This morning, learn the ways of the Chagras, the Ecuadorean cowboys of the highlands. Saddle up and ride to the foothills of Rumiñahui Volcano, passing through open páramo alongside herds of wild horses and bulls. Along the way, local guides share knowledge about the region’s birds, wildlife, and medicinal plants. Return to the farmhouse for a lunch of traditional Ecuadorian dishes.
In the afternoon, take part in the Cooking in the Clouds class, where you will learn to prepare dishes you may have sampled along your travels so far. Start by learning to prepare cheese empanadas, followed by the traditional process of making aji, a chili sauce essential to Ecuadorian cuisine. At Hacienda El Porvenir, this sauce is made using a stone mortar and seasoned with herbs and spices. Finish the class by preparing canelazo, a hot spiced drink commonly served during highland celebrations. Afterward, enjoy the dishes by the fireplace. Save a bit of room in your appetite, dinner and another night at the hacienda follow the cooking class.
Click
here to watch a YouTube video about Hacienda El Porvenir and the Tierra del Volcan's area near Cotopaxi.
