All Services

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Support Unay Muchiku by letting us work for you. We are more than a boutique. We are more than a workshop. We are activists for all indigenous identities of the world. We fight for improving our local communities. We have a passion to preserve tradition and nature. We are the movement for a better Ecuador. Join us today!

Group of women and an elderly woman dressed in traditional Ecuador Kichwa clothing, wearing embroidered blouses, colorful jewelry, and wide-brimmed hats, gathered together in a festive setting.

Hostel and Food

  • A two-story building painted orange with a wooden balcony on the upper floor. The entrance features a wooden archway, and there are plants and a signboard outside. The signboard advertises accommodations, coffee, an ice cream shop, and cultural tours in Ecuador.

    Unay Muchiku Hostel

    Hot Water / Free Wi-Fi / Shared Kitchen. Welcome drink or sweet: Choice of homemade artisan ice cream, coffee, or aromatic tea from our herb garden.

  • Hotel room with two beds, striped bedspreads, yellow walls, and a ceiling made of woven material. A decorative textile with hats and scarves hangs on the wall above the beds. There is a small wooden nightstand between the beds, and a wooden bookshelf stands on the right side of the room. Towels are folded on each bed.

    Comfort & Privacy

    Choice of Private or shared bathroom. Cleanliness is important to us. Designed for comfort in a rural environment.

  • A small slice of pink cheesecake with a berry topping served on a white plate, garnished with strawberries, a chocolate bite, strawberries, blueberries, a dollop of whipped cream, and a green leaf, with purple flowers in a vase nearby.

    Homemade Desserts

    We offer a variety of homemade desserts for personal and special occasions.

    (by reservation only)

  • Colorful hammocks hanging on a porch with wooden floor, white brick walls, potted plants, and a bamboo railing.

    Hammocks

    Views overlooking our herb and fruit garden along with scenic mountains in the distance.

  • Traditional Food

    Experience the tradition. Let us bring our family recipes to your table for any occasion, big or small.

    (by reservation only)

  • Covered porch with wooden railing, potted plants, and wooden benches overlooking greenery.

    Community Balcony

    The house features a wrap-around balcony with plenty of plants and exotic birds. Enjoy Wi-Fi access on all sides.

  • Mount Imbabura of Ecuador at dusk with a pink and purple sky,/clouds around the peak, and a field of tall corn plants in the foreground.

    Surrounded by Volcanoes

    Share a moment of peace with a hot drink, and take in the beautiful scenery from the balcony.

  • Colorful restaurant interior with tables covered in red striped tablecloths, wooden chairs, blue and yellow walls, framed pictures of people in traditional Ecuador attire, and potted plants.

    Workspace & Dining

    The house has 2 dining rooms for our hostel guests and 1 shared kitchen upstairs. All of our facilities are equipped with strong internet.

  • A glass bowl of fruit sorbet with blackberries and a strawberry garnish, surrounded by green leaves and a purple flower on a red cloth, with a colorful background of containers and a painting.

    Ice Cream Factory

    Home of the “Sumak Rasu” Ice Cream Factory. 100% natural, no preservatives.

  • A rural house with an orange exterior and a tiled roof, surrounded by a garden and a field of corn in a hilly area with a small town nearby and mountains in the background.

    Your Second Home

    We aim to give you comfort, a family atmosphere, and privacy as if it was your own home. We understand many visitors live far away and seek a place of peace.

Contact us here for complete details

Tours and classes

  • An elderly woman with gray hair and traditional clothing of the Kichwa people of Ecuador, including a black headscarf, sits on a stool, spinning wool into yarn with her hands, in a rustic indoor setting with baskets of wool around her.

    The Sombrero Tour

    If you are in Ecuador, don't miss the famous Unay Muchiku Hat Tour, presented by Belen Picausi and her mother. It is a unique opportunity to meet the family, discover the tradition of the Kichwa hat up close, and take a little piece of this experience home with you by purchasing a piece of handicraft in our local boutique.

  • A person in white clothes and a black head covering is creating fire with a torch, producing a large flame. Another person with short gray hair and dark clothing stands nearby in a room with a bright light source, green and gray walls, and a bench.

    "Yachak" Ceremony

    A “Yachak” is one who has a special gift of healing others spiritually. Also known as a “shaman” in other countries, the town of Iluman is famous for its Kichwa healers and their sacred ceremonies.

  • A person weaving a colorful patterned textile on a traditional loom.

    Regional Craft Tour

    Let Belen Picuasi, a fully licensed tour guide with 35 years experience in tourism, introduce you to different craft artisans around the region.

  • Traditional Dance Class

    Belen has a history of competing in traditional dance and also teaching others professionally. She is willing to teach anybody interested whether it be casual or pro.

  • Three young girls are preparing food together in a kitchen, peeling or cutting vegetables at a table filled with produce, including tomatoes and green peppers.

    Traditional Cooking Class

    A popular class for anybody that loves tradition, food and culture. You would be surprised of the incredible recipes in the region that do not exist anywhere else in the world!

  • A scenic view of a crater lake surrounded by lush green hills and mountains under a partly cloudy sky, with colorful plants and flowers in the foreground.

    Nature Hiking Tours

    Our region of Ecuador is full of nature from volcanoes and its crater lakes to waterfalls and hot springs. Contact us for more information.

  • A woman smiling and holding beaded curtains in a window with beaded curtain, surrounded by potted vines on a teal wall.

    Kichwa Language Class

    The Kichwa language is a beautiful part of our culture. We would be honored to teach you!

Contact us for prices and reservations

Community Volunteering

Black and white illustration of a woman with a long braid, wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a tassel, standing on a triangle with the letters UM.

Looking for an alternative way to support the Kichwa people? Volunteer in Ilumán! All projects will be coordinated between Belen Picuasi and the current President of the community. Why the President? Because Belen believes in order to make a real impact, volunteering must serve the community as a whole and to where they need it most.

Group of people planting trees in a rural field with mountains and trees in the background.
Two women harvesting crops in a field with tall plants, some dried, and a cloudy sky in the background.
Two women are painting a colorful mural on a wall outdoors, with one sitting on the ground and the other kneeling, surrounded by paint supplies and tools.
Group of young people gathered outdoors in a grassy area, observing and examining objects, possibly nature-related items or insects, near a forest.
Group of young people sitting in a rustic room with stone walls, some on wooden benches and others on the floor, surrounded by various items in a casual, informal setting.
Group of people outdoors on a dirt lot with mountains and buildings in the background.
Children and adults sitting outdoors on a curb in front of a building with a banner. A young girl is embracing an older woman. The ground has painted numbered circles, and there are balloons and a small table nearby.
People planting grass in a playground area next to a playground with swings and a slide, with trees and a brick wall in the background.
Two young women washing wool by hand in outdoor concrete washbasins
Group of children and adults dancing and socializing in a room with wooden floors, decorated with hats on the wall, and large window providing natural light.
Group of people renovating a room, painting and repairing the walls, with painting supplies and plastic covering the floor.
A woman sitting on a chair in an outdoor area, using a stick to clean or sort a large pile of raw, possibly slaughtered, animal skins or fat laid out on a woven mat.
Man with long braids wearing a black cowboy hat with a braided band, a white shirt, and turquoise earrings, sitting against a rocky background.

Boutique

A woman wearing traditional Ecuador Kichwa attire, including a large red embroidered sombrero and a white blouse with floral embroidery, with gold jewelry and a brown earring, posing against a rocky background.
Person wearing a tan hat with a blue patterned band, a white shirt, and a large blue garment with black trim against a stone background.