This historic Hacienda from the 17th century is known throughout the country for its own horse breeding and is located a good 100 km north of Quito at an altitude of around 3,000 m. Embedded in a valley surrounded by fertile green mountain landscape, the Hacienda is in a picturesque location. The estate has been in existence for several centuries and has developed well under the descendants of the former president Galo Plaza. It produces milk, cheese, potatoes, wheat, vegetables, quinoa, barley, herds a large number of horses, dairy cows and sheep and is therefore completely self-sufficient.
The company is particularly proud of its own horse breeding, which is based on Spanish Andalusians, Quarter Horses and thoroughbreds.
The rooms at Hacienda are furnished to a high standard and with great attention to detail in the traditional Hacienda style. Guests at to stand can choose from 7 guest rooms with queen size beds and 3 rooms with twin beds, all with en-suite bathrooms and beautiful views of the garden. The reading corners and the living room invite you to linger. Well-known visitors, such as former heads of state, have already stayed here. Your hosts will give you a warm welcome and will be delighted to tell you more about the history of your time-honored Hacienda and family.

Itinerary

You arrive in the afternoon, after a drive through lush pastureland. With a bit of luck, you will have a breathtaking view of the snow-capped Cayambe volcano, which is only a few kilometers away. One of our hosts will greet you personally on arrival and help you check into your guest suite. Once you have settled in, the herd will be waiting for you to your horse for the first ride and you will have the opportunity to try it out in the ring at all gaits. A bilingual riding instructor will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. After lunch we go up to Santa Rosa, through forest and dense vegetation to a viewpoint from where you have an overview of the entire Zuletavalley . As we are directly above the condor center and close to a feeding site, you will most likely see a wild condor fly by. From up here you also have the best bird's eye view of the ancient pre-Inca Caranqui pyramids scattered throughout the site. The tour continues with beautiful views of the mountainsides painted by that special afternoon light, and perhaps a family of spectacled bears or foxes will come to say hello. Leaving forest we canter across a field of tall grass before having to concentrate on our balance as Horse starts to climb down. When we reach the flat terrain with the barn a short distance away, the horses will have one last gallop with a few jumps over small ditches before we collect them to reach the Hacienda house and barn. A nice glass of wine in the living room, a roaring fire, comfortable sofas and a chat with your host will keep you entertained until dinner time.

Example rides

1st Condor Ride:
Our most popular route is to the Condor Huasi Project facilities at valley in La Rinconada de San Pedro. Here you can learn about the wildlife of Zuleta, as well as our efforts to protect and care for endangered condors and spectacled bears. We to ride over pretty cobbled streets past the pastures, milking huts and trout farm of Hacienda . You will see many old Caranqui tolas - pyramids from the time before the Incas conquered the country. On the way back, you can climb the highest ceremonial pyramid, from where you have a magnificent view of the area. You may also see wild condors taking advantage of the strong winds on the mountainside. The trip includes an approximately one-hour talk at the Condor Huasi facilities. (4 hours)

2nd Zuleta Ritt:
For a deeper insight into the history and culture of Zuleta to lead we take you through the village to an interesting house museum on the highest point of the municipality. Here you will find many well-preserved examples of Zuleta's traditional farming, weaving and cooking utensils, as well as weapons, fine leatherwork and other interesting ephemera. Weather permitting, we will have a breathtaking view of the snow-capped Mount Cayambe and the surrounding landscape. Along the way we will also stop at the community's famous embroidery stores where you can learn about this centuries-old art and later, if you wish, purchase some beautiful gifts. The ride includes views of the cemetery, town hall and church as well as some historic mud-brick houses with tiled roofs. There is also the opportunity to see a local leather specialist who makes all the saddles and leatherwork of the Hacienda . To take full advantage of this trip, we recommend taking a bilingual guide with you for an extra charge. (3-4 hours)

3rd mountain ride:
Stand on the shoulders of the mountains as we make our way to the summit of Santa Rosa. First we climb along winding paths and look down through eucalyptus trees to the Hacienda. Then we pass a small reservoir and a waterfall and to ride on to the high pastures, where the entire valley opens up before us. On a clear day, we can see the snow-capped Cayambe and Cotapaxi volcanoes in the distance to the left, while the mountain Imbabura towers above the valley. Further north, the mountains beyond Angochagua and La Rinconada wind their way down to town Ibarra, while behind us lies the mysterious wilderness of the Andean Páramo. We circle the Vista Condor to catch a magnificent view of the valley of La Rinconada de San Pedro with its condor complexes and Caranqui pyramids, before returning home through fragrant cypress and eucalyptus groves. (3-4 hours)

4th Mout Cunrro:
This drive gives us the opportunity to see the Zuletavalley from a different perspective. We to ride from the main gate through the village and then to rear through pastures and fields towards Mount Cunrro, an extinct volcano. If the weather permits, we can see the magnificent Mount Cayambe behind us, a snow-capped peak with an altitude of 5,790 meters. Cunrro dominates this side of the valley - a huge, cone-shaped hill that juts out from the foot of Mount Imbabura and is surrounded by forest at its base. We drive through cool eucalyptus groves and enjoy the view of the green, furrowed mountains of Zuleta at the summit, which stretch from the Hacienda to Angochagua and towards Ibarra. After a short rest to rear we descend back to village and return to Hacienda. (3-4 hours)

5th Angochagua ride:
We to ride north of the property, past the milking sheds and the green fields of Rosario, where we can make a short detour to the waterfall if we wish. At the border of Hacienda , we reach a road that leads to the picturesque farming community of Angochagua, nestled in a mountain range. Following a creek , we visit the Andean house of Fernando Colimba, a native of the area who has built the classic adobe and thatched-roof house as a house museum to preserve his local culture. Here he demonstrates ancient techniques for grinding corn and spinning wool and shows us old artifacts from the region's agricultural past. We return, to ride to the shoulder of Mount Cunrro and through the community to see these ancient farming methods in action. Please let your host know in advance if you would like to do this ride so we can arrange to open the museum. An English speaking guide is recommended but not essential.

Full-day rides (for an extra charge):
- The Condor, Community, and Waterfall Ride (5+ hours)
- Ride to Mount Cubilche (5+ hours)
- Lake View Ride (6-7 hours)
- La Chimba and Indigenous History Ride (6-7 hours)
- Angochagua and La Rinconada Cultural Ride (6-7 hours)
- Hacienda to Hacienda - Zuleta to Cusin (6-7 hours)
- Ventana Grande (6-7 hours)
- The Towers (6 hours)
- The Ventanas Loop (12 hours)
- Páramo Cusin (6-7 hours)

Accomodation
The accommodation and service are of a very high standard. The Hacienda has already been Multiple awards from various institutions and magazines, The hotel was named one of the best hotels in Ecuador by National Geographic and received the Conde Nest Traveler Excellence Award and Certificate of Excellence from Tripadvisor.
The catering leaves nothing to be desired. Almost all the food is home-grown, from the salad to the beef to the rainbow trout. You will be spoiled with various delicacies, mostly typical local dishes. Enjoy banana cake, handmade cheese, fresh fruit juices and much more. During the day rides, picnics are often held en route with freshly baked bread, cheese, fruit and wine. Of course, vegetarian eating habits can also be catered for.

Saddle & Tack: South American, similar to the Western style.

Experience: Basic knowledge required. The riding pace is calm to moderate. The rides are between 3-4 hours long and can be adapted to the riding level of the guests. An upgrade to full-day rides can be booked.

Horses: Horse from own breeding (Andalusian/Quarter/Purebred).