Casa Aida is a great place to stay in La Esperanza. It is run by Aida BuitrĂ³n. The phone number is (593-6) 2660221. Unfortunately the phone number listed in many guidebooks is incorrect.
It is possible to get a truck to the trailhead from La Esperanza without staying at Casa Aida. The best bet is to go to the only bridge in town, often there are a number of trucks in the parking lot by the bridge. The going rate to hire a truck to the trailhead as of Feb 09 is $4.