La Cienega historic estate
Hosteria La Cienega is one of Ecuador's oldest colonial haciendas, over 400 years old. Situated near the slopes of majestic Cotopaxi volcano and its National Park, this mansion has been the scene of important events in the scientific and social history of the country.
Among the important celebrities that have resided at La Cienega are Charles Marie de la Condamine, a French scientist who participated in the Geodesic Mission (1736-44) that determined the true shape of the earth and laid the path towards the development of a universal system of measure - the meter; and Alexander Von Humbolt, German naturalist who studied Cotopaxi's volcanic activity (1802) as well as its unique alpine flora.
Today, tastefully converted into a luxury boutique hotel in 1982, La Cienega offers the visitor the unique experience of staying within its two-meter thick volcanic stone walls which stand as silent witnesses to the history of a people and the poetry of an era. Surrounded by the breath-taking natural beauty of the landscape and rich folklore of Ecuador's indigenous people. La Cienega is an unforgettable souvenir of your visit to the Andes.
The hostería is 74 km (45 miles) south of Quito just outside the town of Lasso. A bumpy lane lined with stately century-old eucalyptus trees leads you to the inn. The country mansion, is the only one that has been preserved in its original state, was built in 1580 in a site that is unique in Ecuador and probably also in Latin America. It has been classified by the Central Bank of Ecuador as a historical monument.