Hacienda Piman, Mainland Ecuador

rooms

The Hacienda’s rooms are a marriage of the traditional and the modern, numbering seventeen in total; seven are in the old manor house and the remaining ten are distributed in large, new chalets a short walk from the main hacienda. Thick stone walls, exposed brickwork, paintings and antiques all contribute to the characterful atmosphere. Modern comforts are combined with a traditional warm, homely ambience and friendly, attentive service.

facilities & activities

There is an open-air swimming pool, spa and extensive gardens with beautiful old trees and colourful, exotic plants.

Guests can enjoy the rare experience of seeing the Andean Spectacled Bear at the Pimampiro Observatory, which is home to a healthy population of these fascinating creatures and other apex species such as the Andean Fox.

If you enjoy being active, there are new electric bicycles to explore in and around the hacienda’s gardens, with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, valleys and lakes.

The Hacienda is very well placed for day excursions. Ibarra, known as the 'White City' for it's pretty, white-washed colonial quarter is a handsome place of colonial buildings and peaceful squares, filled with flowering trees. Horse-drawn carts still sometimes pass through the cobbled streets. From here the restored trainline departs for the coast, offering a fun two hour ride on the rails with an interesting community tourism component. From lush green valleys to towering volcanos the train to Salinas takes passengers through landscapes which are as diverse as they are picturesque.  Nearby the Afro-Ecuadorian communities of El Chota, with their traditional African music and dance, offer for an unexpected cultural twist in the Andes. A small museum can be visited and cultural exchanges organised.

Otavalo with its thriving market, San Antonio, Cotacachi,  the pre-Inca site at Cochasquí, Bosque de Arrayanes myrtle forest and Cuicocha crater lake are all also easily visited as a day trip.

dining

Hacienda Piman is proud of the culinary traditions of the Northern Ecuadorian Andes and this is very much reflected in the hotel menu, which focuses on home-style food, cooked with fresh, local ingredients. The delicous soups, prepared with quinoa, amaranth and potato, morocho corn, fresh garden vegetables, local pork and trout are a popular option. Vegetarians are well catered for and the chef is happy to share his recipes  so you can recreate the dishes once home. Adults and children alike are sure to love the fresh fruit juices prepared with tropical and temperate fruits- a true taste sensation. The restaurant and lounge areas are housed within an impressive modern, exposed brick structure that contrasts with the original buildings. There is also an outside eating area for al-fresco dining.

location

Hacienda Piman is located in the Northern Ecuadorian Andes, tucked into a valley and easily reached by car from Quito. Positioned on the old Pan-American highway, it is just two hours from the Interational airport, 9km from Ibarra and approx. 14km from the Afro-Ecuadorian valley of El Chota. Sitting at an altitude of 2100m above sea-level, the region enjoys pleasant year-round temperatures (14-30 degrees C) and little rain.