Hacienda Zuleta

Deep in the Ecuadorian Andes, this 17th C manor house and working farm has been in the Plaza Lasso family - descendants of the former president - for over 100 years. The 2000 acres are home to beautiful, peaceful gardens, green pasturelands of cattle and sheep, mountain lakes with panoramic views, a Condor rehabilitation project, more than 140 Caranqui burial mounds dating back to between the 8th and 15th Centuries, as well as vast swathes of protected primary forest where endangered spectacled bears roam wild. Explore mountain lakes and panoramic Andean views of snow capped volcanoes on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. Learn how to cook delicious local dishes or the famous Zuleteño embroidery. There’s also uniquely, a ‘Cheese House’, which showcases their on-site cheese factory, offering a hands-on tour and tastings of Zuleta’s award-winning cheeses. Guests get to experience authentic hacienda life and interact with the local community, whom the family work closely with.

Senderos Soul

Zuleta sits at the heart of its community and is a total one-off. Fernando and his family are the perfect hosts who welcome you like a long lost relative. I often close my eyes and imagine that once again I’m sitting on a hay bale in the courtyard around a blazing fire with local musicians playing and the guest and community dancing together - it’s hard to imagine a more perfect moment in all my travels! This beautiful and historic farm and manor house plays a key role in the conservation of Andean bears, condors and local culture. There’s a wonderful range of activities, but the horse rising is outstanding - I’ve never before been greeted with a hand crafted ‘directory’ listing the characteristics of all the horses in the stables! We rode our trusty steeds to the mysterious pre-inca pyramids and took in the untouched beauty of the mountains and lush green valleys that make up the landscape of Zuleta. And if like me you love eating delicious cheese, then visiting Zuleta is like going to cheese heaven! There’s a cheese factory on site which produces 17 different types, all made with local milk. I particularly loved the gouda, danbo & wild herb varieties. In fact all of the food is home cooked and of the highest quality and meals are one of the true delights of staying at Zuleta - shared together on the long table in the dining room or sumptuous picnic style, under canopies by the river bank.

Naomi, Senderos

Key Facts

No. of rooms: 21, all unique, with antique furniture and their own fireplace

Category of rooms: 2 Standard (12-15m²) Fazing out in 2024, 9 Deluxe (20m²), 8 Junior Suites (30m²), 2 Suites (42m²).

Facilities and Amenities: Library with thousands of books and peaceful reading areas; cheese factory with ‘Tasting House’; craft shop showcasing local products; horses to ride; bicycles to borrow; the Relaxation Center has just opened, with 3 massage rooms, an Andean Soaking Tub (4 x2 mts, 80 cm deep, constant 39°C) with glass skyline, a Páramo Pool with water that comes directly from a highland spring. A sauna will be added soon.

Internet: WiFi in all guest rooms and a guest computer with wired internet.

Excursion details: Shared service tours: min. 1, max 15 (except biking and riding, max. 8)

Dates of operation: Open all year

Rates from: US$490 pppn (Hacienda Deluxe Room, 2024, all-inclusive rates are also available)

For full rates see links in the Gallery and Resources box below.

Rates include: Full board not including alcoholic drinks, transfers.

Min age: All ages welcome

Minimum stay: 2 nights

Senderos recommends: At least 3 nights, to enjoy some of the wonderful activities on offer.

Affiliations: Pure, Conde Nast Johansens

Sustainability

The hacienda runs a fantastic non-profit foundation - the Galo Plaza Lasso Foundation - to improve the education and infrastructure of the local community, and protect their unique environment.
This includes a ground-breaking Condor Release Programme, to conserve and increase the numbers of these endangered birds.
As well as numerous projects in education and commmunity development through embroidery.
Delicious Ecuadorian meals at the hacienda are made with organic vegetables, dairy, trout from the farm and meat from the regional suppliers (Ibarra).
Much of their 4000 acres is protected native primary forest, home to spectacled bear cubs, an endangered species in South America.

Need to know

Zuleta is an elegant and authentic hacienda in the Ecuadorian Andes, famed for its warm family welcome.
The characterful rooms are all adapted from the original manor house - no two rooms are the same.
Zuleta is located in the Andes mountain range. Rooms all have their own woodburners for heat at night.
Fantastic activities on offer: guided hikes and horse rides on their own horses; bikes to borrow, embroidery and cookery classes led by locals.
And a great base for excursions to Otavalo market, Cuicocha Lake, Ibarra and the Cayambe volcano.

Perfect for:

Whoever wants to experience the real rural, andean Ecuador, its history, landscapes and traditions. A wonderful experience for families.

Getting there

by road

BY ROAD

Two hours’ drive north of Quito; transfers on request

by air

BY AIR

Nearest airport: Quito (1 hour road transfer).

Gallery & Resources

Follow this link to Senderos Resources for Hacienda Zuleta to access

Images, our selection
Fact sheets
Presentations
Rack rates
Excursion lists
And other useful information.

Hacienda Zuleta also has its own image library here.

Weather

Temperatures stay the same all year round (min 8C, max 18C) Rainy Season (Dec-June; generally bright and warm but occasional showers)
Dry Season (June-Sept: dry and warmer)
Shoulder Season (Oct and Nov: crisp, with cold nights)

Links

Hacienda Zuleta website.

Senderos Webinar featuring Hacienda Zuleta (also includes Anakonda Amazon Cruises & Integrity, Galapagos), July 2022

Senderos Webinar on Hacienda Zuleta, November 2022

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