Must-see hotels in Ecuador

  • Sacha Lodge

    The Oriente

    Enjoying a spectacular setting on the inland lake of Pilchecocha (Laguna El Pilche), a short hike and canoe ride from the Río Napo, Sacha Lodge is one of…

  • Lodging House Casa del Lago

    Puerto Ayora

    Ideal for laid-back families or small groups. Choose from several suites with fully stocked kitchens and charming private patios or porches: everything is…

  • Casa Iguana Mar y Sol

    Isla San Cristóbal (Chatham)

    Everything in this five-room hotel, only minutes from the malecón toward Playa Mann, is lovingly and painstakingly handcrafted – from the railings to the…

  • Casa Blanca

    Isla San Cristóbal (Chatham)

    There’s no better place to base yourself in town: not only does this whitewashed adobe building have charmingly decorated rooms and tile floors, but it…

  • Tambopaxi

    Central Highlands

    Located within the national-park boundaries, with Cotopaxi looming close by, Tambopaxi is a certified sustainable-tourism project that hires local workers…

  • Manso Boutique Hotel

    Guayaquil

    The unrivaled malecón location aside, Manso is both a hostel and boutique hotel, housed in an atmospheric period property. Rooms vary in comfort and style…

  • Hotel Termas de Papallacta

    Papallacta

    Most visitors to Papallacta stay at this supremely comfortable yet totally unpretentious resort – a great way to experience the thermal baths in style…

  • Casa Shangri-La

    North Coast & Lowlands

    This fantastic place is owned by a friendly Dutch guy, Jeroen, who has created a chilled-out surfer spot with a big garden, a plunge pool, very nice rooms…

  • Anaconda Lodge

    The Oriente

    Run by the warmly welcoming Chilean-Colombian couple Francisco and Silvia, Anaconda Lodge is their jungle lodge dream come true. Screened wooden cabins on…

  • Casa Upano B&B

    The Oriente

    Perhaps this is an inkling of what Macas' future could hold: a serene retreat for travelers tucked away from the city mayhem. Four balconied rooms look…

  • Pepe's House Hostal

    Cuenca

    Opened in 2017, superchill and aesthetically appealing Pepe's House is Cuenca's hostel for travelers who've graduated from party mode. With a colorful but…

  • Rumi-Wilco Ecolodge

    Vilcabamba

    A 10-minute walk from the bus station up a track over the river, Rumi-Wilco has a series of remote houses, cabins and camping spaces within the evergreen…

  • Llullu Llama

    The Quilotoa Loop

    Two blocks west of the plaza, Llullu Llama is an enchanting old farmhouse with thick adobe walls, colorful rooms and a woodburning stove. The biggest…

  • Hacienda Los Mortiños

    Central Highlands

    A wonderful place to stay not far from Control Norte on the north side of the park, this modern adobe dwelling (not an old hacienda, but newly constructed…

  • Hostal Kundalini

    Montañita

    Sitting on the beach in front of a surf break, Kundalini was once nothing more than a thatch-roofed building set out on a lawn with four rooms. Now it's a…

  • Hostal Pakay

    Tena

    Ecofriendly Hostal Pakay is surrounded by woodland, and a stay here is more like a jungle lodge experience than a town hostel experience. Wooden rooms are…

  • NucaPacha

    Guayaquil

    On a peaceful street in Urdesa, this appealing guesthouse has a pool, patio, and hammocks rimmed by mango and papaya trees and tropical foliage. Some…

  • Hostal Riviera-Sucre

    Otavalo

    The bargain prices have risen some, but we still love Freddy's charming wood-floored, high-ceilinged rooms that surround a delightful inner courtyard with…

  • El Cafecito

    Cuenca

    In a smart and beautifully decorated building on the plaza opposite the market of Mercado 9 de Octubre, flashpackers are catered for as much as…

  • Mansión Alcázar

    Cuenca

    With unrivaled service and rooms decorated with unique themes, the Alcázar is the best high-end offering in Cuenca. A water fountain spills over with…

  • Hotel Bambu

    North Coast & Lowlands

    The nicest hotel in town has a great sand-floored restaurant and bar, cabins with exposed cane roofs, wood-panel windows and mosquito nets, plus delicious…

  • Madre Tierra Resort and Spa

    Vilcabamba

    On a hillside with waterfalls and gardens 2km north of town, Madre Tierra has a strong New Age vibe, replete with candles and healing ions. Rooms are…

  • Mansion del Rio

    Guayaquil

    Housed in a lovingly restored home from the 1920s and hidden down a riverside cobblestone street in Las Peñas, the rooms at Mansion del Rio are handsomely…

  • Chescos

    South Coast

    This funky new hostel on the malecón is where the young people hang out. It has a welcoming atmosphere and a TV lounge with swings as seats, plus games…

  • Hostal Doña Esther

    Otavalo

    This small, Dutch-owned colonial-style hotel is cozy, with attractive rooms surrounding a courtyard ornamented with ceramics and ferns. The service is…

  • Casa de Laura Hostal

    Isla San Cristóbal (Chatham)

    This friendly, family-owned hideaway is one of the best-value places in town. Located in a two-story adobe building with modern hot-water rooms, it has a…

  • Hamadryade Lodge

    The Oriente

    Perched on a hillside a few kilometers upriver of Misahuallí and accessed by the road along the northern shore, this stylish, ecofriendly French-owned…

  • Inti Sisa

    Central Highlands

    Part of a community tourism project, Inti Sisa (the Kichwa words for sunflower) is a welcoming spot that's tastefully decorated and filled with local…

  • Huella Verde Rainforest Lodge

    Puyo

    On an isolated meander of the Río Bobonaza around 45km south of Puyo, Huella Verde puts even the bigger Yasuní lodges to shame by offering fascinating…

  • Luna Runtún

    Baños

    Perched at the top of a cliff (2260m), gazing down over Baños and up to the Tungurahua summit, Luna Runtún is a luxurious hotel in a fabulous location…

  • Posada del Arte

    Baños

    This exquisite little guesthouse has colorful, comfortable rooms, wood floors, gigantic breakfasts and art all around. Several rooms have waterfall views,…

  • Playa Escondida

    North Coast & Lowlands

    Look no further for seclusion: the lovely and remote Playa Escondida offers accommodation in rustic cabins surrounding a beautiful beach cove, set amid 2…

  • Black Sheep Inn

    The Quilotoa Loop

    This wonderfully rustic community-operated property sits above the valley, 100m north of Chugchilán, and offers spectacular views. Rooms have a cozy cabin…

  • Cabañas & Pizzeria Kopal

    The Oriente

    These cabins, hewn exquisitely out of wood by their Dutch carpenter-owner, with their cozy interiors and deep porches conducive to relaxation, would be…

  • Hostal de la Rábida

    Quito

    Doting service, inviting common areas and elegant rooms make a fine combination in this charming guesthouse. Rooms are bright with crisp white sheets and…

  • Hotel Roka Plaza

    Central Highlands

    Housed in an old casona (large colonial-era house), this tasty boutique hotel has the nicest rooms in the city center. There are only seven of them, so…

  • Hostería El Jardín

    South Coast

    Outside the town center, El Jardín is a peaceful, family-run guesthouse with a pretty courtyard garden and comfortable rooms. It's a short taxi ride ($1…

  • La Posada del Sueco

    South Coast

    Owned by a friendly Swedish-Ecuadorian couple, this lovely remote eco-minded beachfront complex has six attractive rooms surrounding a lush garden of…

  • Hostería Farallón Dillon

    South Coast

    The owners welcome you on board at this clifftop inn, half whitewashed villa, half imaginary ship. The brainchild of an ex-captain, the place is filled…

  • Masaya Hostel

    Quito

    Occupying the best part of a city block, Masaya Hostel outclasses almost all the city's top hotels with its spacious wood-floored rooms, beautiful public…

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