Haciendas of Ecuador: Otavalo, Papallacta & Cotopaxi
Six days in the Ecuadorian Andes staying in the old haciendas: Quito, the Otavalo market, the Papallacta hot springs and a working estate under Cotopaxi. From £1,999 per person with flights.
Your trip
Your 6 days in Ecuador
The haciendas of the Ecuadorian highlands were the great estates of the colonial period, and several of the best have become small hotels with their own horses, chapels and kitchens. This six day holiday strings four of them together. You start in old Quito, drive north to the Otavalo market and San Pablo lake, soak in the Papallacta hot springs, then spend two nights on a working hacienda at the foot of Cotopaxi with a morning on horseback along the old cobbled roads. It is a gentle, comfortable week that works well on its own and even better as the first half of a Galápagos holiday.
At a glance
6 days
Private tripJust your own party
Easy to ModerateActivity level
Flights includedATOL protected
Flexible datesYou choose when you go
EcuadorOur destination guide
What makes it special
Highlights
Quito and the equator
Old Quito on foot, from the cathedral to San Francisco, and the equator line at Mitad del Mundo
Otavalo and San Pablo lake
The Otavalo market on the Plaza de Ponchos and San Pablo lake under Imbabura
Papallacta hot springs
A night at Termas de Papallacta, the best hot springs in the country
The páramo of Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi National Park, Limpiopungo lake and the páramo wildlife
An Andean hacienda
Two nights on a traditional Andean hacienda, with a private horseback ride to the La Viudita viewpoint
Lunch with the family
Lunch cooked and hosted by the hacienda family
Day by day
Your itinerary
Day 1London to Quito
Fly from London to Quito, where your guide meets you and drives you to your hotel in the old town. Quito was the first city in Latin America to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its historic centre is one of the best preserved in the Americas. Overnight at Patio Andaluz or similar.
Day 2Old Quito, the equator and on to Otavalo
A morning walk through the colonial centre with your guide: the cathedral, the gold-leaf altars of La Compañía and the church and plaza of San Francisco, with a coffee and humitas at the Café Cantuña. Around midday you drive to the Mitad del Mundo monument on the equator. Then north towards Otavalo, stopping in Cayambe for the town's famous bizcochos, to arrive at your hacienda for the night. Overnight at Hacienda Pinsaquí or similar. Breakfast included.
Day 3Otavalo market to Papallacta
The day in and around Otavalo. The indigenous market is one of the most famous in South America, with woven tapestries, blankets, knitwear and pottery, and the bargaining is part of it. You stop at San Pablo lake for the view of Imbabura volcano, then drive in the late afternoon to Papallacta, a small mountain village built around natural hot springs, for a long soak before dinner. Overnight at Termas de Papallacta. Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 4Cotopaxi National Park to your hacienda
Time for the pools or a short walk in the morning, then a scenic drive to Cotopaxi National Park. The volcano is the highest active one in the world and the páramo around it holds wild horses, deer, llamas and the chuquiragua, the mountaineer's flower. You walk to Limpiopungo lake and visit the park museum, then settle into a traditional Andean hacienda for two nights. Overnight at Hostería Los Mortiños or similar. Breakfast and picnic lunch included.
Day 5A full day on the hacienda
After breakfast you are introduced to the daily life of the estate, then saddled up for about two hours on horseback along old cobblestone roads to the La Viudita viewpoint over the whole valley. Back at the house the owner hosts a typical lunch. The afternoon is yours: rest, walk the grounds or cycle on the páramo. Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 6Hacienda to Quito airport
Transfer to Quito airport for your flight home, or for the flight to the Galápagos if you are carrying on. Breakfast included.
Your price covers
What's included
Flights
Return flights from London (other UK airports on request)
We can also book other airlines, including flights with one stop, to suit your dates and preferences.
Accommodation
Five nights in a Quito boutique hotel, two haciendas and the Papallacta spa hotel, twin or double rooms
Meals
Breakfast every day, lunch on days three, four and five
Transport
- Private transport throughout with an English speaking guide
- Airport transfers in Quito
Experiences
The horseback ride and all the visits in the itinerary
ATOL protection
ATOL protection on the whole package
Not included: Travel insurance · Meals not listed · Drinks · Tips for guides and drivers · Personal spending · Entry to optional museums at the equator line
Your next step
Dates and price
No commitment, we reply within one working day
Before you book
Frequently Asked Questions
From £1,999 per person, two sharing, with return flights from London, five nights, a private guide and driver and the meals listed. It is a from price, so your dates and the hacienda grade set the final figure. We quote before you commit to anything.
No. The ride on day five is about two hours at walking pace on quiet estate horses, with a guide beside you. If you would rather not ride, the hacienda can organise a walk or a bike ride to the same viewpoint instead.
Yes, and it is the most common request. Day six ends at Quito airport, which is where the Galápagos flights leave from. Four nights on Santa Cruz with day boats to the nearby islands adds about £2,600 per person including the flights and park fees. Ask us for the combined quote.
They are old country estates, some going back to the 1600s, now run as small hotels with a dozen or two rooms, open fires, their own chapel and horses. Expect character rather than a spa resort: thick walls, wooden floors and good home cooking. Termas de Papallacta on night three is the exception, a modern spa hotel built around the hot springs.
The highlands are good all year. June to September is the driest and clearest for Cotopaxi views. The Otavalo market runs every day but is biggest on Saturdays, so we plan day three around a Saturday when your dates allow.
Plan your haciendas holiday in Ecuador
Tell us your dates and whether you want to add the Galápagos, and we will send a full quote with flights, haciendas and the private guide included.
Real reviews
What our customers say
They organised excellent accommodation and transfers from airport to destination and between destinations which was seamless and gave us peace of mind for our trip. We stayed in the nicest casa particular in Havana right on the outskirts of the major hustle of the old town but within walking distance to every site and lots of lovely restaurants. Our hotel in Varadero had 5 a la carte restaurants which were delicious and wonderful beaches! Would definitely go back to Cuba and use TravelFab again.
Annabelle
Excellent service. Fabien responded to all our queries promptly and efficiently and was always willing to spend time talking to us. The itinerary was well-considered and well-organised with an adequate amount of time in each location. Locations were varied and interesting. The service provided by the B&B owners was good to outstanding. The organisation of the coach services for transfers from one destination to another was super with comfortable journeys in clean, air-conditioned coaches. Thanks, TravelFab!
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I was very impressed with Fabian's dedication, patience and professionalism in organising a group of 8 young persons (over 60's) to get to Cuba. The whole experience has been a very positive one. Despite having to relocate to another hotel at the last minute, that change over went very smoothly. Our accommodations were excellent. We will definitely book with TravelFab again. Thank you!
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More holidays in Ecuador
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Ecuador & Galápagos Grand Tour: Amazon, Andes & Islands
Ecuador & Galápagos Journey: Quito & Santa Cruz
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