ECUADOR ACCOMMODATION

Cafe Cultura

This luxurious colonial hotel is conveniently located located near Quito's museums, main shopping areas and the best cafes and restaurants in town. Originally a family home and then the residence of the French Cultural Centre, the ground floor features a wood-panelled library (complete with guidebooks, magazines and newspapers), a cafe, reception area and three stone carved fireplaces.

Patio Andaluz

This boutique, colonial hotel is the only one of its kind located in the heart of Quito's historical quarter. It is therefore ideal for those wishing to explore the surrounding churches, museums and natural monuments as well as the many bars, cafes and restaurants during a free day. The stylish guestrooms within the converted 19th century house face a bright inner courtyard and the hotel has its own restaurant.

Hacienda Pinsaqui

Constructed in 1790, Hacienda Pinsaqui was originally a colonial textile workshop, employing over 1,000 weavers and spinners. The hacienda offers well-appointed suites with fireplaces (and some with a jacuzzi bath), reading room with fireplace, historical chapel, restaurant featuring Ecuadorian and international cuisine, 200 year old gardens with pond and roaming llamas, horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking.

Las Palmeras de Quichinche

Positioned below the towering peaks of Imbabura and Cotacachi, Las Palmeras is a 150-year-old country hacienda, twenty-five minutes walk from the market town of Otavalo. The grounds, which are planted with hibiscus, bougainvillea, palm trees and several fruit orchards, are great for bird-watching. The cottages, rooms and houses are decorated in rustic Andean style.

Hacienda La Cienega

Hacienda La Cienega in Lasso lies near the base of the Cotopaxi Volcano. Everything about this lovely hacienda is tasteful and elegant. On arrival in the shade of many trees you pass around a huge fountain and stop before the hacienda's massive portal. Built late in the 17th century with full view of the majestic Cotopaxi Volcano, the main house remains unchanged, and additions for guests are true to its style.

San Augustin Hacienda

Built from the remains of an Inca Palace, this fantastic hacienda is tucked away at the foot of the Cotapaxi Volcano. It has an incredibly rich history, and boats some of the best preserved Inca walls in Ecuador. Most of the rooms still have partial Inca walls and are individually furnished and decorated with beautiful antique furniture., portraits and pictures. Most have their own fireplaces to warm you in the evenings.

Abraspungo Hosteria

This intimate hotel is decorated 'mestizo-style' which is typical of the Ecuadorian countryside. Stylishly furnished with all types of ancestral objects used in farming you can appreciate the richness of the natural resources that the province of Chimborazo is famous for. There is a bar and restaurant at the property and dinner is served with live entertainment. Guestrooms are simple, but comfortable.

Hotel Santa Lucia

This enchanting 1859 mansion originally housed the first government of Cuenca and was recently renovated to a high standard. There is a meticulous attention to details in both the decor and the service. The large enclosed courtyard that comes with a 100-year-old magnolia tree and baby palms. leads to spacious and comfortable rooms. On the second floor, there's a huge private salon with a lovely fireplace.

Hotel Crespo

The Hotel Crespo lies next to the river in the colonial town of Cuenca. The main building is an old colonial house with rooms decorated to suit. The modern extension however has the advantage of some rooms with a view of the river.

Hotel Hampton Boulevard

This new three star hotel is located in downtown Guayaquil near the centre of the city. There are 95 comfortable en-suite rooms with air conditioning and satellite TV. There is also a restaurant, bar, gym and swimming pool.

La Selva Lodge

La Selva Jungle Lodge is situated high on Lake Garzacocha, deep in the Equadorian Amazon rainforest region. La Selva has always followed strict eco tourism ethics and has won the world congress on tourism and environmnet award for eco tourism. Accommodation is very simple with thatched cabanas and en-suite bathrooms. The lodge offers great excursions, informing you about this beautiful region.

Sacha Lodge

Sacha Lodge is located in the middle of virgin rainforest, it is environmentally friendly and well linked to the local communities. The lodge itself provides basic but very comfortable accomodation with private facilities. There are excursions every morning, afternoon and some evenings into the jungle and plenty of well-marked trails for the more adventurous to explore by themselves.

Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge

Set 30 minutes off the road from Quito to Mindo with over 8kms in trails through the beautiful Tandayapa Valley, Bellavista is one of the few lodges in the Andean cloud forest that has access to primary forest. This is a perfect selection for someone interested in escaping civilization, relaxing, hiking on beautiful cloudforest trails and partaking in excellent bird-watching.

Napo Wildlife Centre

You will arrive at your lodge by dugout canoe, travelling on blackwater creek on the shores of the lake. On this journey, you may see giant otters, potoos, kingfishers, hoatzins, jacamars, hawks and monkeys. This is a beautiful lodge with local hard wood floors and furnishings. There are ten luxury cabins, a large dining hall with a library and bar. Attached to the bar is a 50-foot viewing tower.

Huaorani Ecolodge

This Ecolodge opened in August 2007, and provides accommodation for 10 people in a style harmonious with the surrounding environment and the Huaorani culture. You are in a comfortable and secure setting consisting of five Huaorani-style, palm-thatched cabins, constructed of local wood, within which are fitted luxury modern tents. All cabins have a pair of twin beds, a private bathroom equipped with a shower and flush toilet, and a porch with comfortable chairs.

Huaorani people were involved in its construction and are the predominant employees; produce is bought locally; there are plans to create a laundry service in Quehueri'ono to increase local employment; biodegradable products are used in housekeeping services as well as in the bathrooms; buildings are lit via solar panels, which also power the short-wave radio, refrigerator and water pump; and a bio-filter renders all waste products either recyclable or harmless before being discharged into the river.

Alta

This motor sailor is one of the most luxurious yachts in the Galapagos. Alta offers the most discerning traveller all the style of a motor yacht together with the romance of a sailing ship. A classic among charter yachts, this 3-masted schooner offers authentic shipboard elegance. Meals can be taken in the dining room or al fresco on deck. There are a maximum of sixteen passenegrs and nine crew.

Beluga

This 110-foot motor yacht has a large amount of outside deck space, which makes relaxing in the fresh air a pleasure. Being a motor cruiser the boat covers large distances in a short time and most of the sailing between islands is at night. There are nine crew members in total, including a multilingual guide and a superb cook. Cabins all have private bathrooms and air conditioning, located on the three decks.

Cachalote

This ketch-rigged motor sailing yacht has a steel hull and was originally built in 1971 in California. Having been recently refurbished this is now a fully air-conditioned superior tourist class yacht with a great itinerary. It has eight double cabins all with private bathrooms and hot and cold showers. Cabin sizes vary, either a wide lower berth and single upper berth, or standard lower and upper berths. All cabins are situated below deck.

Corals I & II

These two recently renovated motor yachts are probably our most popular in the Galapagos. All cabins have double or twin beds with air-conditioning and private facilities. Spacious sun decks, means you can relax outside and enjoy the scenery, the Coral II even has a jacuzzi on deck! The yachts offer an inside buffet area and two seperate social areas with a well equipped bar.

Eric, Flamingo and Letty

The Eric, Flamingo and Letty are identical yachts, custom designed. each yacht features ten double outside facing cabins located on three decks with polished teak wood interiors, window view or portholes. Large picture windows surround the upper two decks and offer spectacular panoramic views of the sea and landscape. On-board naturalists take groups of no more than ten passengers on all shore excursions.

Nemo

The Nemo is a catamaran sailing boat with only six cabins for a maximum of twelve passengers. Each cabin has private facilities. The cabins are situated in the two hulls; there is a considerable amount of deck space for the size of the boat and this is a good option for a more personal experience. The brightly coloured interior is cosy and welcoming. Nemo is a popular choice.

Isabela II

The Isabela II is another of the most luxurious yachts cruising the Galapagos. There are three public decks, bar-salon and dining room. The fabulous sun deck is comprised of a bar with ample outdoor seating, an observation area for whale and dolphin watching, a jacuzzi and solarium. The yacht is fully air-conditioned, all the spacious cabins are a similar size with either double or twin beds.

Lammer Law

Lammer Law is a large yacht with all the comfort you can expect of a cruise ship. The artful combination of stability, grace and speed make this yacht a perfect partner for any Galapagos adventure. She is also fully equipped for diving, so perfect for the dedicated diver. All meals are served outside on the stern of the yacht, and the large sundeck is perfect for relaxing or just enjoying the journey to the next island.

Millennium

The Millennium is a first-class catarmaran that is both elegant and comfortable. This is a very spacious boat with ample room in the cabins and bathrooms. Cabins all have private bathrooms, hot water and air-conditioning. The two suites both have a jacuzzi and all cabins feature a private balcony. The power of the motors, means journey times are shorterned, the hulls make it a stable vessel.

Parranda

This 125-foot motor yacht, can accomodate up to sixteen passengers in double or twin en-suite cabins. Fitted with stabilizers to make cruising more comfartable, she is fast, allowing for less travel time between islands and more time on visits to shore. There is a spacious living area, a shaded upper deck and a dining area which opens onto the stern. Snorkels and kayaks are available for use.

Finch Bay Hotel

This is a charming hotel located at Academy Bay on the island of Santa Cruz. Twin bedded rooms are comfortable and feature private bathrooms and air-conditioning. The swimming pool is located only steps away from a sandy beach, lagoons, cliffs, and cactus forests where there are great opportunities to spot some wildlife. The town is a short dinghy ride away from the hotel.

Red Mangrove Inn

This beautiful place is situated on Santa Cruz, in a grove of wild red mangrove, perched on the edge of the blue sea. The inn is peacefully removed from the hustle and bustle of town, yet is only a stones throw from the Charles Darwin Station and downtown Puero Ayora. Guests typically start their day in the company of sun-basking marine iguanas, scuttling Sally lightfoot crabs and soaring Frigate birds.