Dive into the history of Ecuadorian cheese
Salinas - Walk into the cheese!
Price: Upon request
What awaits you during this 1 day experience
You will discover the origin of the famous Salinerito cheese brand and visit their origin. You will learn about the history of the brand and the history of the Salinas village. Meet the people who make this delicacies!
The community you will be visiting
An exploration of Salinas de Guaranda, an inspirational indigenous town and shining example of a flourishing community-based economy. Fifty years ago, with the help of a visiting Italian Salesian priest, the people of Salinas opened a cooperative cheese factory to provide a sustainable source of income to local dairy farmers. It was so successful that they created more cooperatives, producing chocolate, dried fruit and mushrooms, essential oils, and woollen garments. Their main brand, Salinerito, now has several stores throughout the country and exports internationally. Profits are reinvested … Read more about Salinas
Food & Drinks
Enjoy a wide variety of local made cheese, make your own pizza and taste the wide variety of local sweets.
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Salinas • Cheese factory tour Salinas
A tour of the Salinerito cheese factory, which makes 17 types of cheese from milk brought in daily by campesinos, sometimes carried by llama. Started with 50 litres of milk, the factory now processes 4,000 litres per day, mostly from grass-fed Jersey cows. We may also have the chance to see the chocolate and dried fruit cooperatives in action.
Salinas • Making pizza in Salinas
We will make our own pizza at the Roxy Cafeteria in Salinas, a cosy Italian restaurant serving pizza and pasta made with the famous Salinerito cheese. Roxy offers a range of artisanal products, including delicious local chocolates and a range of Italian-inspired liquors. Try the espresso with sambuca!
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Salinas • Natural salt water spring in Salinas
A visit to the natural salt water spring that has created cascading pools of built-up minerals. Historically, people came from all over the region to mine the salt for cooking, medicine and rituals, giving Salinas its multi-ethnicity and name. Today, a handful of families still extract salt, keeping the tradition alive. We will also stop in at the town’s cultural centre to learn about its history and culture.
Salinas • Salinas - Yacubiana cheese factory
A visit to Yacubiana for a tour of one of Salinas’ 22 community cheese factories, where the products are said to rival even the original Salinerito brand. The milk is brought in daily by 130 campesinos, all of whom feed their animals organically. We will have the opportunity to sample some delicious cheeses, including camembert and queso andino.