Hacienda La Danesa

Customer Ratings
This is a Satisfaction Rating based on our own customer feedback

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

If you'd like to get under the skin of traditional rural life in Ecuador, Hacienda La Danesa offers a fascinating countryside experience to day visitors and resident guests. Located close to the railway track around 90 minutes' drive from Guayaquil, this hacienda, established in 1870, has been managed for over 20 years by a Danish family which has established one of the most successful dairy farms in the region, and has now expanded operations to welcoming visitors, quickly establishing a reputation for their farm-to-table gastronomy.

There are just a handful of cosy, rustic-chic guest rooms in the grounds. The stylish rooms, designed using wooden beams, stone and brick are beautifully appointed with an abundance of Ecuadorian nick-knacks The team at the hacienda (most staff are recruited from the local village and trained on site) are keen to interact with guests, speaking a little English and offering various experiences around the farm such as milking the cows and chocolate making. To spice up you adventure you can go tubing, horse riding and cycling in the vicinity.

What our clients say

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
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 a 16 day trip on a seamless itinerary was a fantastic solution provided by Sophie at JLA and we enjoyed every aspect.
GE, Glasgow
Avenue of the Volcanoes was superb plus swimming with sea lions and penguins.
JK, Sheffield
Probably the Tren Crucero (was the top experience) but too many highlights to mention.
SB, Cambourne
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 organisation and punctuality of everything was impeccable. As residents in South America this was a very pleasant surprise!
TP, Lima
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 Devil's nose, swimming with penguins, sharks and sea lions. The moment on the Tren Crucero when our guide wanted to reassure us, You may have heard that Cotopaxi has been erupting recently, don't worry, it's all under control. The library in the Hacienda Zuleta; Firefly larvae in the dark on Limoncocha; smoking a cigar in the garden of Hacienda La Cienega - its's hard to keep a cigar alight in the thin Andean air, but you can pretend to be Alaxander von Humbolt."
DH, Portsmouth

0 1 2 3 4 5

Our expert's view

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.

I only had time for 1 night but would always recommend 2 nights at Hacienda La Danesa if you want to make the most of your time here. Niels is a wonderful host and couldn’t have made me feel more welcome or better fed and watered (the farm-to-table food was delicious!). The cacao plantation visit was fascinating and I know from speaking to the other guests that I had missed out in not having had the time to go tubing or horse riding.

Get in touch Meet our experts

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Other
Our favourite multi-country holidays
Learn more
View Extraordinary Inspiration
Other
Holiday like an X-Factor star
Learn more
View Extraordinary Inspiration
Other
Canyons and Kayaks Holiday in Mexico
Learn more

Wildlife

Wildlife spotting in the Galapagos Islands

Learn more

MPIPERSI001MTILU001PERECUPERFA001PERUMachuPicchuFreeshutterstock23671153banner

Top Hits

Peru: a beginner’s guide

Learn more

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

Get in touch Meet our experts

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.
Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert
Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.
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.
Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert
Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.
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.
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!