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UK: 01473 890499Rating: Ultimate
Hacienda Zuleta dates back to the 16th century and is owned and run by the family of Galo Plaza Lasso, a former president of Ecuador, who now welcome visitors to their family home as guests. There is plenty here to keep you occupied, from hiking to village visits, horse riding to bird watching.
There are standard and deluxe rooms as well as suites. All are situated in the hacienda itself and are unique in layout. The spacious accommodation is enhanced by original antiques, family pictures and modern amenities. Rooms have garden or mountain views.
During the day you can choose from a wide range of activities. There are various trails through the hacienda's 4,000 acres that can be explored on foot or by bike. Visits to Zuleta village are popular, to meet the local people and observe their way of life. You can purchase local crafts from the women's cooperative. The Condor Huasi Rehabilitation project is near the hacienda where it is possible to view these magnificent birds in close proximity. Condors can also be seen in the wild here. Horse riding is another great way to explore the area around the hacienda, with a rain poncho, rubber boots and a helmet provided, and a choice of routes and durations. You are welcome to look round the farm, the organic garden and the cheese factory.
After a busy day you can relax in the sitting room or library, with its open fireplace. Wi-fi is available. There is a self service bar for a well-earned drink. Food is traditional Ecuadorian using produce from the farm. Hearty breakfasts include pancakes, home-made bread, cereal, fruit and eggs.
Open: All year.
Location: Hacienda Zuleta is in the Andes, about a 2 hour drive north of Quito.
Rooms: All 21 guest rooms are located in the main building. They are decorated with antiques, authentic family pictures and hand embroidered linens. They look out onto either the garden or mountains and some have access to private gardens, terraces or courtyards. There are fireplaces for added warmth in cooler months and evenings Suites and adjoining rooms are available for families.
Activities: There are miles of trails in the grounds and this is a good area for walking, trekking and mountain biking. There is a map for self-guided exploring. The hacienda has a stable and offers horse riding for all levels of riders (riding hat, boots and poncho provided) and carriage rides. This is also a great location for bird watching. Hacienda Zuleta is a working dairy farm and has a cheese factory and cheese museum on site, which guests are welcome to visit. They can also observe milking and help feed a calf. There is an Andean Condor reserve and rehabilitation project about 5kms from the hacienda. Guests can also visit the Zuleta’s women’s co-operative to see and possibly buy the hand-made embroidery. The Zuleta library helps local children with homework and extracurricular activities and guests are welcome to visit and meet the local children. There are archaeological sites near the hacienda, some of which date back to 700 AD
Facilities: The hacienda has living rooms with satellite TV, DVDs and games for guests. There is a bar and tea and coffee are available during the day. There are lovely gardens and an organic garden, where much of the produce used at the hacienda is grown. The farm covers over 2,000 hectares and has a herd of some 300 cows and about 2,000 sheep. They also grow a range of crops.
Dining: Meals are taken at communal tables, but private dining can be arranged.
Children: Children of all ages are welcome. Children under 3 years of age stay free of charge when sharing a room with adults.
Health: Hacienda Zuleta is not in a malarial area.
Communication: There is Wi-Fi internet access in some areas of the main building and a computer with 24 hour internet service. Phone calls can be made from the public areas and offices.
Lodge
Vessel
Camp
Hotel
National Park
Historic site
Place of Interest
UNESCO heritage site 
Luxury accommodation, superb scenery and wildlife all combine in this deluxe adventure of a lifetime.
Trek in the scenic lakes district in the Northern Andes, meeting local people and witnessing traditional skills and crafts.
They are committed to benefitting their local community & to protecting their environment through a variety of positive means. Smart Voyager certified through the Rainforest Alliance.
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0"Very nice, superbly comfortable and with great character. Excellent place to walk around on our own and we were lucky enough to see both Spectacled Bears & condor! With a fire set in our room each night, the hot water bottle here was just too hot!"
Tribes Travel,The Old Dairy, Wood Farm, Ipswich Road, Otley, Suffolk, IP6 9JW. Office hours: Mon - Fri: 9am to 5.30pm Telephone: 01473 890499
