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History of San Jorge

San Jorge de Tandayapa ecuador Hummingbird Sanctuary bird watching


3500 B.C. Quito City was founded in the Cotocallao area. A new commerce trail was built crossing the Nono Alto Plateau, which facilitated trade between the Yumbos, Cocaniguas Xachila in the Coastal Interior and the Cotocallao Tribe. There are strong evidences of this trail in San Jorge Ecolodge in Quito.

500 B.C. The Chaupicruz culture in the Eastern Pichincha foothills begins using the trail as same as Cotocollao and Yumbos Culture for trading Coastal Interior products like salt, peanuts , yucca obsidian, cotton, fishes, spondilus conchs, ceramics , papayas, pineapples, tobacco, potatoes, corn, mellocos, mashuas, ocas, medicinal plants, gold.

1450 A.D. (approx.) Huayna Capac, the Incan Emperor, began to conquer the Yumbos, using this old trade trails. The Incans continued to build forts called Pucaraes around the trail. The Chasquis runners began sending messages by these Pre-Incan trails as well.

1534 Ruminahui, our national Incan hero, burns and destroys Quito city and escapes before the Spanish Conquistadors arrive. He carried with him the Incan Emperor´s sons and a group of virgins and crossed San Jorge plateau down to Tulipe by the ancient trail.

1535 Ruy Diaz, a Spanish soldier, was sent to capture Ruminahui (Stone Face). Stone Face was never captured and is still the symbol of resistance and strength for Ecuador. Diaz returned to Quito with only the virgins and the Emperor's sons.

1537 Francisco Pizarro rewards the Spanish soldier Juan Lobato de Sosa for his services in the Peru Empire Conquest. Lobato de Sosa was given all the land of the Cotocollaos and of the Yumbos, which consisted of all the Nono Alto Plateau and the Coast Interiors. Was the first owner of San Jorge.

1730 Pedro Vincente Maldonado, Ecuadorian scientist, helped Jean Marie Condamine organize an expedition to measure the Middle of the World by using the Pre-Incan trails of the Nono Alto Plateau. (San Jorge area)

1735 Active trading activities began around the plateau. Quitenian products were sent to Panama, by the carretero de Malbuche , created by Pedro Vicente Maldonado.

1790 Hacienda el Condado was a Jesuit retreat. One of the several haciendas that this powerful religious catholic order owned.

1868 The big hacienda named El Condado, owned by Maria Calisto y Arteta was divided in two, the lower area continued named El Condado and the upper part was called hacienda Singuna, (San Jorge Botanical Reserve-Quito)

1890-1940 Sugar cane and liquor smugglers used these routes to evade paying liquor taxes. Andean cowboys (Chagras) and Andes agriculture men also use the trails to move cattle around the country.

1905 The Ecuadorian president and best ecuadorian of all the times, General Eloy Alfaro, and his family, commanded by his cousin and political partner Flavio Alfaro, purchase Singuna Farm (now known as San Jorge Eco-lodge).

1970 Jorge Cruz Sr and Gabriel Barahona, two brothers in law , bought the big hacienda Singuna to the Christian priests and develop an agricultural and meat cattle farm.

1989 Dr. George Cruz and his wife Irina develop Hosteria San Jorge Botanical Reserve to show the world this great historical area and develops the Botanical, archeological and historical Researches.

2001 A new international office is opened in the United States, managed by Cheryl Korowotny, Director of Marketing & Sales for San Jorge exclusively.

2005 San Jorge de Milpe Bird and Orchid Lodge , San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Sanctuary, San Jorge de Cosanga-Yanayacu Wildlife Reserve are purchased and built as expansion of San Jorge Botanical Reserve Quito and initiate The Magic Birding and Hiking Circuit. The first eco -private circuit created in Latin America..

2007 San Jorge invests in two hotel infrastructures in San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Sanctuary and San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve, now creating 3 beautiful Eco-Lodges specialized for ornithologists and nature lovers.

2011 San Jorge Eco-Lodges wins 1st  International Award for Excellence in Service - TOURIST HOTEL.  Diploma awarded by the largest survey in the industry worldwide, TRIP ADVISOR.
   San Jorge buys more land in Tandayapa and Milpe for conservation and reforestation. Hotel construction starts at San Jorge de Cosanga Wildlife Reserve (East Andes Slope).
   San Jorge designs the 1st open topped Safari Birding Vehicle in Ecuador, to be used on The Magic Birding Circuit Tours.

2012 Jorge Cruz Jr. returns to his loved Ecuador after obtaining a degree in Business Management and Environmental Studies at Lesley University, Cambridge MA. He represents the future Ecuadorian managers and entrepreneurs ready to create work and wealth in this paradise named Ecuador.

The brand New Deluxe Rustic Lodge at Milpe Bird Sanctuary Reserve is done! One of the most beautiful bird lodges in the country.

A complete archeological site and ceramics done by the Yumbos Tribe (1500 B.C - 1500 A.C.) are discovered in MIlpe Reserve along with 12 sacred waterfalls and several handmade hills located near the old main road that leads to the coast.

 

Cheryl Korowotny
International Director
The Magic Birding & Photography  Circuit
SAN JORGE ECO-LODGES & BOTANICAL RESERVES
Quito – Tandayapa – Milpe - Cosanga - Estero Hondo-Sumaco Bajo-Guacamayos
Ecuador – South America
Email: birdwatching@eco-lodgesanjorge.com
(877) 565-2596 Toll Free USA & Canada.

Magic Birding & Photography Circuit Map


San Jorge has been awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for the past 11 consecutive years!