Ecuador Andean Hacienda Tour – 8 Days

Our guide/representative will be waiting at the airport with a sign that reads your name on it, he or she will greet you and guide you to our vehicle and will accompany you to the hacienda Rumiloma.

Just a mere 5 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the capital city of Ecuador, Rumiloma is truly a small paradise in the heart of Quito. The extraordinary location of Rumiloma and its combination of different Andean ecosystems makes it a special place of refuge to more than 80 species of birds, who eat, play and nest here. 

Dinner

Enjoy the amazing views of Quito and learn about its fascinating history.

Walk around Independence Square and we see the Presidencial Palace and Arch Bishops Palace, La Catedral, El Sagrario, La Companía and San Francisco Churches. Then continue to El Panecillo, the hill that hosts a giant statue of the winged Virgin, where you will have a splendid view of all of old and new town. 

Lunch

In the afternoon, we continue north of Quito. Visit the Equatorial monument dividing the Northern from the Southern Hemisphere. Jump from one Hemisphere to the other and capture the most taken pictures. We continue to visit the “Intiñan” Museum (Solar Museum). Here you learn about tribes, seasons, and tradition of the people of Ecuador.

Overnight at Hacienda Rumiloma and dinner

After a couple of hours enjoying the constantly changing Andean scenery of Ecuador, we will arrive at the province of Imbabura, well-known as the region of lakes.

We will visit Otavalo and its famous Indigenous Market, whose multicoloured square offers beautiful textile handycrafts made of wool and cotton, native paintings, straw hats, handmade imitation jewelry and other countless curiosities that display the creativity of Ecuador. 

After shopping we will have lunch at Pinsaqui Hacienda

After lunch continue to Cotacahi, here you can buy excellent leather goods for very low prices and see the beautiful Lake Cuicocha. Overnight at Hacienda Zuleta. Zuleta is a colonial-era working farm that has belonged to the family of Mr. Galo Plaza Lasso, a former president of Ecuador, for more than 100 years. It was chosen as one of the world’s “Top Ten Finds” by Outside magazine and named one of the best “Ecuadorian Hotels” by National Geographic Traveler.

If you wake up early enough you will watch birds and take part in the milking process in the Hacienda.

Breakfast over, you will embark on the “Condor’s Trail”, to view Caranqui archeological remains, see condors and tour trout farms. You can also ride a horse on the trail. If the weather permits you will take a picnic lunch. Alternatively, you could eat at the Hacienda.

After lunch, you will tour the embroidery center which is a joint venture between the cheese factory and the Hacienda Foundation. This evening, you will tour the Hacienda’s Galo Plazo library which belonged to the Secretary of OAS (Organization of American States) and former Ecuadorian President. As soon as dinner is finished, you will relax around a fireplace and gaze at the stars from the patio at the center of the Hacienda.

Overnight at Zuleta Hacienda

Enjoy our last day in the Hacienda and take a short horse ride before leaving it for the Avenue of the Volcanoes Tour.

We will drive through The Panamericana South Highway, enjoying the beautiful landscapes, arrive at the impressive active volcano Cotopaxi (5.897 m. High). During our staying at the National Park we will visit its museum, the natural environment of the place, its animals and plants, stop a the Limpiopungo lake, If the weather allows us we can take a walk up to the Refuge José Rivas to 4800m (15,748 feet). It is the most popular and frequented refuge in Ecuador.

Overnight at Hacienda San Agustin de Callo, built on the site of an Inca palace, one of the two most important archaeological Inca sites in Ecuador.

Overnight at Hacienda San Agustín de Callo.

Enjoy our last day in the Hacienda and visit an indigenous Indian market in the vicinity.

After lunch, ride to Baños Hacienda Manteles, Its forest and wildlife make this peaceful place an ideal ambient to escape. For nearly 25 years they have been stewards of more than 200 hectares of cloud forest in the Llanganates National Park which jealously guards the secret of a legend “the hidden treasure of Atahualpa”

If you are fond of bird watching, wak up early in the morning and you can observe a great variety of birds. The best times for sightings are between 5 to 9 am and 4- 6 pm depending on weather conditions and season. Enjoy of the facilities of the Hacienda: trekking, horseback riding , bird watching, mountain biking, mountain climbing, fishing and exploring Manteles” cloud.

After lunch, we will pay a visit to Baños before returning to Quito.

Overnight at Casa Gangotena

Departure to the airport or Ecuador tour extensión to the Amazon Rainforest or Galapagos Islands.