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My-Quito.com : Haciendas of Ecuador
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- Ecuador Haciendas:
- For the ultimate in comfort
and luxury, the great historic haciendas of Ecuador take some
beating. In many cases they are still operating as working farms,
and they generally offer an extremely high level of exclusivity
and service, coupled with very well appointed accommodation.
 
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- Most of them are off the beaten
track in the Andean Highlands, so you should make arrangements
in advance, rather than just expect to turn up. Many date back
to the days of the conquistadors, when large areas of the country
were given to a few important families by the King of Spain.
Before land reform in the 1960s. many peasant farmers were effectively
tied to haciendas, having to give service to the owner in exchange
for use of a smallholding or 'minifundio'.
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- Almost all of them will offer
excellent horseriding facilities, along with other rural activities.
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- South of Quito: Cotopaxi & Sangolqui
- Hacienda
la Carriona -historic
hacienda located near Sangolqui in the beautiful Valley of Los
Chillos, a brief drive south down the highway from Quito and
minutes away from the protected forest of the Pasochoa.
It offers easy access to the Cotopaxi National Park and
the southern part of the country.
- Hacienda Chillo Jijón -very exclusive and elegant colonial
hacienda set in 28 acres of private gardens and woodland in the
Chillos valley near Quito. British readers will recognise one
of the names in the guest book.
- Hacienda La Alegria -this family run organic farm is situated one
hour south of Quito on the lower slopes of Volcan Corazon. The
hacienda is home to a very good riding school and its grounds
and gardens offer a variety of well grown native trees including
cedar, wax palm and podocarpus. The railway to Cotopaxi passes
the back of the garden.
- Hacienda La Cienega -located in Latacunga, close to Volcano Cotopaxi,
this elegant hacienda is is approached by an avenue of Eucalyptus
trees and comes complete with its own chapel, which can be used
for marriages.
- Hacienda San Augustin de Callo -an Inca hacienda with magnificent views
at the foot of Cotopaxi. The buildings are in the form of a Spanish
courtyard built around the Inca rooms, and is one of the major
archaeological sites in Ecuador.
- North
of Quito: Mitad del Mundo, Cayambe, Imbabura and Otavalo
- Hacienda Cusin
-very popular with visitors, the hacienda is located a short
way outside Otavalo near San Pablo del Lago. We found the decor
a bit heavy and it is perhaps a little too well known now.
- Hacienda
Guachalá -located
near Cayambe , around one hour due north from Quito. With parts
dating back to 1580, it is claimed to be the oldest hacienda
in Ecuador, with horseriding and mountain biking nearby.
- Hacienda Pinsaqui -historical hacienda at the base of imbabura,
a few miles from the Indian market town of Otavalo, providing
luxury suites and fine restaurant. The hacienda, was first built
in 1790 and has belonged to the same family since 1888. It was
the location for the signing of the Treaty between Ecuador and
Columbia. Today the Hacienda offers relaxed dining, strolls through
the gardens and mountain biking. You can also find details of
the slightly cheaper Hacienda
San Fransisco in a more rural setting near Chachimbiro,
famous for its volcanic thermal baths.
- Hacienda Primavera -a wilderness ecolodge set in the El Choco rainforest
reserve, one and a half hours Northwest of Otavalo. The same
family has owned the hacienda for over 90 years, and offer a
variety of activities -horseriding, rafting, wildlife study as
well as the opprtunity to ride the Autoferril through the estate.
The ranch is is at an elevation of 1,200 m in part primary and
secondary jungle with stables full of horses, cattle, llamas,
donkeys, goats, and pigs.
- Hacienda San Pedro -a working farm, produces crops and dairy products,
while offering lodging to a select handful of guests in comfortable
double rooms in the hacienda mansion. The hacienda is set at
10,000 feet up on the road to Selva Alegre.
- Hacienda
Zuleta -historic
working farm and ranch house 110 km north of Quito. Originally
built by the Jesuits in the 17th century, Zuleta is famous for
its horses and has one of the most exclusive stables in Ecuador.
With a limited number of rooms available, it offers a high level
of privacy and personal attention.
- Baños + Ambato
- Hacienda Leito
-small spa hostel in the Parque Llanganates, a few km off the
road between Patate and Baños, and within sight of the
Volcano Tungurahua.
- Hacienda Manteles -beautiful hacienda located near Patate in 100
hectares of cloud forest 30 mins from Baños.
- Riobamba
Hacienda
Abraspungo -modern
The hotel offers 44 comfortable on suite single, double and triple
rooms plus suites, all with baths and showers.
 
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- Las Palmeras:
- In 2005 we stayed at Las Palmeras Inn,
a few miles outside of Otavalo. It is not exactly a true hacienda,
as the accommodation comprises a careful development of an old
guinea pig farm, but nonetheless it gives an extremely high standard
of accommodation, and is considerably cheaper than its partner
Hacienda Cusin. We rented the Casa Olana garden cottage, which
is illustrated opposite.
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