Hacienda Piman

A hacienda has stood on this site since 1680, so it’s no surprise that a historic atmosphere pervades the place. There is a chapel and library on site dating from the 1800s, and the tranquil garden also dates back over a century. The hacienda has belonged to the same family ever since its creation, and a homely atmosphere permeates the hotel.

In keeping with the style of the villa, the 17 rooms at Hacienda Piman are traditional in their design, yet beautifully maintained and stylish. Each is unique, with different rooms featuring parquet-style tiled flooring, exposed redbrick walls, and peaceful balconies. Ground floor rooms open on to the hacienda’s peaceful garden. Some rooms feature beautiful exposed beams and wooden panels in the ceiling. Seven of the rooms are in the main manor house and the other ten are distributed across five cottages, with two in each.

Hacienda Piman proudly champions the culinary traditions of the Ecuadorian Andes at its restaurant, where a range of classic dishes is served up from fresh, seasonal mountain ingredients. The fresh produce harvested from the surrounding area includes quinoa, amaranth, chard, pork and trout, while the hotel particularly prides itself on its staggering range of freshly pressed fruit juices. Vegetarians are well catered for, as are those with other dietary requirements.

The hotel’s peaceful garden is a lovely place to relax or go for a stroll; ground floor rooms open out onto it. There are also massage treatments available in the wellness area, and an open-air swimming pool to cool off in. Adding to the hotel’s heritage atmosphere are a chapel and library, both dating from the 19^th century.

The nearby city of Ibarra, known as the White City for its whitewashed historic centre, is a fascinating mixture of indigenous and colonial culture. The history of the region is told at the fascinating Museo Arqueologico y Etnografico Atahualpa, while the Iglesia de la Merced is a beautiful church featuring an altar covered in gold leaf.

North of the city lies the Paramo El Angel, a beautiful nature reserve home to wild forests of paper-bark trees and prehistoric-looking frailejon plants.