Sustainable Mountaintop Retreat in Ecuador

IMBABURA - ECUADOR

  • 15
    Bedrooms
  • 16
    Full Bathrooms
  • 4
    Half Bathrooms
  • 10,178.20 Sq Ft.
    Interior
  • 261,661 Sq. Ft (6 Acres)
    Exterior

GALLERY

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

The property, currently known as SachaJi , Beloved Mountain, is located in the Andes mountains in northern Ecuador, just over an hour’s drive from the capital Quito and its international airport. There are several direct flights from the USA to Quito from main  cities such as Miami (3 hours 40 minutes non-stop).

Ecuador is well known for having several UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Galapagos Islands (600 miles west of the mainland on the Pacific Ocean are 19 volcanic islands and a marine reserve which is a ‘living museum of evolution’), Quito’s Historic Center (built on the ruins of an Inca city, one of the best preserved colonial cities in Latin America)  and a recent addition by UNESCO to the Global Geoparks of the World is the province of  Imbabura , where the property is located.

In the central-southern part of the province, are the towns of Cotacachi and Otavalo surrounded by scattered indigenous communities, fields of native andean plantations and historic spanish haciendas. These areas have a history of being an important tourist attraction because of their close location to the capital city, the impressive landscape and  rich indigenous cultures known worldwide for their textile markets, festivals, music and warmth. Imbabura province has also become a popular choice for US Citizen’s retirement because of its tranquility, quality of life, beauty and perfect temperate climate.

20 minutes south of Otavalo town, along the Avenue of the Volcanoes and overlooking San Pablo Lake and its village,  is Sachaji.   Nestled between two volcanoes, the property is almost invisible on the skirts of  Cusin, a  prehistoric dormant volcano. The architecture is integrated into the sloping landscape through with terraces and green roofs,  allowing the natural landscape to be the focus.  The curved forms in the architecture look towards the majestic Imbabura volcano and shimmering San Pablo lake, and into the setting sun, bringing warmth into the rooms, and providing a stunning perspective of an uninterrupted 180 degree  view.

Built on 6 acres of wooded mountainside, this  eco retreat benefits from sustainable design, contemporary architecture made of long lasting local materials,  a restored ecosystem and forest, an internal private road, a 1-acre organic orchard and its own water reservoir.

The project can be expanded or adapted to different uses including a family retreat, private getaway, lodge, or residence. Ecuador’s central location in South America makes it an ideal international meeting destination.

GETTING THERE

60miles north of Quito International AirPort

DIRECT NON- STOP FLIGHT

Miami: 3h 40min View Flight Map
Atlanta: 5h 20min View Flight Map
Houston: 5h15 min View Flight Map
Ft. Lauderdale: 4h 20min View Flight Map

BAREFOOT LUXURY

Built in 2013 by owner/architect/photographer in homage to the breathtaking landscape, the project offers beauty, functionality and complete harmony with its natural environment.

  • Mainly off-grid
  • Amenities include yoga studio/meeting room, dining area, living room, hot tub & polar pool, exterior terraces, camping area
  • Main house and 3  buildings offering 12 guest rooms with private bathrooms and lake or volcano views
  • Possibility to add and adapt more rooms and private suites
  • Organic orchard, water reservoir, ecological restoration
  • Just over an hour’s drive from Quito International Airport

Unique opportunity to operate a holistic business or enjoy it as a private getaway.

SUSTAINABILITY

Green design

Sacha Ji is a pioneer in sustainable architecture in Ecuador. Green roofs were used to reduce co2 emissions and trap heat inside, brick walls were made from excavated earth.  For each wooden door, a tree of that same species was planted on site.  Bedroom electricity and hot water run directly on solar energy. Over 2,000 used tires under floor slabs trap heat inside, repel humidity and act as seismic insulation. Chimneys have a combustion system that enables efficient consumption of the wood and also radiates heat throughout spaces. Chimney ducts run through adjoining rooms and therefore heat adjoining rooms as well. Local materials used for interiors and exteriors are  low-maintenance as well as in several cases,  recycled, reused and do not contain any chemicals that may be harmful to the environment.

The combination of equatorial sun and an elevation of 10,000 ft above sea level create ideal conditions for solar energy; panels can lay flat, receive more radiation, provide more electricity, and charge the batteries faster.

Eucalyptus trees were introduced to Latin America in the 1900’s. They are fast growing, “humid” trees which makes them a good business but also a deadly fire hazard because they soak up all the water around them. Their sap is flammable, and so is their bark, which flies off when burned, igniting new fires up to 100 yards away.

llama

Ecological restoration & design

The  natural environment was primarily restored by removing most of the the introduced, non-native eucalyptus.  The design of the buildings and gardens has considered the remaining eucalyptus, which regrows very fast,  to be harvested and stored for timber.

A great extent of the property was reforested with native trees,  bringing back local fauna including butterflies, frogs, rabbits, fireflies, dragonfly, as well as different local bird species  including hummingbirds, woodpeckers  small eagles and an occasional condor visit.

Bee-friendly flowers, including sage, lavender and rosemary, have become an important part of our gardens and orchard.  The colours of flowers correspond to the chakras, beginning with red and finishing in purple or blue, all which can be spotted around the property.

Llamas are native to the Andes and have easily adapted to living on the property. These animals help cut the grass and offer great natural fertilizer for plants and are known locally to be negative energy cleansers.

Rainwater harvesting

The property has its own direct water source from the rain and nearby waterfalls of the Cusin volcano.  There are two large underground cisterns and an exterior water reservoir (over 10,000 cubic feet)  located at the highest point of the property.

Though a water pump is used to distribute water from the cisterns to the second floor of the main house, the design of the overall  property allows gravity to distribute water to all areas. Shower water is heated by solar panels integrated into the design of the green roofs and overall facades.

The reservoir has a rainwater recollection system made up of large blue concentric triangles hung over the reservoir, doubling  the amount of water it can gather and also protecting the water from evaporation.  The reservoir is also large enough to breed local trout and is home to local frog species.

All our water is filtered in the cisterns, making it healthy, pure and 100% drinkable.

Bird-watchers from all over the world flock to Ecuador for one simple reason: the country is home to more than 1500 species, twice the number found in any one of the continents of North America, Europe or Australia! For many visitors, the diminutive hummingbirds found throughout Ecuador are the most delightful birds to observe. About 120 species have been recorded in Ecuador (of 328 species recorded worlwide).

The Andes have a subtropical highland climate, spring-like year round, with average daytime temperatures of 66°F sometimes reaching as high as 77°F and falling to 48°F at night.

Organic Orchard

Orchard design & management

An organic vegetable and fruit garden (35,000 sq ft) was designed using five circles, which in numerology refers to the body.  Its produce depends on the season (rainy or dry) yet it can easily feed a group of 20 people for a week per month. The orchard has a central pathway that connects the circular “spaces” that contain beds of planted produce. The final circle is a covered pergola which can be used as intimate exterior dining area

The orchard provides a yearly variety of home-grown vegetables, and grains, including passion fruit, golden berries, grains including quinoa and amaranth, corn, different types of potatoes and dozens of medicinal plants.  Biological produce includes kale, sweet basil, different types of lettuce, Swiss chard, spinach, radish, squash, cherry tomatoes, arugula, etc. A compost area integrates organic waste from the kitchen and natural fertilizers of our llamas, creating  nutrients and  soil microbes that aid plant growth.

Ecuador is the place for anyone who loves fruit. The country has so many different altitudes that it can grow different fruit from tropical to temperate. Also, over 4,000 varieties of native potatoes grow just in the Andean highlands..

UNESCO IMBABURA GEOPARK

The Imbabura UNESCO Global Geopark is located in the northern inter-Andean region  in the Republic of Ecuador. It is known for its great multitude of lakes and magnificent geological formations, such as the Peguche Waterfalls. The highest summit is of this Geopark, the 4,939 metre high Cotacachi Volcano, is located within the Catacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve.

This area is currently inhabited by different ethnic groups that speak Spanish and the traditional Quechua language.  The main activity in the province is agriculture, tourism and commerce. Its production of handicrafts has made its indigenous population, principally those from Otavalo, famous worldwide. The province is also well known for its pan flute music and Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve.

Imbabura’s hotel facilities and tourist infrastructure are among the best in the country. Home to countless numbers of lakes and other bodies of water, Imbabura is also a great place for fishing and adventure sports.

SPIRITUAL SANCTUARY

Pre-Colombian cultures believe that when a volcano meets a lake, “that is where God is”.

At Sacha Ji, it is impossible to miss the sense of balance and flow of energy around the grounds. While that is due, in part, to the beautiful surroundings and tranquil and supportive atmosphere created by our team, the effect is no accident: the entire property, from the bedrooms to the organic orchard, was designed with feng shui values in mind.

Since 2103 the owner has run a retreat center in the property named My SachaJi Mountain Retreat which  has hosted over 50 retreats. Its natural beauty and energy has attracted several world-known teachers such as healer Guru Dev Singh, making it gain a reputation for its one-of-a-kind setting, and the perfect place to gather, contemplate, connect, heal,  and build a stronger spiritual foundation.

Own a sacred space in the magical mountains of the Andes.

WHY ECUADOR?

Named after the equator, which runs through the country and divides there the planet into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.

The smallest country in the rugged Andean highlands (roughly the size of Nevada) , Ecuador is among the most rewarding travel destinations in South America. With its array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well preserved colonial architecture, volcanic landscapes and dense rainforest, it packs its perimeters with more points of interest than many countries twice its size. The country has a population of approximately 16.5 million people with Spanish as the official language and the US dollar as the currency.

It is divided into five distinct natural geographic regions, each with its own rich biodiversity: the Galapagos Islands, Pacific Coast, Amazon Rain Forest, Cloud Forest and Andean Highlands.

Ecuador’s Andes Mountains maintain a moderate climate, known as “eternal spring.”  Average mountain temperature highs are in the low 70s F while average lows hang around 50 F all year long. These mild temperatures are ideal for active outdoor lovers, gardeners, or those who have a low tolerance for weather extremes.

Ecuador’s second and third largest cities,  Quito and Cuenca respectively, are both situated in the high Andes and possess world-class medical care. Specialists of all types can be found and often treatment costs are a mere percentage of what you’d pay in the U.S.

Those interested in alternative medicine will be pleased with what is available as well. Many of the locals still use plant-based remedies for their ailments and they are more than happy to share their wealth of knowledge. Shamans are widely available and purported to be helpful in diagnosing and curing physical, mental, and spiritual ills.

The highlands of Ecuador strike a nice balance between modern comforts and preservation of the past. While many Mestizos inhabit this part of Ecuador there is also a large population of indigenous Quechua peoples who have worked hard to preserve their heritage. Spanish and Quechua are spoken side by side in many communities and native festivals and customs still play a large role in the Andes.

Those are not the only cultures you’re likely to find. International musicians, cuisine, and artwork can all be found throughout Ecuador’s mountain towns. If you’re looking to fill your holidays, getaways or retirement days with symphonies and museums you’ll have no problem in the metropolitan areas,  which are always less than an hour flight or even short drive.