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Hacienda La Danesa

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Hacienda La Danesa invites guests to enjoy the rural lifestyle of their dairy and cocoa farm on Ecuador's Pacific coastal plain.

Hacienda La Danesa offers a unique Ecuadorian countryside experience to both day visitors and resident guests alike. With a rural location 90 minutes’ drive from Guayaquil, this hacienda, first established in 1870, provides a charming and relaxing environment for a few days of recuperation at the end of a Galapagos cruise or mainland expedition.

Enthusiastically dedicated to a bucolic lifestyle they have established one of the most successful dairy farms in the region, and have now expanded their operations to welcoming visitors, quickly establishing a reputation for their delicious farm-to-table gastronomy. There are just a handful of air-conditioned guest rooms in the grounds, designed with reference to contemporary rustic chic. The team at the hacienda are very hands-on, speaking good English and offering various experiences, such as: cycling; horse riding; river tubing; hiking; milking the cows; and chocolate-making.

What our clients say

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
Two parts: Seeing cotopaxi and the surrounding area for the first time, and stepping off the boat onto floreana and having to avoid sea lions and iguana, magical.
HT, Conwy Nov 2014
We had a wonderful time… we thought the guides we had were among the best we have known anywhere; we went for the Galápagos and would admit to mainland Ecuador…
PW, Lambeth May 2026
Ecuador Highlights: Seeing hummingbirds & humpback whales, summiting the Pasochoa peak with Kristian, Quilotoa Volcano Lake, Quito cable car ride, the Las Cajas Park walks with Wilson.
PJR Aug 2011
It was all brilliant, we expected the Galapagos to be the highlight, but all the other trips were as good in different ways. All the Ecuadorians encountered at hotels, restaurants,…
AH, Eastleigh Jun 2013
We had a wonderful time…we thought the guides we had were among the best we have known anywhere; we went for the Galapagos and would admit to mainland Ecuador being…
PW, Lambeth May 2010

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Our Expert's Opinion

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.

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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!
Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.
Rosie Kay - Travel Expert

During a career break, Rosie embarked on an unforgettable year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. Now back in the UK, she is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others, helping them discover her favourite place in the world.
Alex Walker - Travel Expert

A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.
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.
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.