Hacienda Zuleta - Post Galapagos Extension

Explore Hacienda Zuleta

For early birds who might want to enjoy a short walk around the property prior to breakfast... There is profuse variety of bird life that is attracted to our gardens, and adjacent to the main courtyard, the milking barn is usually full of activity right at daybreak as some of the more than 400 Holstein dairy cows are being milked by the Hacienda staff.

After an exquisite farm fresh breakfast of eggs, pancakes, muesli, fruit and homemade bread we suggest a guided visit to the cheese factory in order to learn more about Zuletas semi-aged handmade cheeses, how the process has changed throughout history and where our cheeses are sold both domestically and internationally.

As mornings are usually sunny throughout the whole year, it is best to take advantage of this and use the morning hike, bike or horseback ride to experience our Condor reserve or the “Condor Huasi Project”. In the mornings, guests are more likely to see wild Condors soaring as the sunlight creates thermal updrafts. The Condor project is located a short 3 miles from the guesthouse, directly in a native forest valley, and accessible via vehicle, horseback or on foot. Here travelers will learn about the foundation’s efforts, see rescued condors in our aviary, and visit the nearby trout farm.

The tour back takes you through pastureland where you can discover ancient monuments of the Caranqui culture; seeing both small burial mounds dating back to 700 A.D., and giant ceremonial truncated pyramids from the 13th century. At lunch time enjoy freshly caught trout, and then have coffee in the patio while admiring the giant hummingbirds that comes frequently to feed.

In the afternoon, opt for a visit to the Zuleta Embroidery project and workshop. Here guests will meet with members of the Zuleta community, for which hand embroidery has been an important part of artistic and cultural expression for centuries. The project aims to keep this art form alive and well in the community through educational components and in providing the local people with a sustainable form of income through their own embroidery shop.

Coming out of the shop, a horse drawn carriage will be waiting to take guests down the eucalyptus alley to visit the foundation run library. This is where local kids spend their afternoons to get help with homework, read and play. Then return to the hotel where you can take a nice warm bath before

Zuleta Community Visit & Explore the Property

After breakfast, explore the organic garden, where you can learn about permaculture and see where the ingredients for their menu originate. You can explore the farm operation, feed calf, count sheep, talk to the vaqueros (local cowboys) or watch our horsemen training young fillies before going on another horseback or bicycle ride.

We recommend on this day exploring the Zuleta community, and if weather conditions allow, we offer a lift up the mountain and a downhill bike ride.

After the bike ride, you are welcome to have lunch at the hacienda’s antique mill house, with stunning views of a waterfall a few steps away. For those interested in plants, explore the bear trail which contains primary and secondary High Altitude Cloud Forest where guests will be shocked by the variety of plants, ferns, and bromelias (a favorite snack for the Andean spectacle Bear) which is another unique visitor of the Zuleta area.

Dinner will be waiting and with some luck guests might dine you can sometimes be joined by family members that still visit the farm, and love to tell stories to guests. The family is very thankful to guests because guests help in the process of preserving this heritage , which is their main goal at Hacienda Zuleta. Simply by visiting, you are helping support this cause.

After breakfast, say goodbye to all of the amazing people and new friends at Hacienda Zuleta and make the 1hr 45min drive back to the Quito airport for your international return flight. If you flight out early the next day, we recommend staying at the Wyndham Quito Airport Hotel.