One and a quarter hours from Quito, capital of Ecuador, stands the beautiful and little-known colonial Hacienda of San Agustín de Callo. Built on the site of an Inca palace, one of the two most important archaeological Inca sites in Ecuador.
Accommodation, Restaurant, Romantic Getaway
77 km. south of Quito on the Panamerican Highway. 5km. off the highway and close to the entrance to Cotopaxi National Park
San Agustin de Callo has served as an Inca fortress and Augustinian monastery. The varied and influential inhabitants of San Agustín de Callo have contributed to the unique blend of architecture, which creates the individual character of the house. In the main courtyard, it is possible to see three distinct styles, Inca (Imperial style 15th century, construction style which the Incas used for their temples and palaces), Spanish Colonial (18th century) and Republican (19th century).
By far the most impressive sights are the perfectly carved volcanic stone walls of two of the Inca rooms which have survived the centuries and now serve as chapel and dining room. Surrounded by the smoke/blackened Inca walls of the dining room, one can marvel at the infinite precision of the stonemasonry, a monument to the unrivaled craftsmanship of the Incas, and admire the stunning view of Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world