Hacienda Guachalá is considered the oldest hacienda in Ecuador, its recorded history going back to the 16th century when it was a Jesuit agricultural estate. The hacienda sits a few kilometres south of Cayambe in a green valley, surrounded by carefully maintained gardens and pasture land. The main house and its chapel have been restored over several centuries and today the property operates as a boutique guesthouse with a restaurant serving traditional Ecuadorian food.
Even if you are not staying overnight, the hacienda is worth visiting for its history and atmosphere. The building's thick adobe walls, tiled courtyards, and colonial-era chapel give a tangible sense of how the highland estates that shaped Ecuador's social structure actually looked and functioned. Day visitors can arrange lunch and a tour of the grounds.