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ABOUT SAN AGUSTIN DE CALLO

Located an easy hour and a half from Quito, Hacienda San Agustin de Callao  is built on the site of an important Inca Palace and has a historic and storied history. Since the 15th century it has served as an Inca fortress, Augustinian convent and temporary home for the French Geodesic mission. It has belonged to the Plaza family since 1921.

The main courtyard is composed of three distinct styles: Inca (15th century), Colonial (16th century) and Republican (19th century). It has welcomed many famous visitors through the years including the father of modern geography Alexander van Humboldt and the illustrious English mountain climber Edward Whymper.

San Agustin de Callo consists:

• The Inca House which is the main house and has the dining room, living room, honor bar, 5 rooms and a lovely courtyard
• Callo Lodge with a suite, 2 bedrooms and living room
• Cotopaxi House with 2 suites

LIVING ROOM
The drawing room is charming with large windows that look upon the Cotopaxi and other volcanoes in the Andean mountain range. The main door leads out to the gardens. A cozy atmosphere and the warmth of the fireplace invite you to enjoy and relax in a family home surrounded by photographs that tell you of the past and present and introduce you to the owners.

INCA CHAPEL
laces can offer a more unique or spectacular setting for a wedding than the Inca Chapel with its 17th century ceiling and perfectly carved Inca volcanic stone walls - a monument to a long ago forgotten craftsmanship. The chapel sits up to eighteen people. Many more fit in the courtyard and corridors. One hundred and fifty people or more can be sat comfortably in the courtyard area. Many more people can be accommodated in the surrounding gardens. It is the ideal place for honeymoons and anniversaries or other special and romantic occasions.

DINING
San Agustin de Callo specializes in authentic high Andean dishes such as llapingachos (a type of potato cake), quinoa croquets, maize patties, tamales (steamed corn maize stuffed with seasoned chicken, egg, chillies, olives, wrapped in achira leaves). Soups such as quinoa, timbushca, barely rice soup and the hacienda's famous “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.

ACCOMMODATIONS  click here for more information
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.

ACTIVITIES - in their own words:
You can explore Cotopaxi National Park and maybe endeavour the hike up to the Refuge 15.744 ft (4800m.) above sea level and even bicycle down the side of the volcano from the car park. Or you can drive into the region of the Ilinizas Ecological Reserve to enjoy a walk or horse ride with a delicious picnic and beautiful views. Another wonderful drive will take you to the crater lake of Quilotoa passing through the artists' village of Tigua and the local market of Pujili, or Ilinizas Ecological Reserve, Bellavista and the paramo of Anteojos Lakes (within Llanganates Ecological Reserve), or a visit to Chimborazo National Park to see wild vicuñas in their natural habitat and trips to the nearby mountains. Other excursions can be arranged for you such as visits to rose plantations nearby. Other trips include Baños with it's subtropical climate wonderful waterfalls and treks and then drive down to the jungle to Puyo, or to Riobamba from where you take the train to the Devils Nose (one night sleep in Riobamba).

HORSEBACK RIDING
Suitable for inexperienced and experienced riders. The chance to visit Andean towns and villages using old Inca paths. One of the favourite horse rides takes you towards the Cotopaxi through a pine forest to plains just below the volcano with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. For special occasions, you might order an exquisite treat with canopy, table and table cloth, hors-d’oeuvres, champagne or wine and then a sweet nap somewhere in the magical Andes.

INDIAN MARKETS
Closer trips will take you to market places such as Saquisili (only Thursdays), Pujili (Wednesdays and Sundays) and Latacunga (Tuesdays and Saturdays), Zumbahua (Saturdays spectacular at dawn) and other surrounding local villages.

TREKKING
The hacienda is surrounded by páramo (highlands) and is ideal for walking. Guided walks can be arranged. The hacienda can arrange to take you by four wheel drive to a rather steep ascent in the southern side of Cotopaxi. Chance to see unusual páramo plants and Andean animals. Return via a deep gorge which leads you back to a village where transport will be waiting to take you back to the hacienda for a well deserved hot traditional drink of cinnamon water (“canelazo”) and a hot bath and dinner in the Inca dining room. A rose plantation can be visited, only a short walk away.

FISHING
Trout fishing in the streams inside the hacienda or at a beautiful privately owned paramo near Quilindana Mountain about two hour drive from San Agustin.

BIKING
A vehicle can take you up to the Cotopaxi refuge at 4800m. above sea level (15700 ft) where you can start an extraordinary downhill ride ending at the park's entrance, where you will be met and driven back to San Agustín for a well deserved hot Andean drink and steaming bath before dinner. Other paths can lead you to the nearby, volcanic Rock of the Virgin located in one of Cotopaxi's ancient lava flows and can also be visited on horseback. Nearby rose plantations can be visited by foot or by bycicle.