1. Casa Gangotena

Quito is one of South America’s most captivating capitals — a UNESCO World Heritage city perched at 2,850 meters above sea level, ringed by volcanoes, and filled with 16th-century churches, cobblestone streets and one of the finest preserved colonial centers in the Americas. Whether you’re stopping for a night before a Galápagos cruise, spending a few days exploring the historic center, or using the city as a base for day trips to Cotopaxi or Otavalo, choosing the right hotel can make or break your experience.

This guide covers the best hotels in Quito, Ecuador – from intimate boutique properties in the heart of the Old Town to large international luxury hotels with world-class spas and swimming pools.

2. Carlota Sustainable Design Hotel

If you’re looking for a boutique hotel in Quito that combines sustainability, design and an extraordinary location, the Carlota is in a category of its own. At the Carlota, a century-old landmark building is brought to life by contemporary architecture and transformed into a thoroughly modern boutique hotel, where classic mansion style and cutting-edge art and design combine to create a uniquely memorable stay.

Carlota is the first LEED-certified hotel in Ecuador and the first LEED-certified design boutique hotel in a UNESCO Heritage site — a genuinely impressive distinction that goes beyond marketing. The hotel’s eco-friendly installations feature a system that cleans and reuses 70% of the water consumed, and 30% of the energy used comes from solar power. Rooms are fitted with organic hypoallergenic alpaca duvets and pillows, custom-made furniture and private bathrooms with unique tile designs that evoke the birds and flora of Ecuador.

In the heart of Quito, Carlota Sustainable Design Hotel is a tranquil oasis. Unwind with a rooftop view, indulge in regional cuisine at the Bistro or rejuvenate at the Golondrina spa. The 360-degree rooftop terrace is consistently the highlight for guests — with sweeping views of the surrounding volcanoes, the Panecillo hill and the cathedral rooftops spread out below, it’s one of the finest vantage points in the city. The Bistro serves contemporary locally sourced Ecuadorian fare, and the wine cellar hosts tastings.

The interior courtyard serves as an open lobby, creating a visual connection from the main entrance to the back patio, which presents a well-preserved stone staircase and a beautiful planted backdrop inspired by traditional Spanish gardens of Quito. Named for the owner’s grandmother, who lived in the building from the 1960s, the Carlota has a warmth and personal quality that larger hotels can’t replicate.

3. Illa Experience Hotel

There are luxury hotels, and then there is the Illa Experience. In Quito’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, Illa Experience Hotel debuts as the city’s first experience luxury hotel with the idea of reinventing and redefining what luxury travel entails. It is a boutique hotel transformed from a house from the 17th century, today inviting guests to stay at a home away from home at the highest luxury standards.

With just 10 individually decorated suites spread across three floors, each floor represents a different era in Quito’s history — the Colonial floor, the Republican floor and the Contemporary floor — so that the building itself becomes a journey through time. Every suite is unique: each contains three items that Ecuadorian grandmothers have traditionally made for the birth of new family members — a sheep’s wool rug, a handmade embroidered cotton blanket, and pillowcases trimmed in lace. Much of the furniture has been locally handcrafted, and local artists have created distinctive wall paintings for each room.

What truly sets the Illa apart is its philosophy of daily cultural immersion. Every day guests are invited to interact with locals and participate in unique traditions of the San Marcos neighborhood. These “experiences” might include an ice-cream making session with a neighborhood señora, a visit to a nearby hat-maker crafting high-end Panama hats, a traditional toast with locally made sparkling wine, or a painting demonstration by a local artist. Guests rave about the daily interactive artisan experience from 5–6pm, learning about traditional Ecuadorian cocktails, getting to try local fruits, and getting fresh tea from their tea garden.

A highlight of an Illa stay is dinner at the hotel’s Nuema Restaurant, a contemporary Ecuadorian dining destination operated by Chef Alejandro Chamorro. Nuema was an already popular and award-winning restaurant in Quito and has been named in the top 100 restaurants in the world. The chef trained with some of the world’s leading culinary figures before returning to Ecuador to put a modern spin on traditional dishes — think lobster with fresh Ecuadorian herbs from the hotel’s own garden, avocado cream and crispy sourdough. In 2023, the Illa Experience won the Gold Travvy Award for Best Luxury Hotel in South America.

The amenities are equally impressive for a 10-room property: a full spa with hydrotherapy and hot stone massages, a jacuzzi with views into a lush pocket garden, a wine cellar available for private tastings and dinners, and a fitness room. Guests receive hot chocolate before bed — an Ecuadorian tradition and, given the quality of chocolate grown in Ecuador, a genuinely memorable nightly ritual.