Wilderness Basecamp

Hacienda Zuleta

Imbabura Province, Ecuador

Prices From: $215 per person

Dating from the late XVI century, Hacienda Zuleta lies in the spectacular Andean mountain range of Ecuador at 9,600 feet (2,800 meters) above the sea level, and only two hours north of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Zuleta is a colonial working farm of 4,000 acres (2,000 hectares) that has belonged to the family of Mr. Galo Plaza lasso, a former president of Ecuador, for more than 100 years. It was chosen as one of the world’s “Top Ten Finds” by Outside magazine.

The hacienda has 15 beautifully decorated bedrooms, all with their own fire place; Antique gardens along with cozy living and reading rooms offer a peaceful atmosphere. Delicious home cooking and regional cuisine is offered daily, prepared with organic vegetables, trout and dairy products produced on the Hacienda. With horseback riding being a main speciality, they also offer mountain bikes and a horse drawn carriage for trips out on the hacienda grounds.

Location

Region: South America

Address:
Imbabura Province
Ecuador

Amenities/Activities

All Meals All Meals

Day Tours Day Tours

Ecologically Responsible Ecologically Responsible

Hiking Trekking Hiking Trekking

Horses Horses

Wildlife Wildlife

Fishing Fishing

Culinary Classes Culinary Classes

Family Friendly Family Friendly

GBC Staffpick GBC Staffpick

General Information

The Accommodations

All of Hacienda Zuleta's guestrooms are located in the main building of the hacienda. As the structure of the original colonial building could not be drastically changed, every room has a different shape and charm. There are three different types of rooms, and six new suites will be added in the near future.

The Food

Guests will be impressed by the hacienda's sustainability and the exquisite cuisine of Ecuador. Virtually everything on your dinner table comes fresh from Zuleta's organic garden and rich earth, and is carefully prepared by hand. Fresh milk and cream from Zuleta's dairy cows are offered daily. Handmade Ecuadorian cheeses are produced from the farm's fresh milk and carefully crafted in the small factory near the guesthouse. Rainbow trout are caught moments before melting in your mouth.

The Farm

Zuleta includes 2,112 hectares of pasture land, forest and protected areas of native primary forest. The hacienda’s production consists mainly of milk; with approximately 300 Holstein-Friesian cows. It produces 6,000 liters of milk daily, which is used to produce fresh and aged cheeses in Zuleta’s cheese factory. Other products are potatoes, barley, wheat, trout, and approximately 2000 sheep for wool and meat and 900 tons of humus per year from the worm farm.

The Activities

Miles of meandering roads through lush pastureland, pine trees and eucalyptus forest make the valley of Zuleta a paradise for outdoor activities, such as hiking and trekking. The Hacienda has Zuleteño bred horses, mountain bikes and a horse drawn carriage upon which you can explore the area. At the Hacienda itself, guests can find out more information about the trails in the activity room, there are options for every interest and fitness level.