Tortillas & Traditions at a Centuries-Old Water Mill
About this experience
Flor (80) is a big character with a warm heart and cheeky sense of humour. Her family have been making traditional tortillas and 'machica' (barley drink) for generations: from harvesting seed, grinding it at the family water mill and cooking with it on an open fire.
Join her and get a window into her world. You'll live like a local roasting and transporting the grains to the mill, where you'll mill them into flour by giant stones. Returning with the flour, you'll warm up with a barley drink - maybe even making a capucchino version by milking her cow! - before helping cook a traditional Ecuadorian meal.
Spend the night in her home, before waking up the next morning to help Flor prepare tortillas and coffee for breakfast by the fireside, while sharing stories and experiences about life.
This experience is for anyone looking to learn about local traditions, get an authentic experience of rural Ecuadorian life and make a small contribution to a low-income family in exchange for a warm and welcoming stay.
How Are You Helping
Flor has 9 children, but they have all migrated away in search of economic opportunities. Due to her age and without an income, she may have to leave her way of life behind to move to the city.
By participating in this activity, you'll be helping enable her to remain in her home and enjoy her way of life - one day it might mean one of her children are able to return to their family home full-time.
What to bring
Warm Clothes
It get's a bit chilly at night!
Walking Shoes
Most of the walking is on gravel or tarmac, but it can be slippery
What's included
Accommodation
Overnight stay with Flor in the family home
Food
Dinner, breakfast and all ingredients for the activities
Flor's Time
Possibly the most valuable of all!
Our Support
We'll arrange all the coordination and be there if you have any issues
Your itinerary
Arrival
Arrive at El Terreno and we'll escort you to meet Flor / the family
Toasting and Milling Flour at the Old Mill
Learn from the family about how wheat and barley is processed after harvest to make flour using traditional artesanal methods
Making Machica and Milking Cows
Make this typical drink with help from Flor and her trusty cow!
Traditional Cooking Workshop
Help prepare a local dish in Flor's home and enjoy around the dinner table
Family Homestay
Stay in one of their private rooms with WiFi and spectacular views of Chimborazo!
Breakfast Tortillas
Wake up early to build a fire and cook the local tortillas famous around Ecuador