Λ Introduction
V Previous

Vilcabamba Glimpse #39

Equestrian and Hiking Center Overview

The last Vilcabamba Glimpse focused on the entrance to the Equestrian and Hiking Center. This Glimpse provides an overview of the entire complex. The photos were taken from the mountains on the western side of the ranch.

Photo 107: A view of the entire Equestrian and Hiking Center. In the middle of the photo is Stable One with 24 stalls. To the left of this stable is Stable Two with 16 stalls. To the right of Stable One is the Organic Ranch Store and Outdoor Cafe. To the right of that is the covered Entrance which was featured in the last Glimpse. The long narrow structure on the right is the Information Center (community bulletin boards, maps of the hiking and horseback riding trails). Near the lower left-hand corner, barely visible, is the roof of the Horse Wash and Groom building. On the far and near sides of the Equestrian and Hiking Center are corrals, two of the four corrals on the property (these are the smaller ones).

In future Glimpses, I will show you close-up and more detailed views of these facilities.

Photo 103: The Equestrian and Hiking Center is on the left side of the photo. This gives you an idea where the Center is located on the property. All the mountains to the left (and much more) are part of the ranch. Our hiking and horseback riding trails traverse these mountains. The mountains in the far distance are part of the range of Andes Mountains that are everywhere visible.

Photo 104: This photo shows the core area of the ranch, which consists of all property to the left of the visible Vilcabamba River. Only a fraction of the mountains that embrace the ranch are shown. Notice how the totality of the home sites are wrapped on three sides by mountains and open on the fourth to the river. Feng Shui people say this is ideal.

These photos were taken June 27, 2007. The colors just changed from being emerald green to the tannish colors you see. The colors will remain like this until October or November when the occasional night rains begin and, nearly overnight, transform the colors back to rich greens. It's quite something to observe.

Update on sales: At this writing, we have 18 properties either sold or reserved. Three homes are under construction. Owners are from the United States (Connecticut, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and California), Canada (Toronto) and England (Salisbury). Interest continues to be very strong with visitors arriving weekly. Many great properties are still available. But don't wait to long.

The photos:

Best, Joe

Joe Simonetta
Owner/Architect
Hacienda San Joaquin
Vilcabamba, Ecuador


P.S. International Living named Ecuador "The Best Place in the World to Retire" http://www.haciendasanjoaquin.com/best_in_the_world.html