Hacienda Cusin

We couldn’t be happier that we discovered this magical and nearly perfect place. It’s all because of 1,000 Places to Go Before You Die. We would probably return to Ecuador just to stay here again. The gardens are lovingly tended. The staff builds you a fire during your well prepared and beautifully served dinner. Everywhere you look there’s a treat: a stem, a bird, an object d’art. We loved #25, and took a great tour of indigenous villages with Christian. Look no further. Plan your whole trip around this special place!

Staying at this charmingly restored hacienda for 3 nights was part of a specially curated tour of Ecuador and it surpassed all expectations. We absolutely loved the manner in which this hacienda has been lovingly presented in the way the rooms are decorated with vintage pieces of sculpture, brassware and paintings and this trend was evident throughout the hacienda. The staff were truly a wonderful team of Ecuadorians who couldn’t do enough for its guests. We met Julio who was always smiling whenever we came across him and he would start the fire going in our room each evening which made it a cosy return to after dinner. The front desk staff were exemplary in the level of service they provided. When we needed medical assistance, Melissa efficiently and promptly rang their local doctor and arranged for him to come to the hacienda the following morning. In the interim, she organised for a staff member to attend a local pharmacy to obtain hydration supplies. Daniela at the front desk happily assisted us in making an international call when the need suddenly arose. Dinner at the restaurant was a gastronomic delight as the set menu was changed daily, with the meals being of a high standard and ably served by Enrique.

The staff at Hacienda Cusin will make sure that your trip to the Andean highlands is magical. Before we arrived, we were in contact with Daniela, Melisa and Valeria who responded quickly to any questions or requests. Cusin has lots of options for day trips in the surrounding towns. They organized a dream trip to the hot springs of Chachimbiro with a great guide named Christian who took us to an hacienda owned by Camilo Andrade-a respected Ecuadoran artist- for lunch and a tour of his paintings, sculptures and architecture. They organized a beautiful horseback journey with a wonderful guide, Ulbaldo, who has worked with the horses there for 30 years.He took us through Eucalyptus groves and jaw-dropping mountain views. Every morning we were greeted with fresh cut flowers, tropical fruit, eggs any way and homemade pastries. Hector, Ramiro, Javier, Enrique and Pamela always made eating at Cusin a five star experience. You can choose Lunch and dinner on their fixed menu (that includes three courses) or eat from an extensive selection of other choices. We chose the fixed menu each day with vegetarian options because the three course meals are as beautiful as they are delicious. Most of the meals comes from their organic garden so I never got sick eating their fresh fruits or vegetables. There is plenty to do at Cusin with children and adults. We played ping pong, chess and fuss ball. The gardens are extraordinary and the gardeners love telling you about what they are growing. I set up a scavenger hunt in gardens of the monastery and the gardeners had so much fun setting it up with me, My teenage daughter and her cousins thoroughly enjoyed finding the secret door there. After a wonderful day of hiking and visiting rural villages, we would come back to our room where a fire had been started in the fireplace and hot water bottles had been put beneath the sheets. I even came in one evening when dozens of white roses decorated our Duenita Suite. We stayed at Cusin in 2003 and now wondered why we took so long to come back. We can’t wait to return. This place offers so much for the price you pay which is much lower than most 5 star hotels. Thank you Cusin for all you did to make our trip to Ecuador so magical and meaningful,