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The place is located in the far end of the main street, towards the waterfall. Ask for: "Campamento Los Pinos" Magic Stone is a great place to relax, with hammocks in the garden and amazing views. If you need information about tours in the area etc, we are here to help and you can order our famous breakfast with homemade bread and jam, fresh pressed orange-juice,crepes, fresh ground coffee/tea,scrambled egg ect. everything in best quality.Magic stone make day-trips only for our guests to a special place in the highland jungle where nobody else are coming, and to a very low price.We look forward to see you here in Magic Stone.
Calle Ambato El Campamento de los Pinos, Banos 0059 Ecuador
Magic Stone
161 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
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First off, I can't say enough about Aase and Ove - they went above and beyond for us during our stay. We arrived very late because of the bus from Quito to Banos (4.5 hrs), but when we got here we were greeted with smiles despite the late hour. They were able to take our breakfast order for the next day and gave us a walk-through on our room.
Breakfast was out-of-this-world. Sarah and I have tried just about everything and I recommend the eggs, Danish bread (omg), fresh orange juice, and the coffee. Everything is all-natural and homemade, with the eggs coming from chickens freely running around in the mountains. The bread (as well as everything else) is made fresh and the marmalade is amazing.
Aase is full of great tips and information - she hooked us up with a phenomenal guide that took us out on horseback up to the volcano and a cafe/bar tucked up into the canyon. The cost was about $10/hr/person. After that, we had a massage with another contact of her's. (smart idea - $25/hr/person).
The bed we slept on was a bit hard, but it wound up working great to help stretch out after a long day. The accommodations are great, with a little desk and internet to do work at. There's a nice-sized bathroom with a walk-in shower tucked to the back of the room and a place to hang clothing inside.
Magic Stone is easy to get to from town and even easier to go out and get something to eat from. Most restaurants/places close mid-day for a siesta and open back again until about 7pm or so. We'd definitely recommend checking Cafe de Arte and El Cedro for some great tea/coffee and trout/steak respectfully.
We've got one more night here :( before we head inland to the Amazon, but Ove took us on an amazing trip out to the jungle and back. Though we had a hard rain while on the trek, it was wonderful to get out and see everything. The cost was about $25/person and worth every penny. It was a bit hairy trying to find a bus to take us back to town since it was new years day (very few busses operating, and most were full).
Overall - we won't stay anywhere else when we come back to Banos. Hopefully when word continues to get out about this place we'll still be able to book a room :) The cost was very inexpensive (around $20/person/night) and the view and level of privacy were both great.
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Date of stay: December 2014
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I've been travelling in Ecuador for 10 months now (Cuenca, Vilcabamba, Salinas.) Aside from some spectacular private residences I've rented long-term, the Magic Stone is the nicest and most relaxing place I've stayed, and I've stayed in at least 20 hosterias and hotels.
Magic Stone is located an easy 5 minute walk from town center at the end of a quiet, dead-end street. You never have to take a taxi. Most places I've stayed in Ecuador either have so much traffic going by that your bed might as well be in the middle of the street (Cuenca,) or roosters screeching outside your window at sunrise (Vilcabamba.) The Magic Stone is so quiet you could hear a pin drop. In fact it's so peaceful compared to many places I've stayed, I need to set my alarm clock or I'd sleep all day.
The recently built two-unit guest house is extremely well constructed and nicely designed - two things you don't often see in Ecuador. I've been staying in the "blue" room for a week. Lovely. Everything works. Very comfortable Futon style bed. TV, although I haven't turned it on yet. Good lighting - two attractive fixtures on the walls - not the ubiquitous naked light bulb hanging from a socket that you come across all too often. A desk for journaling or computing (with lamp) and two nightstands, each with a lamp.
Six electrical outlets (that actually work) in the room (one of these is European style) and one in the bathroom. Many places I've stayed in Ecuador have crappy outlets that your plug will just fall out of, so tight, functional outlets are important to me.
Two windows in the room, one in the bathroom, good natural light. This is a nice size room with high ceilings that doesn't feel claustrophobic, as many living spaces in Ecuador can seem, especially older ones.
Great bathroom with a good shower head, plenty of hot water, and as an added bonus - the first and only toilet-paper flushable toilet I have come across in Ecuador. The sink also has cold AND hot water, many bathroom sinks in Ecuador are cold water only.
There's a stack of breakfast order forms in the desk drawer. Just fill one out at night and tell Aase and Ove what time you want it. I usually have breakfast at the table and chairs set up just outside my room. A nice cheese plate, some of Aase's famous homemade bread (best I've had in Ecuador,) coffee, orange juice. Had the pancakes (crepes) today, with butter, strawberry jam and syrup - excellent. Are you ready to make a reservation yet?
Oh, and regarding the cheese plate. This is not the inexpensive "queso fresca" that you see everywhere in Ecuador (and isn't bad, if a bit bland.) I can tell you that at least one of the cheeses I had yesterday sells for about $25/pound - in Ecuador. If you can find it.
I do want to reiterate that Magic Stone is a Bed & Breakfast, not a hostel, so breakfast is a la carte, as would be expected. Considering the quality (and room service!) It's quite reasonable and as good or better than anything you'll find in town (there are some pretty good restaurants in Baños.)
Aase and Ove are great, always bending over backwards to make sure you're happy, but not too "in your face," as is sometimes the case when staying in a B & B. They're great resources for information on things like the best, cheapest, and least-crowded thermal baths in town, or arranging a (highly recommended) tour of the waterfalls.
Security is tight as a drum. I have two computers with me, three cameras, a Bose SoundDock, an Ipod, a Smartphone, and Grado headphones, and really don't even feel the need to lock my door. Mulla the friendly and playful dog also keeps an eye on things.
Wifi is good. Not the fastest I've seen, coming through at a consistent and steady 11mbps, but it's a solid connection and hasn't dropped off once since I've been here.
There is a filtered water dispenser just outside the main house, a nice touch.
One word of advice. I mentioned you don't have to take a taxi here, as it's an easy walk to and from town. When you first arrive in town with luggage, you will need a taxi. I found that about half the taxi drivers in town either don't know where the Magic Stone is or don't get my accent. You might get lucky on the first try. Or you might have to try five.
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Date of stay: April 2013
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Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arrived in Banos on the recommendation of a fellow traveller. When I got there I was overwhelmed by the kindness and help afforded by the owners. The accommodation is very clean, modern and comfortable. Breakfast is amazing. I have stayed in many places in South America so far and this was by miles the best.
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Date of stay: November 2015Trip type: Travelled solo
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We arrived by taxi from the bus station and were welcomed by the charming Danish hosts Ove and Aase. Getting acquainted with them was a large part of why this is a magical place. The property sits on a small hill overlooking town. It is a short and safe 5 min walk to town. The rooms are spacious and very clean. The highlight of each day is sitting down to a homemade Danish breakfast. We tried all 3 of Aase's amazing homemade breads, the cheese platter, the homemade jam, fresh fruit cup, and scrambled eggs with avocado made from the eggs laid by chickens who live next door. The breakfast table is situated in their home near a large window with a panoramic view of the hills of Banos. Wow. This is a lovely oasis of calm and tranquility. After a hectic week of activity in the Galapagos we were able to relax and slow down and felt truly taken care of by two amazing people. Thank you Ove and Aase for everything but especially for your vision and your personal "magic" that is the secret of Magic Stone B&B.
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Date of stay: May 2014
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent three nights at Magic Stone and really enjoyed the cozy apartment/room and the owners company. Aase and Ove are wonderful people and being with them was like reconnecting with old friends. We also had the chance to be introduced :-) to their talking parrot ! He was so funny and so cute ! The homemade breakfasts are the more delicious we had during our stay in Ecuador. The double room was like an apartment and it's great when you are traveling with a friend. I had a double bed downstairs and my friend had a double bed upstairs (mezzanine) so each one could enjoy some privacy. And everything was perfectly clean. It's certainly the best place to stay in Banos and I will stay there again on my next trip !
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Date of stay: March 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
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All the positive comments are so true - this is the best place we stayed at in Ecuador!
The thing what makes this place truly "magic" is the hospitality of its owners Aase and Owe. You can really see the love they but into every little detail of their small hotel. And most importantly, the atmosphere on their premises and within their own house (where they serve the breakfast) is much closer to a stay with family or friends than like in a hotel. We especially appreciated this warm hospitality when my wife was sick for 1-2 days and they were amazingly caring.
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Date of stay: March 2013
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at Magic Stone for four nights, my niece and nephew in one unit and my husband and I in the other. It made our trip to Banos. We were enjoying a quite evening outside after a busy day of hiking when they bought us some popcorn and a large candle for our outdoor table, a memorable evening. The breakfast was wonderful, and the dark bread was something to dream about! They arranged vans, cabs and even came with us on a tour to the waterfalls to share some extra sights. We felt very safe there and like someone was watching out for us.
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Date of stay: March 2013
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were lucky enough to spend five days at Magic Stone and it was easily the best place we stayed in Equador. Aase and Ove were super friendly and very helpful. Our room was beautiful, clean, private and so comfortable. There was all the hot water I needed.
The location was perfect. Quiet, because it is on the edge of town, yet just a short walk to everything.
The breakfasts were amazing. Fresh baked breads, delicious crepes and excellent coffee. All for about $5.
Banos is a great town and well worth the visit - even better if you get to stay at the Magic Stone.
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Date of stay: February 2013
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My adult son and I spent five nights at the Magic Stone, staying two nights longer than originally planned. We loved the convenience of walking to town in five minutes, the cheap taxis to fun and beautiful places, the great homemade breakfasts, Aase and Ove's smiling faces and cheerful nature, all the interesting information about the country, the area and their lives. We even hung out with the guests in the other room! Our room was spacious, clean and had a modern decor. The hosts were my reason for enjoying Banos over all other cities.
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Date of stay: January 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Either room is great
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We loved staying at Magic Stone. The owners are so nice and welcoming. After being in the deep jungle for 4 days it was a relief to be here. wifi worked great and breakfast was delicious...as is the view during breakfast. Quiet part of town and only 5 minute walk to the square.
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Date of stay: January 2013
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â try the beakfast and all the different breads!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"There are only two rooms in a quaint little casita behind the main house. One room has two beds and the other room has one bed. Both are decorated nicely and has everything you need for a comfortable stay."
There are more places to choose from in the Banos area.
LOCATION
EcuadorTungurahua ProvinceBanos
NUMBER OF ROOMS
2
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MAGIC STONE | Guesthouse Reviews (Banos, Ecuador) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Magic Stone
Which popular attractions are close to Magic Stone?
Nearby attractions include Church of the Virgin of the Holy Water (Nuestra Señora del Agua Santa) (0.4 km), Las Piscinas de la Virgen (0.2 km), and Leprechuan Bar - Club (0.5 km).
