An hour from the Guayaquil international airport, in the lush tropical lowlands, smothered in banana, teak, mango, pineapple, and sugar cane plantations, sit Hacienda La Danesa. The Hacienda was founded by Helge Olsen, who immigrated to Ecuador from Denmark in the 1960s, hence the name “The Danish.” Helge was captivated by the lush, fertile landscape and its residents' friendly, slow pace of life. The Hacienda has now been passed down through three generations of the Olsen family, with his grandson Niels Olsen opening the farm gates to share their magical oasis with international visitors just recently.
With just seven guest suites and ample common areas and lounges, La Danesa exudes the Danish concept of “Hygge” in design and hospitality but with a tropical Latin twist. This Danish word/concept refers to finding comfort, pleasure, and warmth in simple, soothing things such as a cozy atmosphere or the feeling of friendship.
La Danesa is a 1,200-acre working farm consisting principally of teak wood and cacao bean plantations, from which they design and produce furniture and artisanal chocolate. But in addition, they produce a myriad of products ranging from milk, honey, cheese, and dulce de leche, delivered to select customers in Guayaquil and the surrounding countryside.
While La Danesa is an incredible place to relax, unwind and indulge in fantastic farm-to-table gastronomy - the landscape lures guests into exploring the property on horseback, floating down lazy rivers in inner-tubes, spot wildlife, or indulging in workshops such as bean-to-bar chocolate making or beekeeping lessons. Only a short drive away from the farm, there are options to explore the cloud forest and waterfalls or visit neighboring banana plantations.
La Danesa is one of the best places to stay before or after a trip to the Galapagos Islands.
PROPERTY FACTS
7
Heritage Bedrooms (2), Restored Stables (2), Garden Cottages (3)
Bed & Breakfast, Full Board and All Inclusive
Yes, WiFi Throughout and Complimentary
Open Year Round
None
Massages Only (Full Wellness Center Opening in 2023)
N/A
Number of Rooms:
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RATES
from $415-645, per room, per night
from $610-842, per room, per night
from $1343, per person, for a 3d/2n stay
Bed & Breakfast
Full Board
All Inclusive
LOCATION: NARANJITO, ECUADOR
Closet Domestic Airport:
Guayaquil (GYE) receives numerous international and domestic flights throughout Ecuador and has the most direct flights to/from the Galapagos. It is a 90-minute drive from the Guayaquil airport to Hacienda La Danesa
Those coming to Ecuador just to do a 4-7 night cruise in the Galapagos tend to fly into and out of Guayaquil for its convenience over flying through Quito. Many Galapagos cruise packages include airfare into and out of Guayaquil. Most are forced with at least one overnight in Guayaquil to facilitate the connection. Instead of staying in an airport hotel, the 90-minute drive out to La Danesa is so much more rewarding an experience. If travelers are looking to arrive just a couple of nights prior to a Galapagos cruise, to ease into their trip and hedge against potential flight cancellations, a night or two at La Danesa is a great call. La Danesa is also a great place to relax and unwind after a Galapagos cruise for a few nights. Those doing more involved itineraries in Ecuador can choose to arrive and depart out of Guayaquil and Quito in order to include more. It is also possible to drive 4 hours directly from Hacienda La Danesa to Cuenca.
Land or Helicopter Transfers can be arranged to/from Hacienda La Danesa for an additional cost.
Unique Arrival & Departure Options:
WHEN TO VISIT
Located close to sea level on Ecuador’s coastal belt, La Danesa has a very tropical climate with temperatures between 75-90F (25-33C) year round. This area is known for the year-round production of tropical fruits such as bananas and mangos to put the weather into context - so it is a year-round destination with little variance in temperature, mostly a change in precipitation and cloud cover.
May through October: This is a sunnier time of year with less frequent rainfall and less cloud cover.
November through April: There tends to be more cloud cover and more frequent rainfall. The rainiest months are January through April
FOR FAMILIES
Hacienda La Danesa is a family-owned and operated property, with three generations of the Olsen-Peet children raised here and more grandchildren on the way. It still is the family gathering spot for them on the weekend and an absolute delight for children of all ages.
Kids absolutely love watching and interacting with all the farm animals, floating down the tropical river by intertube, and making their own chocolate from bean to bar.
RECOMMENDED LENGTH OF STAY
The minimum suggested stay is two nights. However, three nights is ideal for providing enough time to mix activity with relaxation.
If all you can do is one night, it is well worth the 90-minute drive out and back over staying in the city. Or day visits can be arranged.
UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
It is advisable to have a buffer of at least one full day, better two full days, before a Galapagos cruise in case of international flight cancellations or delays. You cannot “catch up” with your cruise ship if you miss its departure. What better way to factor in this buffer time than enjoying the serene location and incredible service of Hacienda La Danesa over the mega-city of Guayaquil in an airport hotel?
For those that want to do something on mainland Ecuador but are prone to altitude sickness, Hacienda La Danesa is only 30 feet above sea level. Most other destinations in Ecuador require flying into Quito at 9.500ft and going higher.
With any Galapagos trip being chock full of activity and early morning wake-up calls, ending a trip for a few nights at Hacienda La Danesa is the ideal way to decompress and relax before returning home.
The drive between Guayaquil and Hacienda La Danesa is fascinating, getting out into the real world of Ecuador. The drive takes you through small agricultural towns that focus on the production of tropical fruits, mainly Bananas, Pineapple, Sugarcane and Mangos.
For those that enjoy farm-table dining experiences, Hacienda La Danesa is tops. The farm produces its own milk, cheese, fruits, chocolate, and even teak wood for its buildings and furniture.
The variety of activities at La Danesa is diverse, and you can mix half days of relaxation with a half day of activity no problem. Three of my personal favorite experiences, unique to La Danesa are the lazy river float by intertube, their bean to bar chocolate making experience is so professionally done and informative and the beekeeping experience is life-changing, you will never appreciate the role of bees (or the taste of honey) more in life than after this eye-opening experience.
With only seven guest rooms, the experience at La Danesa is extremely exclusive and customized for every guest.
BEST COMBINED WITH
A two or four night stay at Hacienda Zuleta is a wonderful and relaxing addition to a Galapagos Islands trip or as part of a longer mainland Ecuador itinerary. It is an excellent choice both for families and couples who appreciate warm and familial hospitality,