TOP 10 LUXURY HOTELS IN ECUADOR

Did you know that Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands have a lot to offer for the luxury traveler? Do you want to explore these adventurous destinations with all the comfort you can imagine? In this post, you will find my personal recommendations for luxury hotels in Ecuador & the Galapagos, so you can enjoy a deluxe stay. You can visit these destinations for your honeymoon, anniversary, or any other special occasion.

” Going on a luxury trip is the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion; it is about gaining experiences together with your loved ones, however, it is very important you make sure you stay in the best hotels! “

LUXURY HOTELS IN ALL REGIONS OF ECUADOR

Ecuador has 4 regions, each with different types of cultures, climate, flora, and fauna. To start off, you have the Galapagos Islands, located about 1000 km out of the coast. This National Park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. In the Ecuadorian mainland, you have the Amazon Rainforest; the Andes Mountains, and the Pacific Coast. Below you will find our top 10 luxury hotels located in all four regions of the country:

ANDES MOUNTAINS

1. ILLA EXPERIENCE HOTEL

(5* – $$$$)

Empowering the local community, Illa is a pioneer in the term Experience Hotel. This remodeled Colonial family house will show you the Ecuadorian capital from a local perspective. Also, you will have very comfortable rooms, not too big, but the service is great. In this video, you can see the different experiences the hotel offers with the local community in their traditional San Marcos neighborhood in the historical center of Quito. 

2. QUITO POLO CLUB

(5* – $$)

This is a hotel located on a working polo club, about 30 minutes outside of Quito, and just 15 minutes away from the airport. The hotel has a swimming pool, tennis court, and dirt roads around where you can have a walk. Excellent for active travelers who like to be in nature and don’t mind some quietness. The rooms are spacious, and the views over the Andes mountains give you the ultimate feeling of freedom.

AMAZON & CLOUD FOREST

3. MASHPI LODGE

(5* – $$$$$)

This is the ultimate deluxe forest experience. The lodge is located on a 2,500-acre private reserve with over 400 species of birds, trees, and frogs found nowhere else in the world. Service, guiding, and food are spectacular, and it is just 3,5 hours by car from Quito. Watch the video of our guests’ experience in Mashpi Lodge.

4. SACHA LODGE

(4* – $$$$)

Deep in the Amazon rainforest, this lodge offers a nice mixture between experience and comfort. You will need to travel first to Coca, and from there you go by motorized canoe into the Napo River. Sasha Lodge is innovating all the time, and now they are featuring a canopy walkway of 275 meters long at an altitude of 36 meters.

PACIFIC COAST

5. LAS TANUSAS RESORT

(4* – $$$$)

Right on the Pacific Coast, you find this peaceful, organic, relaxing, small-scale resort in the middle of nature, where you can find over 150 species of birds. You can get there only by private transportation. The resort is located about 1,5 hours from Manta Airport. 

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

The famous Galapagos Archipelago consists of many different islands and islets from which only the 3 biggest islands have luxury hotels. These three biggest islands differ a lot:

• Santa Cruz is the most developed, and you will find more infrastructure, great restaurants, and a lot of hotel offers.
• In San Cristobal, the village is picturesque, and you have sea lions everywhere which makes it more like an adventure.
• Isabela is the less developed island among the three, but it has a long white beach which is incredible and offers the best holiday feeling. The infrastructure is not that developed yet, and the restaurants are very local. 

” The Galapagos Islands was the best part of my Honeymoon “

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

6. FINCH BAY GALAPAGOS HOTEL

(5* – $$$$$)

Finch Bay is considered the best of the best in the Galapagos Islands. You are lucky if you find availability because rooms in this hotel are sold out very quickly. The hotel is located in Barrio Punta Astrada where there are no cars allowed, so it is the best place to disconnect. You can choose between regular rooms and suites.

7. IKALA GALAPAGOS HOTEL

(4* – $$$)

Ikala Hotel is not a 5-star, but it is a decent 4-star hotel located in the village of Puerto Ayora. The swimming pool is quite small, but the suites are comfortable and the breakfast is delicious. If you are doing a lot of activities this hotel is great because you are close to all the important facilities.

SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND

8. GOLDEN BAY HOTEL

(5* – $$$$)

Golden Bay hotel features a delicious local restaurant with lots of products produced by the community. The hotel is beachfront, but Playa del Oro is ‘owned’ by hundreds of sea lions, so if you want to go swimming, you should probably go to another place.

ISABELA ISLAND

9. ALBEMARLE BOUTIQUE HOTEL

(3* – $$$)

Albemarle is not a 5-star hotel, but it is a decent beachfront option in town with a small swimming pool and a long beach where you will be able to relax before and after your experiences on Isabela Island. 

10. SCALESIA GALAPAGOS LODGE 

(4* – $$$$$)

In the highlands of Isabela Island, you will find a camp with safari tents. This is Scalesia Lodge. It has a delicious restaurant that features local products. The views over Isabela are breathtaking from Scalesia, although at night, it can be chilly in the highlands. 

If you have any suggestions for these top 10 best luxury hotels in Ecuador & Galapagos please contact us.

Written by Rebecca Braak

Did you like this blog? You might also like:

• Snorkeling Vs Diving on the Galapagos Islands
• Experience the Galapagos Islands on a Private Cruise
• 25 Remarkable Facts about the Galapagos Islands