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This 17th century hacienda was converted
into one of the leading country inns in Ecuador.
Twenty - five 25 luxurious guestrooms with fireplaces
and fine Andean crafts are your home for the week. A garden walk away, El Monasterio de
Cusin's white buttressed walls, towers, parapets and courtyards add distinction to the
ancient landscape. Cusin's 40-acre complex is located at an elevation of 8,000 ft in the
Ecuadorian Sierra, 90 minutes north of Quito, on the outskirts of the village of San Pablo
de Lago and its two mile crater lake.
The mountains of Cotocachi (15,300 ft.), Mojanda and Imbabura (15,250 ft.) dramatize the
green landscape and Laguna San Pablo reflects the scene. Twelve miles south, the Equator
passes through the snows of Cayambe (18,997 ft.). Cusin's white walls and terracotta tiles
nestle beneath a deep blue sky in a wide, pastoral valley. It is the antithesis of urban
life.
 IT-ECSR02
2005 Rates include lodging with private bathroom and log fire place, 3
meals per day, three 2 hr rides and 2 full day rides on the two day overnight
Casa Mojanda ride.
6 days/ 5 nights $595 Single: + $75
plus 12% tax and 10% gratuities
upgrade to deluxe suite $250 pp (min.2)
Additional overnights at local haciendas can be arranged upon request.
Meeting: San Pablo
Airport: Quito
Transfer: Transfer from Quito by taxi $90-$140 per group of 3 rt - to pay
locally
Level:
all levels
Horses:
Quarter, Paso Fino, Cross
Tack:
Western
Pace: Slow, some trots and canters
Note: see details on accommodations etc
Itinerary
Day 1 Morning transfer from Quito to Hacienda Cusin (90
miles). Check in and leisurely lunch.
Afternoon 2 hr ride to Gualavi Valley from where you can see San Pablo
Lake.
Day 2 After breakfast departure for all day ride with picnic
lunch. Late afternoon arrival at Casa Mojanda. Dinner and overnight in
cozy inn.
Day 3 Leisurely breakfast and beautiful ride into the Zuleta
Valley. Lunch at a local hacienda. Return to Cusin around 4:00 pm. Nice
long shower and meeting to a candlelight dinner.
Day 4 After breakfast departure to the Otavalo market or to
Cotacachi, where you find great bargains for all kinds of leather goods.
Return to Cusin early afternoon for an afternoon ride. Around 4:00 pm
you will drive the herd of horses to the evening pasture. Twenty 20 minute
beautiful walk back to the hacienda or we can arrange for a pick up.
Day 5 Morning ride after breakfast to Imbabura Mountain with
picnic.
Afternoon sightseeing (see below for options).
Day 6 Departure after breakfast - either back to Quito or onto
more adventures (more haciendas, multi day riding excursions, 4 days
Amazon, or maybe Galapagos Islands)
Attractions
20+ principal attractions in the locale of Hacienda Cusin
- Otavalo (market)
- Carabuela (wool processing)
- Iluman (hats)
- Agato (weaving)
- San Antonio (wood)
- Cotacachi (leather)
- Climbing: Araque (2 hrs.), Cuicocha crater (4 hrs.), Mojanda (3 hrs.), Fuja Fuja (4
hrs.), *Imbabura (6 hrs.)
- Professional ice climb (18,000') to Cayambe volcano on the Equatorial line (1-2 days
with guide)
- Walking: Gualavi valley (1-3 hrs.), Rinconada (1 hr.), Zuleta (5 hrs.), Cubilche (5 hrs.
), Quebrada (3 hrs.)
- Exploring: Pre-Incan Cochasqui, Quinche church, the old Mitad Del Mundo and Hacienda
Guachala
- Activities: mountain bike riding, 6 acres of garden, squash, book & film
library, bar, salon Bolivar, games room - snooker, ping pong, darts & area wall map.
House games - chess, Monopoly, Scrabble, etc.
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Hacienda Cusin was founded in
1602
 see
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