On this tour we will learn more about the history and production of the Miske, a native spirit drink from Ecuador, which at the moment is already recognized as a national appellation of origin and is obtained by the fermentation of the juice extracted from the inside of the pineapple of the agave.

The wild agave is abundant in the highlands and especially in the Middle of the World, among the best-known varieties are the American agave, and the blue agave, which are the basis of an ancestral drink known as chawarmiski, which in Quichua language means penco sap and refers to the juice that offers the pineapple of the agave subjected to fermentation.

The characteristics of the agave are unique as it is planted on the equatorial line which benefits the production of a greater amount of sugars in the plant, this translates into a unique spirit drink in the world.

The characteristics of the agave plant are unique because it is cultivated on the equatorial line which benefits the production of greater amount of sugars, resulting in a distinct spirit drink in the world.

The Hacienda Guáchala is one of Ecuador’s oldest haciendas and located close to Cayambe. Its  construction dates back to 1580 and its interior keeps secrets and history. This place has hosted illustrious personalities and was also the presidential house during the period of Gabriel Garcia Moreno.

We will taste the delicious Bizcocho de Cayambe, the first Guaranteed Traditional Specialty of Ecuador and America, which is a culinary specialty that has been made since 1928, accompanied by leaf cheese and milk caramel. After more than 90 years, the tradition is maintained in this valley sheltered by the majestic snowy Cayambe that gave origin to the name of this gastronomically recognized canton in Ecuador.

Itinerary:

• 8.00 am: Departure by private bus service from the JW Marriott Hotel to Casa Agave in San Antonio de Pichincha, a town one kilometer from the Mitad del Mundo monument.
• 9.15 am: Arrival at Casa Agave, tour.
• 10.30 am: Departure to the Cayambe area by the road that crosses the road to Guayllabamba.
• 11.30 am: Arrival to Yaznan Park which will be our meeting point to start the tour, where we will go to Juan Montalvo to visit the agave nursery. We continue to La Josefina for an observation visit to this Andean agave producing area where the communities work the crops, ending at the Balcón 2 Hemisferios with a tasting.
• 1.15 pm: Departure to Hacienda Guachalá, where we will have the narrative of the history and visit to the Hacienda with lunch and tasting of Cayambe biscuits, leaf cheese, manjar de leche and chocolate.
• Lunch: starter + main course + dessert + 2 non-alcoholic drinks + coffee/chocolate
• 4:00 pm: Departure to Quito, arriving at approximately 17.15hs to the Hotel.

Price per person: USD 165