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Hacienda La Alegria

Hacienda La Alegria

Charming, family-run hacienda geared towards horse riders, offering personalised excursions in the dramatic environment of the Avenue of the Volcanoes.

Right in the heart of Ecuador’s Avenue of the Volcanoes, the family-run working farm Hacienda La Alegria brims with friendly charm. It is primarily geared towards riders, with a stable of well-trained horses, each cared for with obvious love and attention, and a wide range of personalised excursions in the dramatic Andean terrain of the surrounding countryside. Steeped in equestrian tradition, owner Gabriel is an excellent guide for these rewarding trips.

Set amidst atmospheric grounds dotted with fountains, antique ironwork and hydrangea, the house itself is colonial in style. Although parts have been restored, it has retained its former elegance, and the décor has the feel of a traditional South American country cottage. There are just ten individually decorated rooms with exposed wooden beams, cypress floors and en suite bathrooms. 

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • Most memorable experience: "Where to start? Huge evening skies on the Napo river, pulling out of Chimbacalle station on the Tren Crucero in a cacophony of whistling and hooting; the…

    DH, Portsmouth Jun 2015
  • From the moment we were picked up, (on time) from our hotel in Quito, to the moment we were left at the departure lounge in the airport in Baltra, the…

    TP, Lima Jun 2013
  • Most Memorable Moment?: Drving up Mt. Cotopaxi and watching a Gaucho chase a cow riding a horse at the gallop whilst trying to lassoe it on a cobbled road,...some rider! …

    NBH, Watchet Mar 2018
  • Avenue of the Volcanoes was superb plus swimming with sea lions and penguins.

    JK, Sheffield Feb 2015
  • Quito is a fabulous city with residents that seem to be pleased to see you, really helpful if you make just a little effort to address them in Spanish. Ecuador…

    DW, Lingfield Jun 2010
  • Ecuador was a fantastic adventure: welcoming friendly people, beautiful landscapes and amazing wildlife. To fit in two cities, the Andes, the Amazon, the cloud forest and the Galapagos Islands into…

    GE, Glasgow Jun 2012
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Our Expert's Opinion

Charlotte
Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

Papagaio

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Sallly
    Sally Watkins - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • Ben
    Ben Line - Travel Expert

    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

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