Gym/fitness, Fitness center] even if I didn't use it! Swimming pool [Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]] is beautiful. Seriously, you could easily spend all your time just by the pool, but it's worth exploring. Paragliding, canyoning, white-water rafting… you name it, Baños has it. They had a babysitting service [Babysitting service] if you had kids.
Service and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter:
**[Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Logis Hotel-Restaurant La Renaissance, Baccarat, France
Sangay Spa Hotel, Banos, Ecuador: My Chaotic, Blissful, Probably Wet Itinerary (AKA Prepare for a Wild Ride)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups. Forget perfectly curated Instagram grids. This is my actual, messy, slightly-hungover-already account of my time at the Sangay Spa Hotel in Baños, Ecuador. Think less "wanderlust influencer," and more "reluctant adventurer who’s really just here for the hot springs and potential existential crises."
Pre-Trip Anxiety (or, The Great Luggage Panic of '23)
- Phase 1: The Shopping Spree: Okay, so I packed a lot. Like, embarrassingly much. I'm talking waterproof everything, emergency chocolate (crucial), and enough hiking boots to summit Everest…which, you know, I wasn't actually doing. The weather reports were a minefield of possibilities, and my brain decided to hedge its bets with everything.
- Phase 2: The "Is My Passport Still Valid?" Meltdown. Found it! Barely. Turns out a passport sitting in the sun for too long looks like a sad, crumpled flower. Good thing the nice lady at the airport didn't notice.
- Phase 3: The Flight & Arrival: The flight was… yeah. Let's just say I befriended the air hostess by accidentally ordering a second glass of wine before we'd even taken off. Then, the bus ride through the Andes. Stunning. Breathtaking. Also, my stomach felt like it was trying to escape through my throat for the first half.
Day 1: Arrival, Altitude Sickness, and the Promise of Relaxation (and a Mild Panic Attack)
- Morning (or, The Sleep-Deprived Grogginess): Arrived at Sangay Spa around noon. The drive in alone was stunning, the scenery was worth the slight nausea. The hotel, though, is truly gorgeous. Like, "Instagram-worthy, if I could be bothered" gorgeous. Check-in was smooth (thankfully, because I was still secretly worried about my passport situation), and the staff were impossibly cheerful, which made me both grateful and deeply suspicious.
- Afternoon: Altitude sickness hit like a freight train. Headache, nausea, the works. I spent a good part of the afternoon horizontal in my room, contemplating the meaning of life and the wisdom of ordering ceviche on the bus. Finally, decided the best thing to do was give in and get a massage.
- The Massage - OMG. Hands down, the absolute best massage I've ever had. The masseuse, Maria, had magical hands. She worked out knots I didn't even know existed. Honestly, I'm considering moving to Baños just to have her give me a daily rubdown. I may have drifted off during the massage - and snored. Don't judge me.
- Evening: Dinner was included, and it was a buffet. Not the most inspiring food, but the view from the restaurant was amazing. Volcano Tungurahua looming, shrouded in mist… the staff are really thoughtful. I could get used to this. I made sure to hydrate, drink plenty of water to keep altitude sickness at bay, and avoid eye contact with the buffet.
Day 2: Adventure, Waterfalls, and the Near-Death Experience (Okay, a Slight Slip)
- Morning: The decision to hike to the Pailon del Diablo waterfall seemed incredibly smart. Until, you know, actual hiking. The trail was deceptively treacherous (and I was still feeling a little shaky.) Beautiful, though. Absolutely breathtaking. The power of the water was humbling.
- Waterfall Woes (or, The Slippery Slope): There was a rickety bridge over a roaring waterfall. The mist, the slippery rocks… and I slipped. My pride took a bigger hit than my actual body (thankfully). Managed to catch myself, but the moment of near-disaster made me re-evaluate all my life choices.
- Afternoon: The hike back down was, shall we say, less graceful. My legs were jelly. But I did it! And the thought of the spa… oh, the spa.
- The Hot Springs: This is what I really came for. The Sangay’s hot spring is incredible. Dark, sulfurous water. Steam rising. Stars twinkling above. Pure, unadulterated bliss. Soaked for an hour. Maybe two. Possibly three. Lost all track of time and any remaining inhibitions.
Day 3: More Waterfalls, More Food, & A Deep Dive Into My Own Weirdness
- Morning: Decided to visit the "Casa del Arbol" and swing over the abyss. Nope. Too high. Too terrifying. Watched other, braver souls do it, and felt a mix of envy and relief.
- Afternoon: Discovered a local cafe serving the best empanadas I've ever tasted. Ate three. Guilt be damned. Sat and people-watched. The locals are friendly. Felt very welcomed.
- Evening - The Karaoke Predicament: The hotel had karaoke night. Resist the urge. Resist the urge. The wine, the altitude, the general sense of "why not?" finally won. I sang (very badly) a song I didn’t know very well. The audience was… supportive? Sympathetic? Mostly, I think they were just amused.
Day 4: Saying Goodbye (and Secretly Plotting My Return)
- Morning: One last massage (obviously). Maria is a saint. Filled up on breakfast, one last soak in the hot springs.
- Afternoon: Packed my bags (much lighter this time, having given away most of my “just in case” gear to some very grateful locals) and checked out.
- Departure: The bus ride out was much more pleasant this time. No nausea. Just the lingering scent of sulfur and the memory of pure, unadulterated relaxation. Felt very peaceful, the memory of the near-death experience seemed to have faded, and a desire to return to the peacefulness it offered.
Reflections (or, The Emotional Fallout):
Baños, and especially Sangay Spa Hotel, is a place that gets under your skin. It's beautiful, chaotic, and forces you to confront your own ridiculousness. I came looking for relaxation, and got so much more. I slipped, I stumbled, I sang karaoke, and I loved every messy, imperfect second of it. I'll be back.
Escape to Paradise: Unbelievable Villa Crystal Puncak Awaits!
