NATIONAL TOURISM GUIDE HISTORICAL HACIENDAS IN COTOPAXI PROVINCE DEGREE INVESTIGATION TO GET THE PROFESSIONAL TITLE OF NATIONAL TOURISM GUIDE BY PAOLA ISABEL FREIRE GARCIA QUITO – ECUADOR OCTOBER 2014 1 APPROVED BY: MR. CARLOS ANDRADE MR. EFRAIN LOPEZ PROFESSIONAL GUIDE TUTOR MR. CESAR CUACANGO MSC. MARIAMPARO MORENO ENGLISH TEACHER CAREER COORDINATOR 2 DEDICATORY I dedicate this work to my family, friends and especially to my aunt, who has always supporting me. 3 HISTORICAL HACIENDAS IN COTOPAXI PROVINCE SUMMARY Cotopaxi province due to its historical importance is known for its historical farms, agriculture and cattle industries. Cotopaxi is located in the central highlands, its capital is Latacunga. Important historical farms have been developed through the big extensions of land that this province has, in here we can find the oldest haciendas of the highlands. Cotopaxi province is divided in 7 counties: Latacunga Salcedo Sigchos La Mana Pujili Saquisili Pangua Limits: North: Pichincha South: Tungurahua and Bolivar East: Napo West: Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas & Los Rios Extension: 6.569 km2 Inhabitants: 409.2051 INTRODUCTION As a part of my investigation, I found out that this province is not much developed in relation to research in historical farms, so I select a bunch of natural and cultural attractions in order to make them recognizable to national and international tourists. JUSTIFICATION Tour operators are not taking in count the great opportunities that this province is given in terms of history & culture; also to the big advantage that has with distances to the capital of the country. 4 GENERAL OBJECTIVE National and international tourists should learn the importance of history and its intrinsic relation with humanity. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES To make tourist be a part of the history of our country. To ensure that history will remain to future generations. To maintain history & culture thought the historical farms. INVESTIGATION METHODOLOGY Field investigation: It was necessary to make several trips to these areas in order to contact and select the best attractions. Interviews: It was necessary to make interviews to the local people. Reading: Internet, books and touristic guides were useful in order to find information of the attractions. ATTRACTIONS OF THE AREA - Quito - Machachi - Avenue of the volcanoes - Cotopaxi National Park - San Agustin del Callo - La Cienega - Pujili - Isinche Grande, Niño de Isinche sanctuary - Saquisili - Cuicuno, Señor de Cuicuno sanctuary - Toacaso parrish - Sigchos 5 PROPOSED ITINERARIES: Itinerary one: Quito-Tilipulo-Pachusala-Rose farm-Saquisili-Quilotoa-Tigua-Quito This route offers interesting attractions but the long distances between each attractive is the main reason why it was not selected. Itinerary two: Quito-Tilipulo-Latacunga-Mulalo- Rose farm- El Porvenir-Quito This route does not accomplish the desires of the tourists. Itinerary three: Quito- San Agustin- Rose farm “Verdillano”- La Cienega- Pujili- Isinche Grande- “Niño de Isinche” sanctuary- La Victoria- Cuicuno- “El Señor del Arbol” sanctuary- Toacazo- Sigchos- San Jose de Sigchos- Churo de San Gabriel- Churo de Amanta- Quito Due to its importance, route #3 has the most important and interesting attractions to visit; here we combine all the necessary elements requested by the tourists. 6 ITINERARY THREE: Day one: 7: 30 Pick-up from the University (UCT). 7:30 to 9:30 Drive to San Agustin del Callo 9:30 to 10:00 Breakfast at San Agustin 10:00 to 11:10 Visit and explanation about the hacienda 11:10 to 11:30 Drive to La Cienega 11:30 to 12:40 Visit and explanation about the rose farm Verdillano and the hacienda 12:40 to 13:10 Drive to Pujili 13:10 to 13:40 Visit the town 13:40 to 14:00 Drive to Isinche 14:00 to 14:20 Visit the sanctuary 14:20 to 15:00 Box lunch 15:00 to 15:20 Drive to La Victoria 15:20 to 16:00 Visit to workshops at La Victoria 16:00 to 16:20 Drive to Cuicuno 16:20 to 16:40 Visit the sanctuary 16:40 to 18:00 Drive to Sigchos 18:00 to 18:10 Check in at San Jose de Sigchos 18:10 to 19:45 Time to enjoy the facilities. 19:45 to 21:00 Dinner and briefing for the next day. Day two: 7:30 Wake up call. 8:00 to 8:45 Breakfast in the hosteria 8:45 to 12:15 Drive and visit Amanta Churo; forest and San Gabriel Churo 12:15 to 13:45 Return to San Jose 13:45 to 14:00 Time to pack & check out 14:00 to 15:00 Lunch 15:15 Drive to Quito 18:15 Arrival to Quito. END OF SERVICES 7 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTRACTIONS: QUITO Quito, Ecuador´s capital is not only famous for its Historical Centre (World Cultural Heritage site, UNESCO 1978) or for being in the Middle of the World, but for its beautiful landscapes and gentle people. We begin our tour here. MACHACHI This town is famous for its agriculture and cattle industries. Each year they celebrate “Paseo del Chagra” that is a parade where the most important person of the town known as the chagra, a character that represents the Andean cowboy. AVENUE OF THE VOLCANOES Along the Pan-American highway (E35) we will encounter these magnificent Andes mountain range, known as the “Avenue of the Volcanoes”, name given by the German geographer, Alexander Von Humboldt, during his trip to South America in 1802. COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK It is located 60 kilometers away from Quito; no entry fee is charged to enter. It was created by supreme decree a-259 on August, 11th, 19751. With an extension of 32.255 hectares, settled in the provinces of: Pichincha, Napo & Cotopaxi. It goes from 500 m.a.s.l. to 5.897 m.a.s.l. (Cotopaxi volcano height) the weather varies from 0 to 22 ° C. Besides the Cotopaxi volcano, we can also find other mountains and volcanoes: Rumiñahui (4.722 m.a.s.l.), Morurco (4.849 m.a.s.l.) and Chiguilasin Chico (4.876 m.a.s.l.). Just northeast of the park boundary is Sincholagua (4.873 m.a.s.l.), which also can be summited. Several activities such as: climbing, trekking, horseback riding, mountain biking, camping can be developed here. Another significant attraction is the Limpiopungo lagoon. 1http://www.ambiente.gob.ec/parque-nacional-cotopaxi/ 8 FLORA The characteristic flora is represented by the sigse, chub deer, sisan, valerian hairy, mosses, lichens, achupallas, chuquirahuas, pumamaquis, romerillo, mortiño, pines and capuli. FAUNA Fauna species involve 17 mammals, including puma, white-tailed deer, weasel, an endemic marsupial mouse and wild horses; and almost 100 species of birds, including Andean gull, shrike-tyrants, brush finches and snipes.2 SAN AGUSTIN DEL CALLO This ancient hacienda is located at the foot of the Cotopaxi volcano, lies in the former Inca Palace built in the XV century, by Emperor Tupac Yupanqui, then is was converted to a monastery of the Augustine Order in the same century. In 1921 the Hacienda was purchased by General Leonidas Plaza Gutierrez, leader of the liberal Revolution. Plaza went on to become President of Ecuador in 1901 and again in 1912, a position which was to be held by his son Galo Plaza in 1948. The Hacienda has remained in the family to this day and is currently owned by the General´s granddaughter, Mignon Plaza, whose father, the distinguished congressman and legendary amateur bullfighter, Jose María Plaza, played a pivotal role in politics throughout his life.The location of the hacienda within the Avenue of the Volcanoes (term coined by Alexander von Humboldt) near Indian villages and local markets, added to the historical significance of the house with its architectural blend of unusual styles and its archaeological value 2 contribute to make San Agustin a unique place to visit . 2http://www. incahacienda.com/the-san-agustin-story/ 9 LA CIENEGA: The terrain on which the hacienda is located was bought by landowner Don Matheo de la Escalera y Velasco in 1695. The hacienda has played host to a number of important historical, social, political and scientific events on a national and international level. The wise French intellectual Carlos Maria de la Condamine arrived in Quito with Luis Godin y Pedro Bouger in 1736. Six years later, after two hundred years of inactivity, Volcano Cotopaxi erupted, provoking the scientists to move closer to the outskirts of the volcano. The hacienda’s first guest was Sir Alexander von Humboldt, who stayed there while carrying out a series of investigations in 1802. Family members such as Manuel Matheu y Herrera, Francisco Xavier and Jose Xavier de Ascazubi were Heroes of the Independence, a number of whose activities took place within the four walls of the hacienda. Antonio Jose de Sucre and several presidents of the republican period such as the first president of Ecuador, Juan Jose Flores, signed the important Treaty of La Cienega here in the hacienda. Gabriel Garcia Moreno, Leonidas Plaza Gutierrez and Jose Velasco Ibarra are historical figures of the country who have resided at the hacienda. Generation after generation, the hacienda has been inhabited by important personalities and great historical figures, leaving the residence glowing with an aura of grandeur. In memory of those important figures, we, the present-day owners, welcome you to La Cienega and promise you an unforgettable experience here in our hotel hacienda surrounded by natural beautiful scenery in the heart of the Andes3. ________________________ 3http://www.haciendalacienega.com/history/ 10 PUJILI It is located in the skirts of the Sinchaguasin hill, every year this town celebrates the Corpus Christi; which is the most important festivity of this county. ISINCHE It is one of the most visited sanctuaries of the province; it is located in the Ishinche Grande town, it belongs to the Leon-Ramirez family.