In the mid 1990s, Gary and I were exploring all through Ecuador with a group of friends. There were 12 of us, all enjoying the adventures and the surprises of Ecuador.
We had finished a delightful afternoon stop at what became one of our favorites (then just a small dairy with a serving room), La Vaca. Even writing about this now, my mouth waters at the thought of high mountain chill and a hot pot of the best hot chocolate in the world…milk made fresh from the restaurant’s own dairy and chocolate, the strong kind from not too far away Ambato.
But this hot chocolate was even more than that…all of us splurged and had the “supreme” which was fresh cheese stirred into that already unbelievable concoction!
It was tasty, strong and indeed supreme…but as are many things in Ecuador certainly not decadent or the least bit sinful!
While we were there all getting warmed up and marveling how we could walk right through the dairy with the afternoon milking of the spotless black and white cows and have our milk, chocolate in the midst of this.
“Quite unheard of cleanliness,” we all gasped.
But the thought arose, not really sure now where it started, from the owner of La Vaca or our ancient friend, the National Guide of Ecuador…how about a late afternoon meditation in a REAL Incan Chapel?
Here is the chapel.
Ecuador-hacienda-chapel
“Of course” was the chorus! We jumped out passed back through the languor of those stout gorgeous cows and started north on the Pan American Highway back toward Quito and Cotopaxi, the second highest peak in Ecuador and listed as one of the world’s highest active volcanoes at 19,347 feet.
At more or less Marker 77, we turned off the highway not far from Cotopaxi National Park. We wound around for a few miles not seeing much and then we were in for another hacienda surprise!
The gorgeous, historic Hacienda San Agustin de Callo welcomed us not in the same way as nearby La Cieniega but in its own symmetrical charm of a colonial hacienda. Here we could see and experience its “unique architectural blend….Inca (Imperial style from the 15th century and Spanish Colonial from the 18th century and then Republican from the 19th century. San Agustin de Callo constitutes the only lived in museum of Inca Imperial and Spanish Colonial Style”.
Just as darkness set in, we were greeted by part of the family who were just visiting their ancestral home. (At that time, San Agustin was not a hosteria or open to the public.)
They opened the chapel and clarified to us its Inca history as well as pointed out the original walls of the Inca palace, upon which San Agustin was built.
We questioned if we would be welcome to meditate in the chapel…and the young man in charge said “Welcome and Yes”.
We sort of filed into the dark ancient chapel (nothing like any Spanish chapel I’ve ever seen since) and helpers appeared with candles. It was deep silent there, deep and dark. We did a 20 minute meditation and some of us felt sadness and heaviness.
But then the door to the hacienda was opened and we entered the most upbeat, charming, bright and series of delightful room after rooms. The mixtures were astounding (later I recognized this as Ecuadorian style)…bathrooms with soft swirls of color and exquisite candelabras and bedrooms filled with wooden angels and unexpected delights! Roaring fireplaces in all rooms AND the bathrooms, golden washed walls and roses, roses, roses everywhere!
Years later we returned and met the daughter who converted the hacienda into luxury suites. It is a gorgeous venue welcoming guests and also weddings into this 17th century venue.
Then as now, it offers authentic tasty Andean cooking. And today guests can delight in mountain biking, horseback rides with picnics as well as hiking and simply soaking up the exquisite Ecuadorian experience.
Small did we know that just driving around and exploring the Avenue of the Volcanoes that we’d be 15 years later writing about our experiences to all of you. Ecuador and its Haciendas are all about that…adventure, history, exploration, archeology and darn excellent food and fun!
San Agustin de Callo, a fantastic truly historic place to overnight on your way to the Devil’s Nose Train Ride. 90 miles south of Quito on the Pan American Highway. : “In total San Agustin now has six suites of which four have adjoining drawing rooms, two suites with incorporated drawing rooms and five double rooms. Eleven rooms in all with capacity to room thirty four people full house. The two smallest rooms Montufar and Bonpland, are located in Callo Lodge. Nevertheless these are double rooms. All other rooms are spacious.” See more on Hacienda San Agustin de Callo
Or send email questions to info@incahacienda.com
Watch the video related to inca
Gorgeous Inca music, Bolivian music in Seoul, Korea.
Help answer the question about inca
What is a kingdom in southwest Asia that the inca conquest model resembles?
this is a question on tenth grade history crossword puzzle and i cannot seem to find the answer. The answer is 6 letters long and the 4th letter is supposed to be an S and the last an A. The only answer i can come up with is Romans…but that isn't in southwest Asia nor does it fit in accordance to the letters, but the teacher makes these puzzles himself and I have found many previous errors. I say Romans because the textbook does compare the Inca to the Romans a couple time…..
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by Merri Scott
