Living History of the Hipolongo Hacienda
In the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes, right at the legendary Igualata Sanancajas pass, the natural border with the province of Chimborazo, there is a place where time seems to have stood still. At the foot of the imposing mountain, Hacienda Hipolongo preserves among its lands the vestiges of the colonial era, witness to centuries of history, traditions, and living memories.
Colonial origins
​The documented history of Hacienda Hipolongo dates back to 1708 and 1709, when it was part of the vast domains of Don Felipe de Salazar, who owned 20 caballerías (772.7 ha), and Don Antonio de Cepeda, owner of 40 caballerías (1,545 ha). Even at that time, these lands were coveted for their fertility and strategic location.
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Jesuit presence
​In 1720, the Jesuit Fathers arrived in the parish of Quero, settling on several properties, including Hipolongo, which then covered approximately 16,000 caballerías. With the expulsion of the religious order in 1767, the estate was meticulously inventoried by the Royal Court and then auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Aristocratic inheritances and illustrious figures
This is how Hipolongo passed into the hands of Doña Rosa Mateus Aranda, the legitimate daughter of the Marquises of Maeza. Years later, it became the property of Dr. José Antonio Maldonado, brother of the illustrious geographer Pedro Vicente Maldonado Sotomayor. In 1792, the estate was acquired by Don Mariano Cevallos, father of the famous historian Pedro Fermín Cevallos.
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Later, Don Pedro Herdoíza de Paz acquired it shortly before the great earthquake of 1797, and by 1844, Juan Francisco Pérez y Zuñiga became its new owner, marking the beginning of a new family era.
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The legacy of Taita Dios de Quero
In 1843, his son, Juan Francisco Pérez Jr., popularly known as Taita Dios de Quero, was born. He was a beloved and respected figure in the region. Upon his death in 1913, the estate was inherited by his son, Eladio Pérez Freire, who continued the family tradition of caring for and respecting the land.
The feminine soul of Hipolongo
With Eladio's death in 1961, his daughter Gladys Pérez Rodríguez de Ribadeneira took over the estate. Today, together with her children and granddaughters, she keeps the essence of Hipolongo alive, caring for it with the same love with which it was founded.
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Hipolongo today: tourism with history and heart
Since 2012, thanks to the vision of agronomist Vinicio Ribadeneira Benavidez (+), the family has undertaken an inspiring rural tourism project with the aim of sharing the historical, religious, cultural, and natural wealth of the hacienda with the world.
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Currently, this unique experience is led by his descendants, who invite visitors to walk ancestral trails, discover colonial chapels, learn about family legends, and connect with nature in an authentic environment, full of history and life.
