From the moment you enter the gates of this 400 year old hacienda you will know you have arrived at a very special place. The pathways, garden borders, and carefully planned vistas combine to make this a truly magical setting. If you have visited great gardens such as Sissinghurst or Great Dixter you will feel at home here .If you haven’t , save the airfare and come here. To walk in the gardens with the sun shining and the sound of birds singing is something that you must experience. We stayed in the former dining room of the original house. The room had 20 foot ceilings with ornate plaster moldings, an enormous and very comfortable bed, French doors leading to a patio with fountains, and a couch and sitting area. Next door was a public sitting room with coffee and tea available, a library with a wide range of reading material and the most incredible view of a 200 year old cedar surrounded by paths and gardens. It was like having your own hacienda. The gardens, beautiful buildings, artwork, music and attention to detail, all make for the perfect setting. Drinks are served in the drawing room just outside the dining room which is furnished with period furniture including a large tapestry on the wall. Fireplaces are everywhere and sitting by the fire with a glass of wine before dinner is just perfect. The food was the best we had...From the moment you enter the gates of this 400 year old hacienda you will know you have arrived at a very special place. The pathways, garden borders, and carefully planned vistas combine to make this a truly magical setting. If you have visited great gardens such as Sissinghurst or Great Dixter you will feel at home here .If you haven’t , save the airfare and come here. To walk in the gardens with the sun shining and the sound of birds singing is something that you must experience. We stayed in the former dining room of the original house. The room had 20 foot ceilings with ornate plaster moldings, an enormous and very comfortable bed, French doors leading to a patio with fountains, and a couch and sitting area. Next door was a public sitting room with coffee and tea available, a library with a wide range of reading material and the most incredible view of a 200 year old cedar surrounded by paths and gardens. It was like having your own hacienda. The gardens, beautiful buildings, artwork, music and attention to detail, all make for the perfect setting. Drinks are served in the drawing room just outside the dining room which is furnished with period furniture including a large tapestry on the wall. Fireplaces are everywhere and sitting by the fire with a glass of wine before dinner is just perfect. The food was the best we had in Ecuador, fresh from the garden and perfectly seasoned by a capable chef. I read a review complaining about the amount of food at breakfast. I cannot imagine what they are talking about, as you get 2 courses, one a very large bowl of fresh fruit and muesli or cereal and the other eggs and bacon or ham or pancakes. This is served with fresh rolls and homemade jam. But as beautiful as the Hacienda Cusin is, what makes the place exceptional are the people. Their warmth and hospitality is not something that can be taught in hotel management school. From Daniela at the front desk who is so helpful and always smiling, to our waiter and waitress, who served us with great care, to our driver who warned us to be careful with our bags and made sure we got on the correct bus, we were well taken care of. If you are lucky the owner, Nick, may be there. He is an amazing host, great conversationalist and his love of Ecuador and his hacienda is evident. This is old world graciousness at its best, and we felt very fortunate to have found it. I recommend staying at least 3 nights to get the full enjoyment of this setting. We stayed 2 and did not get to do all we would want. There are lovely walks nearby, horseback riding from their own stables, and visits to nearby towns and lakes. There are rabbits, dogs and llamas at the stable and though the stablemaster spoke limited English and we speak no Spanish he was very happy to tell us that the baby llama was just 3 weeks old. Staying here is a privilege and one that you should not pass up. The hard part is leaving.More
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