Quito
This delightful 18-room guesthouse is set in a converted colonial mansion sprinkled with colorful paintings and stained-glass windows. Rooms are even…
Must-see hotels in Ecuador
The Oriente
Run by a local indigenous family who also grow cacao, this peaceful lodge on the south side of the Río Napo makes for a quiet retreat outside of town…
Cuenca
Hanging over the high cliffs of El Barranco, this colonial abode has comfortable rooms, four of which have river-facing terraces. The cafeteria – all bare…
Lago Agrio
Hands down the best, friendliest place in town: popular with oil industry travelers. Average-sized rooms are spotless, anonymous and business-style, with…
North Coast & Lowlands
If Mompiche had a five-star hotel, we suppose this would be it. With air-con, wi-fi, cable TV and even a small, clean swimming pool, you might not feel…
Tena
The swishest spot in town is on the large side by local standards. Rooms are spacious with good bathrooms, TV and writing tables in most, and surround a…
Quito
This charming 10-room guesthouse receives high marks for its friendly service, cozy sitting rooms (where you can sit fireside and enjoy a glass of wine or…
Papallacta
This 10-room hostal sits just meters from the Termas de Papallacta, but is a fraction of what you would pay to stay within the spa confines. It’s chilly…
The Quilotoa Loop
Located right across from the lake viewpoint, bright and welcoming Hostal Chukirawa is one of Quilotoa's more appealing accommodations. Rooms are arranged…
Cuenca
In this pretty, colonial-style hostal, 16 comfortable, wood-floored rooms with modern bathrooms surround a peaceful inner courtyard complete with gurgling…
Isla San Cristóbal (Chatham)
It’s a long (1km) uphill trudge to this small walled-off complex overlooking town. If that isn’t a problem, Pimampiro’s spacious villa-style cabins with…
Baños
This comfortable inn situated around a pretty interior garden with plenty of hangout areas offers a quiet retreat. The staff here are friendly, and the…
Central Highlands
A good option for discerning travelers, the rooms here are welcoming and clean – though slightly dated save for the flat-screen TVs (some rooms don't even…
The Oriente
The older, most pleasant rooms surround the small pool in the garden out back at this long-term city-center favorite, even though they face the common…
Loja
A small step down in class from the Grand Victoria but a step up from everything else, the Zamorano is the business choice – smart and slick and…
Quito
The stylish Anahi brings high-end design to the Mariscal, with sun-drenched, artwork-filled suites (some with balconies) and high-end fittings. Stone…
Southern Highlands
These cabins, outside the port of Las Orquídeas on the Río Nangaritza, can immerse you in a lost world of blackwater river tributaries, rock formations,…
Guayaquil
This massive sparkling complex includes several restaurants, shops, a pool, a gym and a casino. It's one of the most luxurious choices in the city. It's…
Riobamba
The Montecarlo occupies an attractively restored, turn-of-the-20th-century house. The use of blue (blue couches, blue carpet, blue trim and blue-plaid…
Vilcabamba
Call it adobe chic. Each of the meticulous rooms at French-owned Rendez-Vous has its own little terrace that looks out onto a calm, feng-shui interior…
The Oriente
Sacha Sisa Lodge, run by Tena guide Juan Garces, sits on a river cliff – aside from the great views, it is also mercifully fresh and mosquito-free. Guests…
Tena
The spacious, comfortable rooms and tranquil riverside setting make this Tena's best accommodation. There’s a tiled balcony with wooden loungers,…
The Galápagos Islands
Directly on the beach only a few blocks from the central square, this unadorned and modern building’s lack of character is more than compensated for by…
Southern Highlands
Located half a block north of the main plaza, Zamora’s most upscale hotel (it's all relative) has firm beds, blow-dryers, flat-screens and relatively…
Quito
For an escape from the Mariscal circus, this friendly hostel is an excellent, clean and laid-back option with comfy rooms, shared kitchen, terrace with…
The Oriente
Cresting a hillside 3km above Cotundo, Huasquila Lodge has 20 rustic but cozy and well-appointed cabins. There's a good restaurant, a pool and a mix of…
The Oriente
This popular traveler haunt is one of the more charming places in town, with bright rooms, wooden floors, mosquito nets, laundry service, good coffee…
North Coast & Lowlands
There are good ocean views (sometimes with accompanying welcome breezes) from this three-story spot with cane-walled rooms including mosquito nets and…
Quito
This friendly midrange guesthouse has a warm, inviting lobby with a colonial color scheme and cheerfully painted rooms that face an interior courtyard…
Quito
Elegant rooms with polished parquet floors, a cozy bar and reading room and a rooftop terrace with plants make Casa Joaquín an excellent midrange option…
North Coast & Lowlands
La Vista is an upscale-ish four-story guesthouse. Its spacious, nicely designed rooms have beamed ceilings and glass (rather than screened-in) windows,…
Quito
The Mariscal's famous Blue House comes to the Old Town in a quiet, chilled form. Expect clean, wood-floored rooms and a pleasant roof terrace. The free…
South Coast
Boasting a central waterfront location, Coco's is a good option for its attractive but simply decorated rooms (though some lack natural light), with…
Coca
This smart, clean and bright midrange hotel in the center of town has 29 comfortable air-conditioned rooms with cable TV. You can opt out of breakfast for…
Guayaquil
About four blocks west of Parque del Centenario, the Oro Verde is still the classiest hotel in town – not so much for superior-quality rooms as for its…
South Coast
One of the top upscale options downtown, Veuxor is a safe bet near the main plaza, with spacious, nicely designed rooms, some of which have views over the…
Isla San Cristóbal (Chatham)
Near the east end of the waterfront, Miconia has a range of rooms. The best are the seven suites in the original building, with big windows, arched…
North Coast & Lowlands
Located upriver from Playa del Oro, these rustic, community-managed accommodations include eight rooms, each with a private bathroom. To get here, you'll…
Southern Highlands
The Arrozales (rice fields; named after the town's economic mainstay) is Macará's fanciest option: sparkling, big rooms (all air-conditioned), private…
Loja
The welcome may be the only aspect of Floy's likely to get international respect but this personable hotel does offer incredibly good value for big, clean…
