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ABOUT HACIENDA ZULETA - in their own words:
Dating from the late XVI century, Hacienda Zuleta lies in the spectacular Andean mountain range of Ecuador at 9,600 feet (2,800 meters) above the sea level, and only two hours north of Quito, the capital of Ecuador.

Zuleta is a colonial working farm of 4,000 acres (2,000 hectares) that belongs 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 as one of the best Ecuador Hotel by National Geographic Traveler.

 

The hacienda has 21 beautifully decorated bedrooms, all with their own fireplace; antique gardens along with cozy living and reading rooms offer a peaceful atmosphere.  Delicious home Ecuadorian cuisine among other types of gastronomic adventures are offered daily, prepared with organic vegetables, trout and dairy products produced on the Hacienda.

 

The Plaza family with their natural warmth and hospitality welcomes you to their country house and invites you to share life at an authentic hacienda in the Andes of Ecuador.

 

THE HISTORY OF HACIENDA ZULETA

Zuleta is a typical colonial hacienda, built by orders of the king of Spain at the end of 16th century. A big part of the construction was finished in 1691, proven by an inscription on the building on the right side of the plaza seen from the entrance.

 

Zuleta was bought by the Lasso family in 1898. In the 1920s the family owned 9 haciendas, most of them in the Cotopaxi area, some of them like San Augustin de Callo still belong to the family. Galo Plaza Lasso, who was president of Ecuador from 1948-1952 inherited the Hacienda from his mother and managed the farm until his death in 1987.

 

Zuleta now belongs to Galo Plaza Lasso’s five daughters Elsa, Luz, Rosario, Marcela and Margarita and to his only son Galo Fernando Polanco, a grandson of Galo Plaza Lasso is the general manager and he has a private house on the property. The rest of the family visits frequently during weekends or holidays.To visit Hacienda Zuleta is to experience four centuries of Ecuadorian history seeped in Pre-Colombian, Spanish and Ecuadorian tradition.

 

GALO PLAZA LASSO

Galo Plaza Lasso was born in 1906 in Manhattan. His parents Leonidas Plaza, an Ecuadorian General, who was twice President of Ecuador and Avellina Lasso, an Aristocrat whose family had been in Ecuador since the 16th Century. He spent much of his time growing up in the United States and went to school there, but returned to Ecuador to serve his people.

Galo Plaza had a vision for democracy in Latin America.  He began a cultural and educational project in hopes of improving life for the Ecuadorian people. In 1935 he was involved in building and forming one of the first rural schools in Ecuador.

 

Here in Zuleta, where his family owned one of their many haciendas, Galo Plaza began an experiment. His hope was to help the community to achieve economic stability.  In 1959 he and his wife started “Bordados de Zuleta” a project intended to help the women of the area to earn an income by embroidering objects and selling them.  The program is still in effect and you can find many of the products in the gift store at the Hacienda or in some other shops throughout the village.

 

Galo Plaza lived a very successful and fulfilling life. He was twice Ambassador of Ecuador to the United States before becoming President of Ecuador in 1948. After his presidency ended in 1952 he continued to serve his people through various projects focused on public health, environmental conservation, education, and economic development.

 

Galo Plaza was awarded several honorary doctorates from American universities, was presented with the keys to many U.S. cities (Washington DC in 1951), had a strong relationship with U.S. President Harry Truman, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and formed acquaintances with others such as Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon. He was cosignatory of the U.N. charter in 1945 and was elected in 1968 Secretary General of the Organization of American States.

 

He died here in Zuleta in 1987 of heart trouble and left behind a legacy of greatness that his family intends to carry on.

 

PRE-INCAN HISTORY AT HACIENDA ZULETA

The Caranqui Indians were the first inhabitants of the Zuleta area. The site has more than 140 Caranqui burial mounds, which were constructed between the 8th and 15th. These earth mounds where necessary to protect buildings like huts, sheds and temples from the humidity of the ground. The Caranqui Indians settled here from about 800 AD to the mid 1400’s when the war-faring Incas arrived. They fought the Incas for about forty years but the Incas won. Their reign was short-lived however and ended when the Spanish Conquistadors came. The last Incan king Atahualpa was killed by Francisco Pizarro in 1534.

 

COLONIAL PERIOD

It is believed that the region was bequeathed by Spanish King Carlos to the Jesuits. The Jesuits put into practice Spanish farming. Hacienda Zuleta was built by order of the Spanish King at the end of the 16th Century and is a typical colonial hacienda. Much of the building was finished late in the 17th Century, as indicated by an inscription:

“Behold Sacred sacrament, that this house was finished the 15 of August of 1691.

 

In 1713 King Carlos III confiscated the Hacienda from the Jesuits and put it into the possession of Canon Gabriel Zuleta of Colombian origin. Upon Zuleta’s death it was passed on to the Posse family, who hoped to bring the Hacienda back to its original splendor.

 

ABOUT THE FARM

Zuleta includes 2,112 hectares of pasture land, forest and protected areas of native primary forest. The hacienda’s production consists mainly in milk; with approximately 300 Holstein-Friesian cows. We produce 6,000 liters of milk daily, which is used to produce fresh and aged cheeses in Zuleta’s cheese factory.

Other products are potatoes, barley, wheat, trout, and approximately 2000 sheep for wool and meat and 900 tons of compost per year from the worm farm. Zuleta also has a beautiful organic garden where we produce 25 different vegetables, herbs and fruits for our own use.

 

We have almost 100 horses, some pure Andalusians and some polo horses, and a mix of Andalusian, quarter horse and thoroughbred. The workers use the horses for transportation inside the hacienda and guests or family ride the horses for their pleasure.

 

THE GUEST ROOMS - click here for complete details

The hacienda has 21 beautifully decorated bedrooms, all with their own fireplace.  All rooms are located in the main building of the hacienda.  There are three different types: Junior Suite, Hacienda Deluxe and Hacienda Standard.  The beds are queen or king size, with feather pillows and down comforters.  Suites for families and adjoining rooms are available. 

Satellite television, movies and games are available at any time in one of the living rooms.  Phone calls can be made from the public areas and offices.  Wi-Fi is available in some parts of the farmhouse and a computer with 24/7 Internet service is also available. 

 

THE GARDENS

Antique gardens along with cozy living and reading rooms offer a peaceful atmosphere.  Rosario Pallares de Plaza, the family’s grandmother, made it her goal to surround the house with thoughtfully designed gardens.  The gardens are updated with roses, bromelias, orchids and many other varieties, often brought from the native forest.  Following the no chemicals tradition, the gardens are nurtured only through organic ways. 

 

CUISINE AT HACIENDA ZULETA

Virtually everything gracing the table of Hacienda Zuleta comes fresh from our organic garden and rich earth and is carefully prepared by hand.

 

Delicious home Ecuadorian cuisine among other types of culinary adventures is offered daily, prepared with organic vegetables, trout and dairy products produced on the hacienda.  Virtually everything gracing the table comes from Zuleta’s organic garden and rich earth, and is carefully prepared by hand. 

 

Fresh milk and cream from Zuleta’s dairy cows are offered daily.  Handmade cheeses are produced from the farms’ fresh milk and carefully crafted in the small factory near the guesthouse.  Rainbow trout are caught moments before melting in your mouth, making this a true Ecuadorian cuisine moment.  Fresh organic fruit and vegetables are picked from the expansive garden to make unforgettable salads and freshly squeezed juices. 

 

ACTIVITIES FOR GUESTS - click here for complete information

Miles of meandering roads through lush pastureland, pine trees and a eucalyptus forest make the valley of Zuleta a paradise for outdoor activities, such as hiking and trekking.  There are horses, mountain bikes and a horse drawn carriage, which allow guests to explore the area.  At the hacienda guests can find out more information about trails in our activity room; there are options for every interest and fitness level. 

 

CLIMATE

Blessed with an equatorial location, Hacienda Zuleta experiences a temperate climate all year round.  Temperatures average between 70º and 75º during the day with low humidity.  Nights tend to be crisp, perfect for sitting in front of the fireplace with a warm cup of tea. 

January through June is characterized by sunny days with occasional spring-like showers.  During this time of year, the countryside is lush and green.

July and August are typically dry and provide the best opportunities for extraordinary view of the surrounding volcanoes. 

September through December offers pleasant weather with occasional showers. 

 

GETTING THERE

The hacienda can be reached within 2 hours from Quito.  Transfers with English speaking guides from Quito or other locations can be arranged with prior notice.

 

SOCIAL COMMITMENT

The Galo Plaza Lasso Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps the surrounding communities, manages “El Taller” which is a workshop of Zuleta’s famous and beautiful embroidery work.  Our embroideries are made by hundreds of Zuleta’s women who use their spare time to contribute to their agrarian family income.

Next to Zuleta’s main entrance, you will find the library of Zuleta.  Also run by the Galo Plaza Lasso Foundation, the library offers free cultural and educational activities for the community.  In the morning hours it is used as a Child Care Center, and in the afternoon many children from the community arrive for help with homework, extracurricular activities and workshops.  Guests are more than welcome to visit the library and meet Zuleta’s children.