This enchanting, furnished Uzhupud, country home on 2000+ sq. meters of land also features multiple dwellings including a 1-bedroom home with a giant terrace and spectacular views; a guest house, a secluded meditation and yoga retreat, an outdoor living room under a thatched-roof cabana, a large workshop and storage unit, a laundry room and an expansive, flat green area, perfect for sports and ideal for building another casita, a swimming pool, or additional living/entertainment spaces. This charming rural estate is located in Uzhupud, a desired neighborhood 10 minutes from Paute, and 40 minutes from Cuenca, favored by well-to-do Ecuadorians as well as expats.

The 63.4 sq. meter main house has an open concept plan with a living and dining area, a charming and ample, working kitchen with an eat-in bar and plenty of storage and cabinetry;  an entry hall with a desk area and a divine, tiled bathroom and bedroom leading out to the terrace. The living area also takes you out to the tranquil covered terrace, with tons of space for el fresco dining, with views of the garden, the exquisite Andes mountains, and the beautiful green grass lawn. The lawn is currently used as a wonderful croquet field thanks to its flat ground and expansive length. Also, in front of the terrace is a 100-year-old King Palm tree that provides shade and visual beauty to the landscape.

Walking into this idyllic gated home -- with its striking red exterior -- you immediately feel relaxed and calm. The inviting, warm, country-chic ambience, is highlighted with stone and tile, wooden beams, bamboo ceilings, real wood accents and has the feeling that you stepped back in time, and you never want to leave. The serenity and beauty of this property delights every sense and the pastoral setting, Andean Mountain views, and garden delights, just add to the magnificent natural settings enveloping you.

A second 36.04 sq. meter guest house features a lovely sitting area with views of the lush gardens, lemon trees, rose gardens, hibiscus bushes, aloe vera plants, and bamboo -- which can also be seen from the main terrace, The guest house also has a second room with a pull-out couch and lovely desk area, plus a tiled bathroom.

A covered walkway separates the two houses, which easily could be combined to make one large home should you desire more living space. With all the buildings on this property, you are limited only by your own imagination as to how to use them to fit your lifestyle.

Down a fieldstone path is a building currently used as a meditation, yoga retreat. Nestled among old growth, mature trees, this private sanctuary is ideal for those desiring serenity and spiritual practices amongst nature. 

A stroll through the verdant garden, laced with lemon trees and flowering shrubs, "secret" sitting areas, and room to plant more fruit trees, takes you to a large barn that has been converted into a workshop. The owner of this property  -- who was a contractor in the States -- has lovingly built the buildings and amenities on the land to North American standards, and this is a perfect work and storage area, that also could be converted into something else should you not need a workshop.

There is a large dug-out vegetable garden surrounded by wood (currently empty as the owners travel extensively) that is ready to be planted so you can grow your own organic vegetables and delight in cooking with fresh produce from your own backyard garden.

Just a few steps away is the gorgeous, thatched-roof cabana that friends and family gravitate to in order to linger on the hammocks, take a daytime nap, enjoy a meal or a great conversation while you watch the sun go down, or just read a book on the comfy couches, while gazing at the beauty all around you.

Also on the property is a covered car park, and room for additional cars on the driveway. Additionally, there is a bodega/storage room housing the washer and dryer, and utilities for the villa. 

A series of three septic distribution tanks handles effluents and there are two water systems, including town potable drinking water and irrigation water, fitted with an electric pump from
a cistern. There is also a spring-fed stream on the property.

This bucolic, unspoiled home and land is located in a small, exclusive private gated, lane, with only 4 other homes -- all owned by wealthy Ecuadorians who generally use their properties as weekend getaways.
This house is also reached by its own custom-built wooden driving gate, or a matching walking gate set in a private lane. The private lane has an electronic entry gate and the tree-lined neighborhood is very
safe and secure. The neighboring Uzhupud Gardens also has a 24/7 guard.

Cuenca, Ecuador's 3rd largest city and its cultural capital is only 40 minutes from this rural retreat, on paved roads with easy access. Here you will find top-notch restaurants, huge supermarkets, entertainment including music, dance, art and more. The quaint, yet bustling town of Paute is only 10 minutes away and has all you need for everyday life including grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, a small hospital, a great Mercado and other amenities just around the corner. And, Uzhupud Gardens, an old Hacienda revived into a first-class hotel and global orchid farm, includes a beautiful restaurant, a conference room, horseback riding, swimming, and many other activities and amenities, just two minutes from your country compound.

This enchanting, furnished Uzhupud, country home on 2000+ sq. meters of land is listed at $275,000. Select furnishings and all appliances are included in the sales price.Other pieces may be negotiable.