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Haciendas and Hotels in Ecuador
Hacienda Rumiloma: www.haciendarumiloma.com
Location: Flanks of Volcano Pichincha on 100 acres of primary Andean forest, 10 minutes from Quito with view over city.
Description: Generational home of Freire family; three-story with restaurant, special events room, Irish-Ecuadorian pub, newly built “rustic-luxury” 5-suite casitas.
Adventures: Mountain climbing, hiking in National Park above hacienda, Chiva bus rides into Quito, tours to art museums, historical and new town Quito.
Sustainable Tourism: Involvement with barrio community; employment, use of local products, sponsors of dance troop, community hall dinners, football team. Water and energy preservation. Continuation of the Freire’s family tradition of replanting native trees and saving the frog population.
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| Hacienda Rumiloma. |
Hotel Café Cultura: www.cafecultura.com
Location: La Mariscal Sucre, “new town” of Quito
Description: Renovated two-story mansion, English and contemporary theme, whimsical wall and ceiling fresco paintings, living room with library, fireplace, computers, sofas, café-bistro, gardens; 26 individually decorated rooms.
Adventures: Midst of action, nightlife, Ecuadorian market, shops, restaurants, cafes and tour information.
Sustainable Tourism: Water recycling and filtering systems, energy saving systems, biodegradable products, organic produce; working towards “Smart Voyager” Certification. Hiring and training of locals with superior wages and upward mobility possible; maintenance of small gardens in city of Quito.
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| Hotel Café Cultura. |
Hacienda Pinsaqui: www.haciendapinsaqui.com
Location: In Ecuador’s lake district at base of Volcano Imbabura, 90 minutes north of Quito.
Description: Built in 1790, this manor house is filled with Ecuadorian antiques, paintings, extensive grounds, breakfast area with walk-in fireplace, 20 guestrooms, equestrian bar, dining room, library, living and sitting areas.
Adventures: Historic interest: Liberator General Simon Bolivar guest and Treaty of Pinsaqui was signed here; horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, visits to artisan villages, lakes, Ibarra and Otavalo’s famed Indian market.
Sustainable Tourism: Employment of local community people, Ecuadorian furnishings, artwork, involvement in community.
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| Hacienda Pinsaqui. |
Hacienda Zuleta: www.haciendazuleta.com
Location: Three hours north of Quito, near town of Zuleta in Angochagua, Imbabura Province;
Description: Cultural immersion in 17th-century hacienda owned by the Galo Plaza Lasso (once an Ecuadorian President) family. Descendants operate it. Colonial home, 2,000-book library, filled with photos and antiques, living and nine guest rooms with fireplaces, dining room, honor bar, organic gardens, flowers, working dairy and horse barn, embroidery shop, trout farm.
Adventures: 90 exceptionally-bred Zuletano horses for rides on 4,000 acres, outdoor activities such as: horse drawn carriage ride, hiking, mountain biking, Condor Rehabilitation project, cheese factory, trout farm, pre-Incan ruins.
Sustainable Tourism: “Smart Voyager” Certification, local employment and training, GPL foundation provides childcare center, library, school, women’s embroidery cooperative, recycling, composting, trout and worm farm. Volunteers wanted.
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| Hacienda Zuleta. |
Hacienda Umbria: www.haciendaumbria.com
Location: One hour south of Quito near town of Machachi, Andean valley.
Description: Samper family home with flower gardens, immense kitchen, dining and living room, antiques, “cava” wine cellar, chapel and four guest rooms.
Adventures: Owner is chef who fixes gourmet meals, teaches cooking, serves tapas with fine wines in “cava”; Andalusia horses for riding, extensive grounds, dairy farm, sheep, rose plantation nearby.
Sustainable Tourism: Local employment, training, use of local products and materials, precise restoration of home.
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| Hacienda Umbria. |
Hacienda Hato Verde: www.haciendahatoverde.com
Location: 90 minutes south of Quito, near Cotopaxi Volcano National Park.
Description: Original hacienda and working farm owned by Morabowen family for generations; meticulous restoration using local materials, pumice walls in living room, 6 guest rooms with fireplaces (more being added), dining area, library, living room, and Ecuadorian paintings.
Adventures: Only private entrance to Cotopaxi National Park; horseback riding from hacienda to hacienda, biking, mountain climbing, hiking and trekking, lakes, indigenous markets, train ride, visiting dairy farm.
Sustainable Tourism: “Smart Voyager” Certification: Local employment, careful restoration detail to original home, insecticide-free vegetable garden, native trees planted every six months. Volunteers wanted.
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| Hacienda Hato Verde. |
Hacienda Manteles: www.haciendamanteles.com
Location: 3 hours south of Quito in central Andean valley, near Banos with view of active Tungurahua Volcano.
Description: Family owned for generations in primary forest. Ecuadorian antiquities, windows surround dining and living areas, 16 guest rooms with views, and living room with fireplace.
Adventures: Hiking, climbing, zip lining, canyoning, fishing, waterfalls, visiting indigenous people and markets, wild orchids, Llanganetes and Sangay National Parks, mountain biking, nightlife in Banos.
Sustainable Tourism: “Smart Voyager” Certification, local employment, foundation for preserving 500 forests, recycling, organic gardens, flowers, composting, conservation projects with community, agro-tourism. Volunteers wanted.
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| Hacienda Manteles. |
Samari Spa Resort: www.samarispa.com
Location: Three hours south of Quito in town of Banos.
Description: Recently opened; meticulously restored from monastery to hotel, resort and spa; 2 level dining room, bar and original tavern downstairs, separate hotel, 37 guest cottages and rooms. Convention room, art gallery, Oriental Spa with 14 treatments, outdoor pool, tennis, Japanese Gardens,
Adventures: Walks in gardens, hiking, zip lining, mountain biking, rafting, climbing, canyoning, swing jump, chiva bus rides, and nightlife in Banos area.
Sustainable Tourism: local employment, hand- carved furnishings from Ibarra, woodcarving town, use of natural products, all is hand-detailed.
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| Samari Spa Resort. |
Hacienda Abraspungo: www.haciendaabrapaspungo.com
Location: Three hours south of Quito, near Riobamba.
Description: Family-owned, adobe and tile roof, restaurant, bar, Ecuador photos of climbing and paramo flowers, women’s traditional hat collection: extensive gardens and 42 guest rooms.
Adventures: Mountain climbing, access to Devil’s nose train ride, hiking, horseback riding, tours, visits to Riobamba, mountain biking, Chimborozo Volcano, polo and bullfighting classes
Sustainable Tourism: “Smart Voyager” Certification, local employment and involvement, use of natural resources, Ecuadorian art. Internships available.
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| Hacienda Abraspungo. |
Madre Tierra: www.madretierra1.com or www.ehhec.com
Location: Near Vilacabama (valley of longevity) in southern Ecuador.
Description: Subtropical environment, guest rooms, outdoor restaurant, small convention center, spa with holistic treatments, mud and Turkish baths, pools, flowers, palms, gardens, lush flora.
Adventures: Spa treatments, visiting Vilacabama and Loja, hiking, horseback riding, Jacuzzi, swim, bird watching, relaxing.
Sustainable tourism: Local employment, solar energy, recycling, and involvement with community.
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| Madre Tierra. |
Kapawi Lodge: www.kapawi.com
Location: Amazon rainforest in remote location close to Peru; flight from Quito, canoeing, riverboat, only accessible by plane.
Description: 2008 National Geographic award as one of 50 top ecolodges in world; owned and operated by Achuar indigenous people; 20 fully screened cabins over lagoon, dining area, reading materials.
Adventures: bird watching, jungle walks, visits to indigenous communities, canoeing, cultural immersion.
Sustainable Tourism: Achuar indigenous operate the lodge after years of training, solar energy, waste recycled, eco-tourism at best, cultural immersion.
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| Kapawi Lodge. |
Hotel Palmazul: www.palmazulecuador.com
Location: Coast – San Clemente (small fishing village) near Manta.
Description: Opened in 2008, modern three story hotel overlooking an outdoor pool and Pacific Ocean.
Adventures: Beach, surf, Kid’s Explorer Club, tennis, pool.
Sustainable Tourism: Community involvement; employees from San Clemente, trained, better incomes for families. Christmas presents to children. Owner teaches tourism for free at local high school, working to bring doctor to community, recycling.
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| Hotel Palmazul. |
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