Two Haciendas

The Ecuador Chronicles - 2010-06

A Tale of Two Haciendas;

One - Upscale and Stately;

One - Beautiful Around a Courtyard

As noted in a prior Chronicle, the Northern Sierra is a beautiful place to visit for a day trip out of Quito (http://livewellecuador.com/NorthernSierra.aspx). But why not stay in a hacienda for a couple of nights - there is plenty to see and do in the area, and there are some great places to relax and enjoy your time in the countryside.

Hacienda Cusin

Hacienda Cusin is located near the village of San Pablo, very near Laguna de San Pablo, about 12 kilometers south of Otavalo. This is quite an upscale place with immaculate grounds and well appointed rooms.

Hacienda Cusin

Rooms with Verandas Overlooking the Gardens

Beautiful Grounds

A Comfortable Room.....

.......And a Cozy Fire to Take the Chill off an Andean Evening

What to do in the Northern Sierra

You can do a lot with a couple of days in the Northern Sierra. The market villages are great to visit. Otavalo is the largest and most famous - and has a lot of everything. Cotacachi is renown for leather work - visit "Leather Street" for shop after shop of leather goods at great prices. Further north is San Antonio, known for wood working. You will find everything from religious icons to furniture. The Village Peguche is noted for weaving / textiles. Other attractions in the area include Laguna de San Pablo, just south of Otavalo, Cascada de Peguche, a beautiful waterfall just north of Otavalo, and Laguna de Cuicochi, a volcanic crater lake surrounding picturesque volcanic islands located about 12 kilometers west of Cotacachi.

Hacienda Chorlavi

Hacienda Chorlavi is located north of Otavalo, not far from the wood carving village of San Antonio. Where Cusin is stately and upscale, Chorlavi is perhaps a bit more "Down Home". The main building surrounds a courtyard, with the restaurant tables on the veranda area around the courtyard. A stream runs through the grounds with several foot bridges crossing it.

Entrance to Hacienda Chorlavi