A Stay at Hacienda El Porvenir

Hacienda El Porvenir

I recently got back from a quick visit to Ecuador where I had the joy of visiting the Cotopaxi area for a few days. I decided to stay at Hacienda El Porvenir, which sits at 11,811 feet in the foothills of Ruminahui volcano, just outside of Cotopaxi National Park. The hotel is actually an old farmhouse— it is made from local materials, highlighting the traditional Andean construction. On a clear day, you can see Cotopaxi volcano looming in the background.

Overview

Cotopaxi sits behind Hacienda El Porvenir

I got the pleasure of talking with Jorge, the owner of Hacienda El Porvenir, over breakfast one morning and he told me all about the farm and what they stand for. The property was purchased by his (several great) great grandmother, Isabelle Escudero in 1913 and has been in their family for five generations since. About 30 years ago they renovated the farm house to turn it into the lovely hotel it is today.

The property is a working ranch and they are dedicated to sustainable agriculture and ecotourism. Unlike many other properties I have encountered who say the same, Hacienda El Porvenir embodies this fully. They have been working to rebuild natural forests on their vast property by planting hundreds, if not thousands of trees—which we saw first hand during our trail ride. There are solar panels to support the electricity needs of the lodge and the rooms boast fireplaces and warm water bottles in the beds to provide heat on the chilly Andean nights.  After chatting with Jorge and his wife, I also learned that they try to source as many materials as they can from the local towns rather than from Quito—even if this means they have to pay a premium. Finally, they continue to support the local communities by hiring their staff locally as much as they can rather than dipping into the wider pool of applicants in the neighboring city of Quito. 

To top it all off, the owners and all of the staff are incredibly kind and go above and beyond to ensure you have a memorable experience. 

Rooms

Suite, room 1

Hacienda El Porvenir is currently going through a renovation to all of their guest rooms. I was lucky enough to stay in one of the recently updated rooms and it was absolutely gorgeous. They said that in about three months, the remainder of the rooms would be updated as well. So if you’re heading there after April 2025, the renovations will most likely be completed. 

They build a fire in your room every afternoon at 3:30pm and tend to it until turn-down service

I stayed in one of the suites, Room 1, in the main building. The room was absolutely gorgeous—boasting white washed walls with colorful, local decor. There was a nice sitting area with a fire, which they light every afternoon at 3:30pm and attend to until the turndown service at night. I was just as happy to spend time in my room, reading by the fire as I was exploring the beautiful hotel grounds.

The Activities

Plenty of mountain biking and hiking trails on the property

There is no shortage of activities on the property. While I came specifically to go horseback riding, I learned that they’ve built the property into an adventure lovers paradise. The property is home to miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. You can rent one of their well-maintained mountain bikes or an e-bike to cruise the property or opt for one of the self-guided hiking trails. All of their trails are well maintained, well marked, and easy to follow. Bike rentals start at $19 for one hour and you can find discounts for a longer rental period.

The high ropes course with the resident llamas

They also have a high and low ropes course on site that are both kid-friendly and exciting for adults—this activity is just $15 for children and $19 for adults. If you’d like to venture into Cotopaxi National Park, they can coordinate park visits, day treks, or even multi-day treks which include overnight stays at one of their other lodges within the property.

The spa is free to use for all guests

After a long day of having fun outside, their spa is the perfect treat. They have a cold plunge, hot tub, jacuzzi, and traditional steam sauna that are free of charge to guests. They also have a resident masseuse and  you can also enjoy a massage in their treatment room—treatments start at $39. Finally, they also offer cooking classes where you can learn to make empanadas and traditional hot sauce directly from one of their talented chefs. This experience is just $20 per person.

Horseback Riding

Plenty of trails to explore on the 2,000+ acres

As an experienced rider, I’m always seeking out opportunities to ride while I am traveling. I was incredibly excited for the four hour trail ride and had the pleasure of riding with the owner of Hacienda El Porvenir and my friends at Rebecca Adventure Travel. With the hotel sitting on over 2,000 acres, we had no shortage of beautiful trails to explore. We were lucky to see about 6 condors flying overhead and got to ride alongside wild horses and bulls. 

Riding alongside wild horses and bulls

Many farms that offer horseback riding in tourist destinations often do not have well trained horses. This was not the case at Hacienda El Porvenir—they had some of the most well behaved horses I have had the chance to ride. With riding gear, such as helmets, saddles, and chaps, in perfect condition combined with a horse you can trust, galloping through the Andes was the dreamiest activity of my entire visit to Ecuador. 

Their well-stocked tack room is filled with chaps, helmets, saddles, and ponchos

Whether you have never ridden a horse before or you’ve been riding for over 20 years, I highly recommend booking a trail ride with Hacienda El Porvenir while visiting Cotopaxi—you’ll be in excellent hands! For those who are experienced riders, they offer some incredibly unique horse related activities such as participating in a cattle round up.

The Food

I don’t usually put much thought into food while traveling, as I focus the bulk of my pre-trip research on activities and accommodations, but I was thrilled to find that the food at Hacienda El Porvenir was delicious. They focus on local ingredients and grow or produce many of them themselves. The plating was always beautiful and every dish I ate left a lasting impression. They had some really unique dishes as well—such as a tomato soup heated with volcanic rock. Of course, the ambience added to the dining experience as well with a cozy and thoughtfully decorated restaurant. I still dream about the dinner I had by their fireplace, featuring a perfectly cooked steak from local beef with a fresh huckleberry sauce.