Zuleta

Zuleta (2915m N 00°12.437´ W 78°05.501´) is a little village in the northern region in Ecuador and it is famous because of the homemade needlework. Its community is well organized and they know about their touristic potential so nowadays they are supporting many projects in this area.

To get Zuleta, from Quito, you have to take the Panamericana Norte to Ibarra and then enter by La Esperanza, eventhough there is a shorter way. Go to Cayambe (3140m N 00°02.517´ W 78°08.564´) and continue by the Panamericana until the detour to Olmedo (3122m N 00°08.445´ W 78°04.514´), the highway is ok until this place, then you have a 2nd order way (no asphalt) to get Zuleta.

500 meters before Zuleta´s church we found a path that took us to a nice small lagoon with herons, half an hour later we got a waterfall with no name, it was a perfect place to enjoy the water with a little swimming.

The community is building a Hostel next to the church, but now just the restaurant is working, its style is roustic and the food is delicious.

From Zuleta you can climb the Cunrru mountain (3306m N 00°13.789´ W 78°05.792´), the hiking is about 2 hours (you can hire a pick up that takes you 30 minutes before the top). There are spectacular landscapes with the Cayambe volcano, valleys, cattle, etc. There is a perfect place to camp in the top of the mountain just next to a small lagoon.

Another recommended activity is to visit the Hacienda Zuleta (2900m N 00°12.357´ W 78°04.913´), wich is a Hostería nowadays. The paths are well defined with signs and you can visit the earthworm-culture area, the cheese museum and the pyramids and funerary "tolas" wich will take you to the time when the Hacienda was inhabited by ancient tribes like Caranquis.

Cóndor Huasi is a project supported by the Galo Plaza Laso foundation and it is located inside the Hacienda, its main objective is to reinsert to the wild to condores that are nowadays in big cages. the project also teaches children and youngsters about nature and enviromental education. Some wild condors have came to this place and fly over the cages. Until now 12 birds have been classified. It is impressive to see the king of the andes range flying free over the high grassland.

Thera are more pictures of this destination in our gallery.