In Otavalo, Ecuador, the Ali Shungu Mountaintop Lodge

We, Margaret Goodhart and Frank Kiefer, are expats from the Washington D.C. area. We fell in love with the Otavalo people and their culture way back in the 70's when we were starting a small South American export business. It was about 20 years ago that we decided to close up our lives in the US and move here to Otavalo to build a small inn. That dream came true 14 years ago, with the help of a World Bank loan, when we opened up Hotel Ali Shungu here in the town.

As the town grew into a city we began our search for a piece of land outside of town where we could be closer to the indigenous culture.

And it was meant to be! We found 40 acres on a mountaintop in a small Indian community just a few miles from Otavalo and we began to build again in 2002; the result being the Ali Shungu Mountaintop Lodge and Restaurant. Now we can offer guests the convenience of being a few blocks away from the Otavalo Poncho Plaza Market in the Ali Shungu Garden Hotel and we can also offer beautiful accommodations high on a spectacular mountaintop a few miles from Otavalo.

We take our business very seriously and are always here to make sure everything is right. We have an incredible staff that has been with us since the early 90's. We seldom work with tour groups or tour agencies, preferring to work with independent travelers.

Our love for the Andean culture is as strong as ever! Margaret collects textiles and offers unique crafts and art for sale. Frank is an aspiring video maker still trying to find enough time.