The cultural heart of the country beats loud in the highlands around the bustling market town of Otavalo. Here, the prosperous Otavaleño Indians attend its huge livestock, vegetable and textile market, a tradition dating back to pre-Incan times. Retaining much of its authentic charm, the town sees villagers flocking in traditional attire, with women adorned in embroidered blouses, headscarves (fachalinas), and beaded jewellery, while men sport long dark braids, ponchos, and felt hats. Surrounding the town there are snow-tipped volcanoes, lake-filled craters, rolling hills, cobbled lanes lined with silvery eucalyptus, and quaint villages specializing in cottage industries like weaving, embroidering and woodcarving.
Embrace the great outdoors by hiking through the hills to discover natural wonders like the twin-island crater lake of Cuicocha, with the majestic Cotacachi volcano looming in the distance, all visible from the scenic perimeter trail, or the 18-metre Peguche waterfall, considered sacred by villagers. Horseback riding and mountain biking also provide active and fun ways to experience the Andean great outdoors.
As a guest in a hacienda, you’ll have a taste of rural Andean life. Many of these estates, still family-owned, offer insight into the daily workings of a farm, accompanied by hearty home-cooked meals and warm hospitality. Whether you opt for visits to local villages, leisurely walks, bike rides, or horseback excursions, your days can be as active or relaxed as you desire, returning to the comfort of your hacienda at day’s end.
Just 20 minutes from Otavalo Market lies the tranquil oasis of Hacienda Cusin, a meticulously restored 17th-century estate adorned with impressive religious décor nodding to its Jesuit heritage. Standing out among Ecuador’s offerings is Hacienda Zuleta, a colonial-era working farm dating back to 1691, transformed into a family-run boutique hotel and owned for over a century by the family of former Ecuador President Galo Plaza Lasso. Meals are savoured family-style, prepared by local chefs using produce from Zuleta’s own organic farm, offering authentic Ecuadorian cuisine in a cozy setting. With hidden trails to explore on foot, bike, or horseback, opportunities to learn about endangered species at the Condor Huasi centre, and workshops in local crafts like embroidery and Ecuadorian cookery, there’s plenty to discover within and around the hacienda grounds, promising an enriching and memorable stay.
