Ecuador and the Galapagos – Day 1 can be found here.
Is there anything as wonderful as that initial shower when you first get in from a long journey? How does one improve upon the feel of hot, soapy water as it rinses clear the collective grime of three airports, two car rides, and an unexpected police stop?
I’m not sure, but a warm bed amidst the cool Ecuadorian highlands is a great way to follow it up.
We all slept relatively well that night – most of us managed to cobble together 8 hours between what we got on the plane and after our late-night arrival. We set alarms for 9 am but were up before they could go off, then wandered over to the restaurant for breakfast.
Our Gran Suite looks even better in daylight
Jimenita has a range of options, but we decided to go with the Western standard – eggs, bacon, toast, waffles with strawberry jam, fruit plate, yoghurt, coffees and hot chocolates. All very well done, and included in our rate.
The coffee bar, replete with youghurt, juice, toast, jam, and other sundries.
After that we went to reception for a basket of carrots and a tour – which ended with a visit with the llamas, Oreo and Tango, who are the resident carrot connoisseurs.
There are also some hiking trails on the property, so we went to check those out as well – and were blown away by the beauty of the Ecuadorian scenery.
The flowers are particularly striking, as are the many, many birds that call this place home. Hacienda Jimenita is apparently owned by a birding tour company so it makes sense they would prioritize local wildlife.
The weather was lovely and cool – just right for jeans and a T-shirt – and there were very few bugs. It was a nice change from some of our too-hot-and-muggy tropical vacations.
We briefly stopped back at our Gran Suite to check how everyone’s doing with the altitude. One of the reasons we came to Ecuador was as something of a “training” trip before we tackle higher-altitude destinations like Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu. With all of us in the 90 – 95 range we’re definitely feeling the effects, but we should be close to normal within the next few days. (Kids should be at close to 100, whereas older adults tend to be closer to 95 – 98.)
We also discovered that our Suite was without power, which seemed to blip on and off on occasion. Nothing that interfered with our enjoyment of the property, however. The only other minor point that some guests raised was the airport’s flight path that extends overtop of the resort. On the other hand, that also means that it’s close to said airport, making it an ideal jumping off point for other adventures.
In any case, we were off to check out the Hacienda’s swimming pool – which was very pleasant, but a bit too cold for a lengthy swim. Still, nice to sit beside while you read a book or enjoy a beverage.
Back to our suite to change, and then we were off for lunch – pizza for myself and my son, pasta for my daughter and an avocado sandwich for my wife. All very delicious.
Back to our suite for a nap, and then once more back to the lobby / restaurant for a few games of pool.
We then went to reception to explore the local pre-Incan archaeological site – a 200 metre long underground cavern that was believed to be used as a kind of shelter / supply cache as long as 500 years ago. It might have also served a spiritual purpose.
The workers at Jimenita only found the tunnel 20 years ago, when they were working on the trails that criss-cross the property – a pair of dogs got lost, and the workers found the entrance to the tunnel while searching for them.
The cavern itself follows the shape of the big dipper, and has clay pots placed at points that line up with the stars.
There’s an air and light hole strategically placed midway through the tunnel.
The tunnel goes through different layers of soil, which are evident from the changing colour of the walls.
There’s also a collection of artifacts from the site, which are stored in the main building.
Those who explore the site later in the evening (after 4 pm) use lanterns, which really adds to the effect.
The tunnels deposited us down on the hiking trails, where the guide pointed out a similar tunnel-like structure on the opposite hill. Due to the amount of work involved and its remoteness, that area has not yet been explored to see if it contains a similar tunnel.
We were in the process of learning about the indigenous aqueduct system that continues to channel water through these hills when the rope on one of the bridges snapped, and our guide was unceremoniously deposited in said aqueduct.
No one was hurt, but it did help to reinforce our lesson to our children – be careful how far you trust the safety barriers when you travel.
Back to the main building for another round of pool, then off to the restaurant for a delicious dinner of prawns, steak, and burgers:
Joined also by a passionfruit margarita and a chuchuguazo sour, derived from the chuchuguazo plant which is supposed to have medicinal properties:
Followed by chocolate ice cream.
We then went back to our hacienda with a bottle of wine. It was a lovely recovery day – an ideal blend of relaxation and activity.
We can only hope that’s enough of a break for the kids, as tomorrow we head deep into the Amazon rainforest via plane, motorized canoe, and a final hike to reach to La Selva. (Currently La Selva is available as a pre and post-cruise option for Silversea, though we elected to make our own arrangements.)
We are hoping to be able to post while in the Amazon, but may have to take a few days break due to limited Internet connectivity. We’ll do our best to catch up upon our return to Quito in four days’ time.
Continue reading Ecuador and the Galapagos – Day 3.