Zuleta Valley Getaway

Introduction
Haciendas Ecuador
Enjoy a relaxing stay in this stunning 17th century hacienda.

Horseback riding has been a family tradition at the hacienda for over a hundred years. You will have the unique opportunity to explore the stunning Andean countryside on different trails that go from 9,000 to 11,000 feet above sea level. You will be in safe hands with our knowledgeable, friendly local guides.

Visit mountain lakes and vistas on robust local horses, find hidden trails with centuries of history by foot or bike, see and learn about endangered species at our Condor facilities or take up a cooking or local embroidery class.

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a stationary ride, so all nights are spent at the same location.

Description
This beautiful estate is owned by the descendents of former Ecuadorian president, Galo Plaza. The hacienda offers all the comforts of a well-establish hotel. Here you are a guest of the Plaza family and you are welcomed as such.
The hacienda has 2 standard rooms, 9 deluxe rooms, 8 junior suites and 2 suites. All rooms are located in the main building (dating back to 1691) and come with a fireplace as well as a private bath tub (with hair dryer and toiletries). Rooms are decorated with hand-embroidered linens and feature beautiful garden views. On cold nights, we provide you with a hot water bottle in your bed, to keep it warm. There is wireless internet in all rooms to keep you connected to the outside world, if you wish to.  
You will be invited to relax at your leisure in the cozy reading and living rooms, which have entertained their own entourage of famous visitors including past presidents and dignitaries. 

You can use our laundry service for an additional cost.



Standard Room (12-15 m²)
These rooms all come with a Queen size bed, a desk, chairs, a fireplace, a cupboard and luggage rack. No extra bed possible.



Deluxe Room (20 m²)
These rooms all come with a Queen size bed (or twin beds), a desk, chairs, a fireplace, a cupboard and luggage rack. An extra bed can be added.



Junior Suite (30 m²)
These rooms all come with a King size bed (or twin beds), a desk, chairs, a sofa, a fireplace, a cupboard and 2 large luggage racks. An extra bed can be added.



Suite (42 m²)
These rooms all come with their own living room with 2 sofas, a desk, chairs, a fireplace, a cupboard and 2 large luggage racks. An extra bed can be added.


General Amenities of the Hacienda

• Main Living Room (Information folders & books, Tea & coffee table, Fireplace and Honor Bar)
• Library Living Room (Tea & coffee table,1.500 books in five languages, Fireplace and Winter garden with view to the stables)
• Activity Room (Trail maps, Water bottle refilling station, Wellington boots,  Newsboard with recommendations, Direct TV and video library and Table games)
• Hummingbird Patio (Sun chairs and sitting areas, Ten varieties of hummingbirds and Bar service)
• Wellness Center (Sauna, Steam bath, Japanese bath & Massages)

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Terrain
Riders will have numerous opportunities to explore the Andean countryside along high altitude trails (between 9.000 and 13.000 feet) that wind through ‘páramo’ grasslands and cloud forest, along cobblestone trails and through local villages.

Horses
The Hacienda is known not only for its prize-winning pure Andalusians including national champions and precious stallions, but especially for its very own breed – the Zuleteño. The Hacienda was the first to bring purebred horses to Ecuador, starting with Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred and changing to Andalusians in the early 60s. The Zuleteño is a combination of those three breeds and known for its qualities as a very noble, gentle and versatile horse. The horses respond best to light, but clear signals. They are used to being ridden with a soft hand and slack in the reins. They are taught to neck rein.
Every horse is known for its specialties. Some have advanced training in dressage and Spanish riding, others in taking perfect care of small children,… You will be able to pick your favorite horse of the herd, for your whole stay, or just for the day´s activity.

Itinerary

This is an all-inclusive package with a number of activities to choose from. You can decide on what you want to do once you arrive at the hacienda.
After you check into your room, you will meet with a member of staff and discuss what you want to do during your stay.

We have listed the different activities available below.

Included tours with shared English speaking guide:
- Cheese Factory Showroom
- Condor Rehabilitation Center
- Embroidery shop

Included activities:
- Horseback rides with local Spanish speaking guide (half & full day tours).
- Horse drawn carriage with local Spanish speaking guide (up to 2 hours and available for groups of 3 people)
- Riding Lessons
- Bike rental in the hacienda (subject to availability, use up to 5 hours)
- Community bike ride with shared English-speaking guide and transportation.
- Cooking, embroidery and/or milking lessons with shared English-speaking guide.
- Self-guided Trails: Condor Huasi Project and Caranquies
- Use of the relaxation center facilities (needs to be booked in advance).

Activities available on request for an extra fee (please inquire):
- Massage.
- Luxurious picnic outing.
- Guided tours to Ibarra, Cotacachi, San Pablo and Otavalo Indian Market.


Half Day Trail Ride Examples

The Condor Project
Our most popular route is to the Condor Huasi Project facilities located in La Rinconada de San Pedro Valley. Here you can learn about Zuleta’s wildlife as well as our efforts to protect and nurture endangered condors and spectacled bears. We ride past the Hacienda’s pastures, milking sheds, and trout farm via pretty cobblestone roads. You will see many ancient Caranqui tolas – pyramids dating from before the Inca conquest. On the way back, you may choose to climb the highest ceremonial pyramid, which offers great views of the area. You may also see wild condors taking advantage of the high winds on the mountainside. The ride includes an hour-long talk, approximately, at the Condor Huasi facilities.
Estimated Time: 4 hours (including 1 hour talk approx.)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Minimum Age Requirement: 6 years
Suggested Departure Time: 10 AM or 2 PM
Elevation: 2,964-3,018 m / 9,724-9,901 ft

Zuleta Cultural Tour
For a more in-depth look at the history and culture of Zuleta, we take you through the village to an interesting house museum at the community’s highest point. Here you will find many well-preserved examples of Zuleta’s traditional farming, weaving, and cooking implements as well as weapons, fine leatherwork, and other interesting ephemera. If the weather permits, we will see stunning views of snow-capped Mount Cayambe and the surrounding landscape. On the way, we will also stop by the community’s famous embroidery shops where you can learn about this centuries-old art and purchase some lovely gifts later if you wish. The ride incorporates views of the cemetery, town hall, and church as well as some historic adobe-and-tile-roof houses. There is also an opportunity to see a local leather specialist who makes all of the Hacienda’s saddles and leatherwork. To take full advantage of this ride, we recommend taking a bilingual guide for an extra charge.
Estimated Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty Level: Easy
Minimum Age Requirement: 6-8 years
Suggested Departure Time: 8:30/9 AM or 2 PM
Elevation: 2,964-3,018 m / 9,724-9,901 ft

Uphill Riding
Stand on the shoulders of the mountains as we venture to the pinnacle of Santa Rosa. First, we climb winding paths, glimpsing the Hacienda through eucalyptus trees. We then pass a small reservoir and waterfall as we continue on to the high pastures where the entire valley opens up before us. On a clear day, we can see snowcapped volcanos Cayambe and Cotapaxi to the left in the distance, with Mount Imbabura towering across the vale. Further north, the mountains meander down beyond Angochagua and La Rinconada to the city of Ibarra, while behind us lies the mysterious wilderness of the Andean páramo. We circle round to the Vista Condor to catch magnificent views of La Rinconada de San Pedro Valley, with its condor facilities and Caranqui pyramids, before returning home through fragrant cypress and eucalyptus groves.
Estimated Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Minimum Age Requirement: 6-8 years
Suggested Departure Time: 8:30/9 AM or 2 PM
Elevation: 2,964-3,239m / 9,724-10,921 ft

Mount Cunrro
This ride gives us a chance to see a different side of the Zuleta valley. We leave from the main gate, passing through the village, then climb through pastures and fields towards Mount Cunrro, an extinct volcano. If weather permits, we may see behind us the glorious Mount Cayambe, a snowy peak with an elevation of 5,790 masl (almost 19,000 ft!). Cunrro dominates this side of the valley – a vast, conical hill jutting from the foot of Mount Imbabura and surrounded by woodland at its base. We pass through cool eucalyptus groves and, at the summit, enjoy views of Zuleta’s green, furrowed mountains stretching all the way from the Hacienda through to Angochagua and towards Ibarra. After a short rest, we descend back to the village and return to the Hacienda.
Estimated Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Minimum Age Requirement: 6-8 years
Suggested Departure Time: 8:30/9 AM or 2 PM
Elevation: 2,964-3,300 m/ 9,724-10,826 ft

Angochagua Cultural Ride
We head north of the property, past Rosario’s milking sheds and verdant fields, where we can take a quick detour to the waterfall if you wish. At the Hacienda’s limits, we reach a road leading to the picturesque farming community of Angochagua, nestled in a crook of the mountains. Following a stream, we visit the Andean home of Fernando Colimba, a native of the area, who built the classic adobe and thatched roof property as a house museum to preserve his local culture. Here he demonstrates age-old techniques for grinding corn and spinning wool and shows us old artifacts from the area’s agricultural past. We return, riding up the shoulder of Mount Cunrro and through the community to see these old farming ways in action. Please tell your host in advance if you wish to do this ride so that we can arrange for the museum to be open. An English-speaking guide is advised but not absolutely necessary.
Estimated Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Minimum Age Required: 6-8 years
Suggested Departure Time: 8:30/9 AM or 2 PM
Elevation: 2,964-3,100 m / 9,724-10,170 ft 


Full Day Trail Ride Examples

The Condor, Community, and Waterfall Ride
For more experienced riders who like a faster pace, we can take you round all three routes in a wide loop as you put our beautiful horses through their paces. At a trot or canter, we take in mountain views and rich pastureland as well as experiencing the culture and art of the Zuleta community and its history in the form of the magical Caranqui tolas. You will also learn about the wildlife of this fascinating area at the Condor Huasi Project facilities. After this ride, you will truly feel part of Hacienda Zuleta and its equestrian legacy!
Estimated Time: 5+ hours
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Minimum Age Requirement: 6-8 years
Suggested Departure Time: 8:30/9 AM
Elevation: 2,964-3,018 m / 9,724-9,901 ft

Ride to Mount Cubilche
This beautiful ride takes us through the community and up Mount Cubilche as fields and mountains unfurl behind us. Snowcapped Mount Cayambe and Mount Antisana are visible on a clear day as we climb higher, past eucalyptus groves and corn fields. The mountains part on our right as we pass the forested Mount Cunrro and we have a view, as we look down through the blue yonder, of the city of Ibarra. We cut through an area called Pan de Azúcar – so named for its sugar-loaf shape – and then on to a plateau dotted with wild flowers and ponds – perfect for a fast canter! The road continues winding up to small pine forest near the final ascent to Cubilche where you guide your horse around myriad, scented trees. At last we reach the start of the páramo – the high grasslands – where you are greeted with views of the entire valley from Ibarra to your left, Angochagua, the Hacienda in the center, and all the way over to towering Cayambe. At the top of Cubilche we find three beautiful lakes – part of the volcano’s caldera. Finally, we loop back via a different route through Zuleta village, giving you more opportunities to trot and canter if you wish.
Estimated Time: 5+ hours
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Minimum Age Requirement: 6-8 years
Suggested Departure Time: 8:30/9 AM
Elevation: 2,964-3,400 m / 9,724-11,154 ft

Lake View Ride
The route to Vista Lago, or the Lake View, gives you an excellent experience of the range of vistas and landscapes that surround Zuleta. We follow the route up Mount Cubilche, past the community’s fields, eucalyptus groves, and, in good weather, expansive views of Ibarra, Mount Cayambe, and Mount Antisana. After about two hours, we reach a scented pine forest and take the path beside it, curving around the mountain to further vistas of the nearby valleys.
On the other side of Cubilche, we discover the landscapes of Mount Imbabura and the stunning San Pablo Lake – Vista Lago. Set in a wide basin surrounded by volcanoes, the lake provides a glorious backdrop to a delicious picnic. We also get a chance to see Zuleta’s flocks of sheep grazing in the high pastures. Once rested, we choose between different options to return to the Hacienda, depending on your preference, taking in more countryside and mountain landscapes.
Estimated Time: 6-7 hours
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Minimum Age Requirement: 6 years
Suggested Departure Time: 8:30/9 AM
Elevation: 2,964-3,400 m / 9,724-11,154 ft

La Chimba and Indigenous History Ride
This ride is a mix of landscapes and history. We ride over the hills behind the Hacienda, enjoying the pastures and woods of La Merced. Descending into farmland, we can trot and canter for longer periods until we reach the village of Pesillo with its quaint topiary cemetery and communally-owned hacienda. Riding through the settlement and crossing a rushing river, we come to La Chimba – home to the remarkable resting place of local heroine Tránsito Amaguaña – an indigenous woman who fought for the rights of her people. The burial site is a large stone cairn-like structure that, at certain special times of year, marks the passage of the sun. There is a fascinating little museum with information on Mama Tránsito’s life and struggle, along with beautiful murals and a permanent exhibition on indigenous faces and dress by local photographers.
After enjoying a lovely picnic, we choose between return routes – passing back via Pesillo and over Santa Rosa, where we can experience the stunning views of Vista Condor, or through the farm and woodland of La Merced, seeing the reservoir in the setting sun.
Estimated Time: 6-7 hours
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Minimum Age Requirement: 6-8 years
Suggested Departure Time: 8:30 - 9 AM
Elevation: 2.964-3.100 m / 9.724-10.170 ft

Angochagua and La Rinconada Cultural Ride
One of our favorites! This ride combines a tour of the local valleys of Angochagua and La Rinconada, where majestic mountains rise steeply above us, and the rich rolling countryside of La Magdalena and Cunrro, where imposing Mount Imbabura dominates the horizon. You can prioritize the cultural aspects, such as visiting Angochagua’s church and Fernando Colimba’s house museum, where he will demonstrate the use of old-fashioned tools and farming methods. Or, if you are an avid rider with a need for speed, we can cover a lot of ground, passing through the different landscapes of each valley, crossing bridges, and seeing unique crops, such as tree tomatoes, growing in nearby fields. We finish up by passing the lovely painted houses of La Magdalena on our way to the shoulder of Cunrro, where the entire valley opens up in stupendous views.
We can either have our lunch here or back in the mountain-nestled community of La Rinconada, then return under the forested hill of Mt Cunrro and through Zuleta itself.
Estimated Time: 6-7 hours
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Minimum Age Required: 6-8 years
Suggested Departure Time: 8:30/9 AM
Elevation: 2,964-3,100 m / 9,724-10,170 ft

Hacienda to Hacienda
A chance to experience another beautiful hacienda! You will ride to Hacienda Cusin, a restored seventeenth-century estate, full of Old World charm with sumptuous gardens, colonial style rooms, and loads of history. Following a path through the community and up the side of Mount Cubilche, we reach the incredible views of Vista Lago (the Lake View). We then wind our way towards Hacienda Cusin, which is close to the lake and Mount Imbabura, surrounded by classic Andean countryside. Close by is the Monastery of Cusin along with a lovely animal enclosure filled with horses, llamas, chickens, ducks, and even a few rabbits, showing the range of livestock haciendas used to keep. Enjoy a fabulous lunch, then take a stroll to discover Cusin’s secrets before we return home with plenty of opportunities to trot and canter.
Estimated Time: 6 hours
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Minimum Age Requirement: 6-8 years
Suggested Departure: 8:30/9 AM
Elevation: 3,500 m / 11,482 ft

Ventana Grande
If you are an experienced rider and love adventure, this is the ride for you. The trip begins as we climb the hill known as Santa Rosa, and follow the Fox Trail to the top where stunning vistas await us. We continue ascending and see the vegetation shift from tall trees to bushes. At last we come to the páramo’s tall grasslands – a unique high-Andean bio-sphere. We follow the undulating course of La Rinconada de San Pedro towards the distant craggy summit
known as Ventanas (windows). The reason for the name becomes clear when we reach Ventana Grande – a massive volcanic rock formation that acts as a window on the mountainscape beyond. There are no words to accurately describe the desolate beauty of the surrounding valleys. We can admire the natural wonder as we stop for lunch and photos, before returning via the same route, experiencing the magnificent views in reverse.
Estimated time: 6-7 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Minimum Age Required: 12 years
Suggested Departure Time: 8:30 AM
Elevation: 2,964-3,975 m / 9,724-13,041 ft

The Towers
For another view of Zuleta’s páramo, we take the opposite route, cantering first down long tree-lined avenues past Rosario’s farm and the Hacienda’s pastures. At a stone bridge, we take the road up the mountain, ascending the highest of the Caranqui mounds which has become part of the ridge, then venturing upwards. We follow switchbacks, seeing Zuleta’s tolas and fields become a patchwork quilt, as the view opens up to include the distant haze of Ibarra and, if the day is clear, the volcanos of Cusin, Imbabura, Cayambe, and Antisana. The crags of Ventanas and the páramo become come into view as we ascend, with fields and woods giving way to the classic tall grass. Finally, we reach the lookout near the electric towers that link power-lines across the remote highlands. The scenery from here is truly stupendous, with 360 degree views of the Avenue of Volcanos. Here we rest and partake of a classic Zuleteño lunch before returning down the mountain, for more cantering when we reach the valley.
Estimated time: 6 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Minimum Age Required: 12 years
Suggested Departure Time: 8:30 AM
Elevation: 2,964-3,975 m / 9,724-13,041 ft

The Ventanas Loop
If you have the heart of an adventurer, why not join the Ventana Grande and the Towers rides and do the entire páramo loop? The route takes a total of 12 hours, so we start early, ascending the hill of Santa Rosa and passing through aromatic forests to the páramo, where the grass reaches our horses’ bellies. Like true caballeros, we ride through this green sea as the Andes spread out around us. Prehistoric boulders are strewn across the landscape as we approach the rocky pinnacles of Ventanas. Below we can see the tiny outlines of the Condor Huasi cages and the Caranqui mounds as we travel through the true lands of the condor. Finally, we reach the glorious rock formation of Ventana Grande – a window on the world below. Through its portal we glimpse the distant mountains receding into obscurity. After a delicious lunch, we continue on, forging through the grass as the landscape gives us more pictureperfect views. At last we arrive at the towers on the far side of La Rinconada de San Pedro and wind our way down the mountainside, spotting the communities of Angochagua, Rinconada, and the city of Ibarra to our right. Once we reach the valley floor, if the
horses still have energy, we can speed back to the Hacienda for a well deserved evening meal.
Estimated time: 12 hours
Difficulty: Advanced
Minimum Age Required: 12 years
Suggested Departure Time: 7 AM
Elevation: 2,964-3,975 m / 9,724-13,041 ft

Páramo Cusin
Another páramo experience from a different vantage point. Mount Cusin sprawls over the southwestern side of the Zuleta Valley, giving us views of San Pablo Lake and Mount Imbabura to the north and snow-capped Cayambe to the south, along with a host of others. We start by cutting through the farmland of our neighboring hacienda, La Merced, and over the crest of Santa Rosa. Here we can trot and canter as the pastureland turns to meadows and then to woodland groves. We curve upwards towards Cusin, past gullies of eucalyptus and shepherds with their herds, until the incline becomes steeper and the pace slows to a walk. Here the horses forge their way up towards the high grasslands, climbing 1,300 meters during the next few hours. At each turn, the air gets colder and the view grows increasingly spectacular, featuring the Mojanda range, Mount Imbabura, San Pablo Lake, and Mount Cotacachi. This is a rare sight with only a few park rangers and locals in search of thatch venturing this high. The land is a mixture of strange volcanic formations, caves, and a field of stone. Keep your wits about you at this point, but trust in your knowledgeable guides to lead you safely
as you continue to see the snow-capped peaks of Cayambe, Antisana, and Cotopaxi in all their glory. As usual, a wonderful picnic is included, and when we reach flat ground again, we can break into a releasing canter over a vast plateau. The journey back includes more chances to trot and canter as the loop takes us through the spread-out rural community of Zuleta. A taxing but incredible ride and an opportunity not to be missed!
Estimated Time: 6-7 hours
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Minimum Age Requirement: 12 years
Suggested Departure Time: 8:30 AM
Elevation: 2,964-3,100 m / 9,724-10,170 ft

Rates and Dates for Zuleta Valley Getaway

Dates Note: Arrival can be any day of the week.
Longer stays can also be arranged on request

Other Info
Meeting: Zuleta
Airport: Quito
Transfer: Quito

Climate:
                                            Quito area