Best Luxury Hotels in Ecuador
This may be one of the smallest countries in South America, but it boasts one of the greatest and most significant wildlife attractions on the planet — the Galápagos Islands — where Charles Darwin formed the basis of the Origin of Species. Ecuador is also famed for its coffee, chocolate, links to the ancient Inca tribes, pyramids (one of which is said to be the closest earth gets to the sun) and the planet’s very first Unesco World Heritage Sites. You’ll hear 10 different indigenous languages spoken across Ecuador and may encounter as many as 4000 species of orchid.
Tungurahua, Baños
Luna Volcán, Adventure SPA
(4 stars)High above the town of Baños, on the lower slopes of the (active, but safe) Tungurahua Volcano, lies this romantic, rustic-luxe 28-bedroom resort. It’s a gateway to the Amazon Rainforest, and with 25 birdwatching and wildlife programmes provided in-house within the surrounding Andean forest, offers ample opportunity to discover Ecuadorian nature. Four pools are tiered, set into the volcano; the spa has a menu of 25 volcano-inspired treatments; and the hydromassage tub is filled with hot volcanic water. Guests can dine in the Runtun Restaurant and Café del Cielo with mesmerising views across Llanganates National Park.
Ecuador, Pacto
Mashpi Lodge
(5 stars)Nestled within around 3000 acres of a nature reserve in the Chocó-Andean Cloud Forest, this glass and steel construction was considerately embedded into its surroundings, so as not to disturb a single tree. A high wooden walkway leads to a platform perfect for bird spotting, and there’s a hot tub so you can get closer to nature in spa luxury. Onsite, guests can explore the butterfly breeding and hummingbird gardens, many hiking trails and ride the Sky Bike and The Dragonfly cable car (stretching over a mile). Meals are served buffet-style in the restaurant and there are 24 bedrooms with full-length windows on at least one side.