No matter the day or time, a gateway to the Ecuadorian highlands allows a fascinating encounter with unique sceneries, delightful gastronomy, Andean traditions, and countryside lifestyle with local communities. If you want your clients to experience this relaxing and insightful journey, keep reading, about living a full day in the Hacienda Cusin in Otavalo.
Early in the morning, you can embark on the trip to seize the day, it takes around 1h30 min from Quito to reach Otavalo. Once you take the Panamerican highway, you can start admiring the Andean mountains, valleys, and vegetation. Just before you arrive at your destination, there is a must-stop in the town of Cayambe to try delicious delicacies for breakfast. These iconic biscuits are very popular in the region and can be accompanied by blackberry syrup, queso de hoja (local produce cheese) with a cup of warm chocolate or coffee.
Then continue your journey, until you arrive at Hacienda Cusin in Otavalo, where you will find a white facade that gives you a glimpse of an old colonial building. Once you get into the property through the main entrance passing by a wooden door, some flourishing gardens will receive you, guiding you to the principal mansion where the staff will make you feel at home from the first moment.
Encounters with the local community
Later you will embark on a short journey to the nearest Ucsha community, along the way you can admire the impressive Imabura volcano in the backdrop and many eucalyptus trees. After you arrive, the community women will welcome you and explain their initiative of producing eucalyptus medicinal oil for alleviating respiratory affection and pain. Also, they exhibit their handicrafts and embroidery articles. As well as, they will showcase the local produce such as beans, corn, and broad beans which are used to cook meals in the Hacienda Cusin menu.
A necessary cleansing ritual
Afterward, you will be carried to Angla community for those seeking a transformative experience with an Andean cleansing ritual led by local women healers. Rooted in indigenous traditions, these rituals are designed to purify the mind, body, and spirit. The ritual begins with an explanation of medicinal plants and how they will heal different body parts or affections, using medicinal plants, the healer guides participants through a process of renewal, believed to clear away negative energy and restore balance.
Exploring the hacienda
After these experiences with local communities, you will return to the hacienda to enjoy a tasty lunch that includes a first course with a delicious quinoa soup, a second course with meat, and prawn, accompanied by a fresh salad and potato mash, and finally a delicious rhubarb pie with blackberry ice-cream. Most of the menu is a fusion of traditional Ecuadorian cuisine with international gastronomy and includes ingredients from the organic garden or local produce. There is also the possibility to adapt the meals for vegetarian or vegan options that can be arranged in advance.
Afterward, to fully appreciate Hacienda Cusin, a tour of the estate is a must. Guided tours reveal the architecture of the hacienda, from its quaint chapels and grand halls to its secluded courtyards and stable, admiring impressive views from the roofs, strolling around the organic garden, or finding hidden passages. Each corner holds echoes of the past, giving guests a sense of the hacienda’s historical significance and the family owners’ legacy directly related to the region’s history. For a moment of reflection, guests can retreat to the cozy library or simply sit in the gardens, soaking in the quiet loveliness of the Andes.
Let’s bring Ecuador’s Andes closer to your clients through the community, tradition, and timeless beauty of a traditional hacienda. Contact our expert team for more information and assistance in planning an unforgettable Andean adventure.
Published in November 2024
