Back

Hacienda Zuleta

  • Hacienda Zuleta sitting room, luxury accommodation on a working farm, Imbabura, Ecuador, South America
  • Hacienda Zuleta, luxury accommodation near Imbabura, 2 hours from Quito, Ecuador, South America
  • ECU_OtavaloNorthernHighlands_HaciendaZuleta (4)
  • ECU_OtavaloNorthernHighlands_HaciendaZuleta (5)
  • ECU_OtavaloNorthernHighlands_HaciendaZuleta (1)
0 1 2 3 4

Exceptional rural retreat, with charming and very comfortable guestrooms housed in a 17th century hacienda on a working farm.

This exquisitely beautiful 17th century hacienda once belonged to an Ecuadorian president and has been in the same family for over 100 years. Nestled in the Andean foothills north of Quito, Hacienda Zuleta now welcomes guests who come to enjoy its sumptuous hospitality and acclimatise to the rhythm of rural life. Although the estate is set deep in verdant countryside, the hacienda's main buildings are only an hour's drive from Otavalo and 90 mins Quito. 

The luxurious accommodation is the centre-piece of a large working farm that is known for its excellent cheeses. There are also fruit orchards and a trout farm. There's a well regarded stable of 100 well-trained and responsive horses, suitable for novices and experienced riders alike.

The 17 top quality guestrooms are charmingly furnished in an luxury-rustic, colonial style, all the bathrooms are furnished with large tubs and many have a wood-burning fireplace, ideal on a chilly highland evening. Family heirlooms and antique pieces complete the nostalgic. atmosphere. You are free to use the other rooms of the house, where the character of an aristocratic high-class residence has been maintained but there is a very warm and welcoming ambiance created by the eager-to-please, English-speaking staff. 

Nutritious home-cooked meals are prepared with ingredients produced on the farm. Eat at your private table or mingle with the handful of other guests. There's plenty to do here: you'll have a tour of the property close to the house while your guide narrates its illustrious history, you can go horse-riding, hiking along self-guided trails, mountain-biking, take a tour of the cheese factory, visit the condor rescue project or just relax in the gardens. You can also visit Zuleta village, well known for its intricate embroidery, and find out about the community initiatives with which the hacienda is involved.

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • "Horse-riding to Condor Reserve at Hacienda Zuleta where we also saw an Andes Spectacled Bear in the mountains was memorable."

    VB, Sloane Square
  • "I would like to live there!"

    DH, Portsmouth
  • Lovely location. Great service from staff. Plenty of interesting activities and wildlife to see. Liked the meals, where all guests are expected to eat together at one table. Very comfortable…

    PG, Oxford
  • We were impressed, by hotel and by the beauty of the countryside. House is superbly furnished - we only lacked curtains in our room that would have provided full privacy.

    DD, Bromley
  • "Hacienda Zuleta was amazing.”

    JDL, St. Neots
0 1 2 3 4

Our Expert's Opinion

To be honest, this is one of the most magical and welcoming places I have ever stayed. Everything is top quality, from the tours to the horses, bikes, and the melt-in-the-mouth meals. Add to that the efficiency and dedication of the staff, the simple but sumptuous furnishings, and the honesty bar for alcoholic drinks, and you couldn't ever feel more at home.

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!

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
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

  • 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!

  • Maggie in LATAM
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Mary
    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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

0 1 2 3 4 5