Hosteria Caballo Campana Welcomes Horse Lovers in Cuenca

Our final night in Ecuador brought us out to the country, it was a welcome relief from the crowded streets and noisy bustle of Cuenca. We took a taxi out to Hosteria Caballo Campana  about 15 minutes from the center of Cuenca and were soon patting some friendly horses and playing with some of the owner’s eight friendly dogs.

The managers here are a young couple who met in college in Argentina where they majored in hotel management. Priscila Saldana de Traversa and Fernando Traversa. This young couple is very fond of horses, here at the Hosteria there are 60 steeds, and there are plans to build another large arena on land they’re filling in at the edge of the property. We walked down to the arena where four youngsters were jumping wooden jumps, each time the bar being raised by their Argentinian instructor.

There are 18 guest rooms at the Hacienda, each decorated with paintings of horses, and each with its own cozy woodstove to keep the chill away. Guests can take horse rides in the country and do dressage in the arena. There is a big set up for weddings and a cozy restaurant called Barabon, featuring Ecuadorian food.

Fernando told us about how many of the guests come here who enjoy horses and riding. But it’s not only for equestrians, it’s a warm country inn with dogs running everywhere and plenty of cold beers in the fridge for the guests. This was once a private home, owned by Priscila’s grandfather. Today it’s in very good hands with these two young well-trained hoteliers.