San Agustin de Callo

Cotopaxi, Cotopaxi, Ecuador
6 rooms / 3 stars

One and a quarter hours from the Ecuadorian Capital of Quito stands the beautiful and little known farmhouse of San Agustin de Callo. Built on the site of an important Inca Palace this working farm offers today's discerning traveler an unrivaled glimpse into Ecuador's rich and colorful past.

Trails range from a few hours in length, taking you through typical high Andean villages such as Ticatilin with its whitewashed Colonial church, to longer day trips following little used Inca trails. The high paramo with its unique abundance of flora, fauna is within easy reach of the Hacienda. Day trips can also be arranged to the nearby Cotopaxi National Park whose spectacular habitat is home to giant condors, Andean wolves and deer.

The Hacienda is ideally situated for off road riding in and around the Cotopaxi National Park. For those who wish to enjoy a spectacular down hill ride, four wheel drive transport takes you to the 'Refugio', located just below Cotopaxi's snow line at 4800mt. Riders can then make the exciting descent to the park entrance where transport will be waiting to take you back to the hacienda and to a well-earned dinner. Several Indian Markets are within a twenty minute drive from the hacienda and include those of Latacunga and Saquisili with their colorful displays of spices, fruits and hand woven ponchos.

The Hacienda's Inca dining room with its view of Cotopaxi, provides guests with the perfect setting to savour the Hacienda's excellent Ecuadorian cuisine. Authentic high Andean dishes include llapingachos (a type of potato pancake) tamales (steamed corn maize stuffed with seasoned chicken, eggs, chilies, olives, and wrapped in achira leaves). Soups such as quinoa, sancocho and the Hacienda's famous 'sopa de locro'- a rich cheese and potato soup served with slices of ripe avocado, and freshly prepared aji, are just a few of the Andean dishes offered.