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Vilcabamba Glimpse #35

Lee Harrison's "Postcard" About the Ranch

The following piece was written by Lee Harrison, the Roving Latin America Editor for International Living. Lee writes that Hacienda San Joaquin is "the best-run project I've seen--and I've seen dozens throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. It's well-planned, well-executed, well-managed, and imaginative." And much more...

Best, Joe

"Most IL Readers Move to This Perfect Valley"

International Living Postcards--your daily escape

http://www.internationalliving.com
Monday, May 14, 2007
Vilcabamba, Ecuador

Dear International Living Reader,

What a sight: a beautiful, sun-bathed valley stretching off into the distance, surrounded by magnificent mountain peaks as far as we could see. The giant geological formation Mandango overlooks the valley, and a sparkling river crashes toward the Pacific. Off in the distance, tucked away at a perfect 5,000 feet, sits the tiny village of Vilcabamba.

Vilcabamba is well known to backpackers, who stop here on their way to Peru following the Inca Trail. It's home to a small, bohemian mix of pioneers from around the world who, since the 60s, have been willing to leave First-World comforts behind in order to move to paradise. And little Vilcabamba continues to draw the focus of scientists who are studying why such a large part of the population lives to be over 100 years of age.

Visitors to Vilcabamba don't want to leave. We get warm days and cool nights 365 days a year--with highs usually in the high-70s (degrees Fahrenheit) and lows in the low 60s; there's no need for heat or air conditioning. The air is crystal-clear, the stars amazingly bright, the water pure, the food organic, and the lifestyle laid-back and healthy. Plus, Vilcabamba has the highest percentage of English-speakers in Ecuador.

You can live well here on less than $1,000 per month.

Perhaps it's the small village's relaxed, colonial charm…its beautiful square…good restaurants…or its perfect climate…but those who make it this far down the Inca Trail have trouble tearing themselves away.

I've brought many readers on tours of Ecuador, and Vilcabamba is where most people decide they want to buy. But two problems kept cropping up: Small inventory (you could see but one or two houses in your price range at any time), and low specification (houses here--including my house--are a bit more primitive than what most North Americans want). Plus, if you don't want to live in Vilcabamba full-time, you'll have to hire a caretaker to look after and maintain your property while you're not around...someone to remove a fallen tree, or pay your electric bill and taxes.

Now there is a new option, allowing you to take pleasure in one of the most naturally beautiful valleys in the world…while still enjoying most of the amenities that make life pleasant. I think this is a breakthrough for International Living readers, based on my discussions with many of you.

Just over three miles outside Vilcabamba village on the banks of the Vilcabamba River, Hacienda San Joaquin starts where the small village road ends. No other access and no through traffic. The developers at the Hacienda are selling 58 properties, interspersed throughout a sprawling, natural setting of almost 700 acres. Their plan is to preserve 60% of the property as riding trails, hiking paths, and some of the most dramatic Andean mountains, canyons, and valleys that you could hope to find. The equestrian and hiking center serves as a gathering place for the residents, as well as a place to relax in the outdoor café.

The fresh, pure, water of the Vilcabamba River cascades by the Hacienda on its way from the nearby mountain peaks to the Pacific Ocean, guaranteeing a continued fresh water supply.

You can buy mountain lots and riverfront properties, of varying sizes and settings, so there is plenty from which to choose. This is a community where you're part of a group of individuals who appreciate the active, healthy lifestyle and tranquil ambiance of Vilcabamba. You can leave your home at the Hacienda, secure in the knowledge that it will be safe, sound, and ship-shape when you return.

This is the best-run project I've seen--and I've seen dozens throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. It's well-planned, well-executed, well-managed, and imaginative. Plus, importantly, the financial backing is good, so the progress--of the infrastructure and amenities--is not dependent on property sales. In fact, the infrastructure was 75% complete before the first group was invited to look at properties--and it's over 95% complete today. Early buyers are already building their homes.

Properties at Hacienda San Joaquin range in size from around a quarter-acre to more than 20 acres. Prices range from $31,000 to $239,000--mountain lots to private canyons to riverfront estates. (Many of the small lots are joined to large tracts of community land, so I've seen buyers get what amounts to several private acres for the price of a small lot.) Construction costs start at $25 per square foot, and design/construction support is available if desired.

I asked the editors at IL to let me write about this project because Hacienda San Joaquin is just down the road from the house I bought here five years ago, and I know the area well. I also know one of the developers, Joe Simonetta (his business partner is Carl Wescott of San Francisco), as a friend and a good neighbor. I believe this will be perfect for many of the readers who wanted to settle here, but were unable to find the right house.

Lee Harrison
Roving Latin America Editor, International Living

The photos: