Name: Hacienda Hosteria La Papaya
Address: Parroquia Tenta, Saraguro 110150, Ecuador, Saraguro, Saraguro, Saraguro, 110150, Ecuador
Rating: 9

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Ciudad de Catamayo Airport

Hacienda Hosteria La Papaya

Saraguro

A Hacienda with coffee plantations. We were allowed to go on an excursion to the coffee plantation. The plantation is maintained and cared for by 8 people throughout the year. At the main reading in February, the coffee grower employs an additional 12 people to handle. The romantic rooms are housed in various buildings. We could enjoy breakfast outdoors, of course with homemade coffee.

Upper-class sleep comfort

My husband and I had the pleasure of spending our 30th anniversary at the Hacienda La Papaya, 45 minutes outside of Saraguro. The property is beautiful and was once part of a grand tract of land, with foundations dating to 1666. The property was burned and ransacked during the great Grand Colombian and Peruvian war of 1829: Simon Bolivar himself stayed there. The famous botanist Fray Vicente Solano lived on the property for seven years in the 1850's and was writing some of its major works.

The current owner, Juan Peña Gullen and his wife Anabel Zabaleta, are the sixth generation of the current family that owns the hacienda. They are growing one of Ecuador's most highly rated coffees on the slopes of the hacienda. They also have a wide variety of livestock, plants and flowers (not to mention 4 beautiful children)

The hacienda is in start up phases as a bed and breakfast destination in 2015, with about 4 bedrooms and bathrooms, away from the main premises. The breakfast was scrumptious, and we chose to eat our main meals in Saraguro, as there wasn't a fully functioning restaurant on the premises. (We were offered a fixed menu option). The rooms are somewhat rustic and charming in that way, but not luxurious. People who like dude ranches in North America or Europe would probably enjoy this destination. At the time we booked, only American Express or cash was accepted.

Breath-taking views, interesting history and warm hospitality

This large (10 hectare or more) Hacienda, at 6,500 feet elevation, is a working coffee plantation about a 45 minute drive from Saraguro, partly on dirt road (Read...you need a car). It is far removed from most anything, so there is not a lot to do in the area. Loja is about an hour drive from the Hacienda. This is a place to come and relax!!! 

The family owners, Juan and Anabel, are delightful and go out of their way to ensure you have a pleasant stay. 
NOTE: they, and everyone else at the Hacienda, only speak Spanish. 

Accommodations are what we would describe as "upscale-rustic" guest house buildings totaling about 5 rooms. Our room was the lower floor of an old house at the back of the property with the upper floor set up as their coffee museum. As the photos show, it is rustic but very nice with comfortable beds. There was an issue with the shower (temperature and volume), but not enough to dampen our overall enjoyment. Juan showed us the new solar water heating system which is set to be installed in the near future..

Meals are ordered in advance (and are at additional cost) but there is no menu......you just order a Breakfast, a Lunch or a Dinner. Meals are prepared by Anabel in Ecuadorian style using organic produce grown on the Hacienda. She can accommodate most dietary requests with advance notice (gluten-free is not likely possible though). There is no alcohol available, so bring your own if you want to consume. Breakfast is varied and plentiful (as much as you want) and served alfresco so you can enjoy the views. We enjoyed breakfast two mornings and each was different and delicious.

We arranged for Anabel to bring us a morning "cafecito" in our room before breakfast. We took it outside on the veranda to enjoy the morning sun, the spectacular views and the horses playing. In the mornings, unbeknownst to us, there are tiny black biting insects which itch like crazy for days. We discovered, too late for our ankles and forearms, that if you put lotion, liquid soap or any mild repellent on your uncovered parts, they will leave you alone.

When things are not too busy (high bean picking season is March - May) Juan will give you a fully informative 90 minute tour of his coffee plantation and operations.

We absolutely enjoyed our stay at La Papaya and will return.

Beautiful rustic setting on a bio-dynamic coffee plantation

Owner, proprietor Juan Peña Guillen runs a slice of paradise as a high-end hotel on a coffee plantation high in the mountains in southern Ecuador.

The renovated farm house is rustic luxury. Rooms are spacious, comfortable, and very clean. Dining areas are well appointed and comfortable. The grounds are magnificently maintained and beautiful.

Mr. Guillen's joint venture with Shamuico Espai Gastronomic in nearby Saraguro brings among the best food in the country to the hotel lovingly prepared by Barcelona-trained chefs. Bring your appetite. The food is fantastic, complex, innovative and abundant.

Countryside is magnificent, verdant, lush and mountainous. If you're fortunate and Mr. Guillen has time to show you around his land you'll get the real scoop on local, organic cooperative coffee farming. A fascinating experience.

Practical advice: the place is a bit difficult to find and to get to. It's a solid 45 minutes drive past Saraguro. Get a driver from Cuenca or other nearby cities. Here's an important tip: GPS coordinates are 3°31'33" S 79°16'41" W.

It takes effort to get there but it's 1000% worth it.

Hacienda Hosteria La Papaya

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