Sunday, April 8, 2012

Our Trip to Cotacachi -- Part 3 of 3

HACIENDA SAN ISIDRO

On Sunday Mike and I, along with our friends Jim & Rachel, went up to Hacienda San Isidro for the brunch they host on Sundays.  The hacienda is located on the side of the Cotacachi volcano and is about a 30 minute drive from Cotacachi, along trails that are best maneuvered on horseback!  We arrived by cab around 10:30am and forgot that they don't start serving brunch until 1:00pm.  This gave us a lot of time to wander around the premises taking pictures and listening to Andres tell us about the history of the 300-year-old hacienda, and their horse ranch.


Receiving a warm welcome











They made a special breakfast for us which they served at 11:30am. 




Our table with a view
(Standing L to R) Graciela, her son Andres, Jim, Rachel
(Seated) Me, Mike














After our breakfast, Roscindo (the patriarch of the family) loaded us up in his pick-up truck and took us on a tour of the hacienda, all the way up to the top of their property.

On a short hike in the forest


Looking out over Cotacachi . . .

. . . and Otavalo




The ranch down below






























So peaceful













Jim, the horse whisperer.
(He's actually quite a horseman himself.)













Curiosity getting the best of the llamas and alpacas













What a wonderful time we had with the Jara family, and Jim and Rachel want to come back and take a horseback ride with Andres from the Hacienda to Lake Cuicocha, about a two hour ride round trip.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Our Trip to Cotacachi -- Part 2 of 3

CUICOCHA LAGOON

We decided to do some sightseeing while we were recently in Cotacachi.  On one of our days, we went to Cuicocha Lagoon with our friends Jim & Rachel who moved from Cuenca to Cotacachi last fall.  We took the boat ride on the lagoon which is in the crater of an active volcano.  It is only 7 miles away from Cotacachi on the hillside of the volcano “Mama Cotacachi”.  Cuicocha is a young volcano that started its activity 4,500 years ago. 

The lagoon is within a volcanic caldera, which is why there is not much aquatic life.  This caldera lake has clear turquoise waters, which change hue according to the wind direction and angle of the sun.  For more information, visit their website at:  www.cuicocha.org.






cabanas1

cabanas2

cabana3
CABINS ON THE EDGE OF THE LAGOON

You will be able to rest in the cozy cabins in the tranquility of nature. There are cabins for double, triple and family on the edge of the lagoon with a total capacity of up to 30 people.  All cabins have private bathrooms and hot water.


CABINS PERSONS PRICE
Single 1 USD 40
Doble 2 USD 70
Triple 3 USD 105
Niños 1 USD 20

Prices include continental breakfast (juice, coffee, water, bread, butter and jam) and dinner (soup of the day, chicken or grilled trout with vegetables and potato salad).  
 Here are photos of our trip to Cuicocha Lagoon:

You can see the boat in the distance, upper right.


Restaurant and Lodge

Putting on life vests and boarding the boat

Exhilarating
Ducks swimming in the water
Coming back to dock
Enjoying a hot drink upstairs, after the boat ride
Mike and Jim (two handsome guys!)

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Our Trip to Cotacachi -- Part 1 of 3


Established over half a century ago, Relais & Châteaux is an association of the world’s finest hoteliers, chefs and restauranteurs that has set the standard for excellence in hospitality. Relais & Châteaux has redefined luxury hospitality by emphasizing holistic experiences that transport its guests, taking them on a sensual journey and introducing them to a deeper, truer understanding of the Art of Living.  (www.relaischateaux.com)

So, why am I telling you this?  Well, there just so happens to be a  Relais & Châteaux resort property in Cotacachi called La Mirage.  As you can imagine, it is a beautiful five-star resort with lush grounds, lavish guest suites, delicious dining, along with a wonderful spa experience.  

LA MIRAGE GARDEN HOTEL & SPA
Perched on an Andean hillside in the town of Cotacachi, La Mirage is a contemporary resort built on the grounds of a 200 year old Hacienda in 1985.  Fragrant hummingbird-filled gardens, 23 large exquisitely furnished rooms and suites, impeccable service, and gourmet food compromise the package that is the La Mirage experience. It is the details of this resort that secure its position in the esteemed Relais & Châteaux Association, which stand for the 5 C’s: Calm, Charm, Character, Courtesy and Cuisine. To find out more about this resort, you can go to their website at:  www.mirage.com.ec.


Accommodations
Thanks to a bit of architectural wizardry, and lavish landscaping, each of the 23 unique rooms and suites is laid out so that you gaze at the gardens instead of at the room next door.  One unit may be L-shaped with crimson walls, while another will be decked out with a king-sized canopy bed and golden accents.  The furnishings are an eclectic blend of local and European pieces of art, and all rooms have a separate sitting area, and a fireplace. 


Daisy Room






Dahlia Room










Glass Pavilion Dining Room
Dining 
You can have your breakfast and lunch in the glass pavilion room on the lawn while watching peacocks strolling nearby and hummingbirds flying by.  








The select four-course a la carte gourmet dinner  (included in the price of your stay) is served in the main dining room.


Main Dining Room

Our lunch started with an hors d'oeuvre . . .

. . . served in this music box



View from our table

The king and his harem (taken from inside at our table)



More pictures of the grounds:











Spa
La Mirage Spa offers a  large range of  different types of massages and treatments, including Reflexology and Aromatherapy.  The Purification Room at La Mirage is oriented towards the established indigenous healing practice for Body, Soul and Spirit.



Couples Massage

Chocolate Massage

Lavender Massage

Cleopatra Room

Hot Stone Massage

Relaxation / Purification Room (after your massage)

Surrounding Area
  • Condor Park
  • Weaving & Handicrafts
  • Horseback Riding
  • Hiking around the Cuicocha Crater Lake
  • Museum of the Cotacachi culture
  • San Pablo Lake
On our visit to Cotacachi, we just had lunch at La Mirage.  But we plan on coming back so we can stay a few days at this beautiful resort.









We did, however, visit Lake Cuicocha, which will be part two of this blog; and part three will be our visit to Hacienda San Isidro, overlooking Cotacachi.