Another popular ride takes you along cobblestone roads to the north, affording gorgeous views of the mountains, to an area called La Cocha (lake, in Kichwa). We pass green pastures dotted with woods and more of Zuleta’s renowned Caranqui pyramids.

Upon reaching a stone bridge, we head towards Rinconada Santa Marta and discover El Molino – the Hacienda’s restored watermill. Here we dismount and take a short walk through lush vegetation to a roaring waterfall on the Tahuando River.

On our return, we pass by Rosario’s farm where you can admire the Hacienda’s beautiful Andalusian stallion. Finally, we continue down a long avenue where, depending on your comfort and experience, you can trot or canter back to the Hacienda.

Estimated Time: 1-1/2 /2 hours
Difficulty Level: Easy
Minimum Age Requirement: 6 years
Suggested Departure Time: 10 AM or 2 PM
Elevation: 2,964-2,870 m/ 9,724-9,416 ft
Equipment: We recommend bringing sunscreen, mosquito repellent, a camera, and a jacket. In the rainy season, rubber boots are advised.

For those wishing to see a little more of the area’s culture, we can take you around the quaint village of Zuleta. First, we leave via the Hacienda’s main gate and pass embroidery shops specializing in this beautiful art developed throughout centuries. After the ride, you can purchase high-quality crafts and souvenirs handmade by community members. We ride up to the cemetery and reach the top of the village where, on a clear day, you can admire the spectacular snow-capped Mount Cayambe.

Traditional adobe-and tile roof houses dot the landscape, surrounded by patchwork fields. Afterward, we return through the village, passing the church, the community field, and the town hall. On the way, you can see more views of the valley and the day-to-day lives of the people as they work the land and embroider traditional clothes.

Estimated Time: 1-1/2/2 hours
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Minimum Age Requirement: 6-8 years
Suggested Departure Time: 10 AM or 2 PM
Elevation: 2,964-3,234 m/ 9,724-10,610 ft
Equipment: We recommend bringing sunscreen, mosquito repellent, a camera, and a jacket.

Experience Zuleta through the eyes of a condor as we take the route up Santa Rosa hill behind the main house. The ascent opens onto spectacular views of the Hacienda, the surrounding fields, and the nearby village. We then reach a charming reservoir nestled in the hills with a tiny waterfall further on.

Climbing higher, past eucalyptus saplings, we reach cypress and pine groves and the stunning Vista Condor. Here you can admire views from above La Rinconada de San Pedro Valley, the Condor Huasi Project facilities, and the Caranqui pyramids. If we are lucky we may also see wild condors soaring on the mountain thermals.

Continuing down a dirt trail through aromatic woods, the Hacienda can be glimpsed from different angles. This route also offers opportunities to spot different wildflowers and plants, such as native bromeliads and heliconias whose fruits are a spectacled bear’s delight.

Estimated Time: 1-1/2/2 hours
Difficulty Level: Easy
Minimum Age Requirement: 6 years
Suggested Departure Time:10 AM or 2 PM
Elevation: 2,964-3,000 m/9,724-9,842 ft
Equipment: We recommend bringing sunscreen, a camera, and a jacket.

Our most popular route is to the Condor Huasi Project facilities located in La Rinconada de San Pedro Valley. Here you can learn about Zuleta’s wildlife as well as our efforts to protect and nurture endangered condors and spectacled bears. We ride past the Hacienda’s pastures, milking sheds, and trout farm via pretty cobblestone roads.

You will see many ancient Caranqui tolas – pyramids dating from before the Inca conquest. On the way back, you may choose to climb the highest ceremonial pyramid, which offers great views of the area.

You may also see wild condors taking advantage of the high winds on the mountainside. The ride includes an hour-long talk, approximately, at the Condor Huasi facilities.

Estimated Time: 4 hours (including 1-hour talk approx.)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Minimum Age Requirement: 6 years
Suggested Departure Time: 10 AM or 2 PM
Elevation: 2,964-3,018 m/9,724-9,901 ft
Equipment: We recommend bringing sunscreen, mosquito repellent, a camera, and a jacket.

The route to Vista Lago, or the Lake View, gives you an excellent experience of the range of vistas and landscapes that surround Zuleta. We follow the route up Mount Cubilche, past the community’s
fields, eucalyptus groves, and, in good weather, expansive views of Ibarra, Mount Cayambe, and Mount Antisana. After about two hours, we reach a scented pine forest and take the path beside it, curving around the mountain to further vistas of the nearby valleys.

On the other side of Cubilche, we discover the landscapes of Mount Imbabura and the stunning San Pablo Lake – Vista Lago. Set in a wide basin surrounded by volcanoes, the lake provides a glorious
the backdrop to a delicious picnic.

We also get a chance to see Zuleta’s flocks of sheep grazing in the high pastures. Once rested, we choose between different options to return to the Hacienda, depending on your preference, taking in more countryside and mountain landscapes.

Estimated Time: 6-7 hours
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Minimum Age Requirement: 6 years
Suggested Departure Time: 8:30/9 AM
Elevation: 2,964-3,400 m/9,724-11,154 ft
Equipment: We recommend bringing sunscreen, a camera, and a jacket.