Ecuador has historical and renovated haciendas or traditional ranches. Haciendas often cover large areas of land and incorporate agricultural operations and other businesses. Many Ecuadorian traditional haciendas have developed ecotourism and agritourism branches.

Historical context

Hacienda is a Spanish word for an estate. Some haciendas were plantations, mines, or even business factories. Many haciendas combined these productive activities. The hacienda system of Argentina, parts of Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Viceroyalty of New Granada was a system of large land-holdings that were an end in themselves as the marks of status (in Portuguese, the cognate term fazenda applies to the similar system in Brazil). The hacienda aimed for self-sufficiency in everything but luxuries meant for display, which were destined for the handful of people in the circle of the patrón.

List of eco-tourism focused haciendas

• Hacienda Zuleta. Eco-lodge and horseback adventures. Sits between 2870 and 3050 m in the Andean mountains of northern Ecuador, 110 km and a two-hour trip north of the capital, Quito. See the Andean highlands by horseback, mountain bike, carriage or hiking. There is also incredible birding, nature watching and homemade organic cuisine with many ingredients from the working farm. Hacienda Zuleta is involved in nature conservation through its Andean condor rehabilitation program and protection area for the spectacled bear.
• Hacienda Primavera
• Black Sheep Inn