Ecuador · 4 Hotels Listed · Old Town · Mariscal · San Marcos
Quito
The Andes' highest capital. A UNESCO colonial Old Town at 9,350 feet, the gateway to the Galapagos, and some of South America's most refined heritage hotels.
The Andes' highest capital. A UNESCO colonial Old Town at 9,350 feet, the gateway to the Galapagos, and some of South America's most refined heritage hotels.
Quito's finest hotels are heritage boutiques in the UNESCO-listed Old Town, at around 2,850 metres. Casa Gangotena, a Relais & Chateaux member on Plaza San Francisco, leads, with Hotel Plaza Grande and the design-led Illa Experience close behind, and the JW Marriott the pick in the modern financial district. Most guests stay a night or two before the Galapagos.
Ranked by overall occasion score. Every hotel verified, priced, and reviewed for 2026.
"31 rooms in a restored 1920s mansion on Plaza San Francisco. A Relais & Chateaux member."
"15 suites overlooking Plaza Grande, Quito's most intimate heritage address."
"10 rooms in a restored republican mansion, Quito's most design-forward boutique."
"Around 257 rooms, Quito's polished modern luxury in the financial district."
Casa Gangotena, on Plaza San Francisco with a rooftop terrace over the Old Town rooftops, is the romantic Quito anniversary, all restored 1920s grandeur and a celebrated dining room. Hotel Plaza Grande, with just 15 suites on the main square, is the more intimate alternative for a couple who wants to be at the heart of the historic centre.
All Anniversary Hotels →Hotel Plaza Grande, with only 15 suites and a wine cellar restaurant below the square, is the most exclusive Quito honeymoon base. Casa Gangotena is the grander alternative, pairing a landmark address with the polish of a Relais & Chateaux member.
All Honeymoon Hotels →31 rooms in a restored 1920s mansion overlooking Plaza San Francisco, and a member of Relais & Chateaux. Quito's grand boutique and one of South America's finest heritage hotels.
15 suites in a restored heritage building on the main square, with a wine cellar restaurant below. Quito's most intimate city-centre luxury.
10 rooms in a restored republican mansion in the quiet San Marcos quarter, with curated Ecuadorian art. Quito's most design-forward boutique.
Around 257 rooms in the modern financial district north of the Old Town, with a large pool and full spa. The polished family and business choice.
The drier months run roughly from June to September, the easiest stretch for exploring the Old Town on foot. The wetter season, from October to May, brings frequent afternoon showers, though mornings often stay clear. Because Quito sits almost on the equator but at high altitude, temperatures barely shift through the year: expect mild, spring-like days and genuinely cold nights whatever the season, so pack layers rather than plan around summer and winter.
The standout hotels are in and around the UNESCO Old Town. Plaza San Francisco is home to Casa Gangotena, on one of the great colonial squares. Plaza Grande, the main Independence Square, is where Hotel Plaza Grande sits amid the cathedral and government palaces. San Marcos, a quieter cobbled quarter, holds the Illa Experience. For modern comforts, business facilities, and a large pool, the financial district north of the centre is where the JW Marriott sits, a short taxi from the historic core.
Quito is comparatively good value for this level of hotel. Expect around $280 a night at the JW Marriott, roughly $350 at the Illa Experience, and $500 to $550 at Casa Gangotena and Hotel Plaza Grande in peak periods, often with breakfast and afternoon tea included at the heritage boutiques. Rates rise around Galapagos-season peaks and the December holidays, and the small boutiques sell out first.
Fly into Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), with direct routes from Miami, Bogota, Panama City, and Madrid. The airport is out at Tababela, about 45 minutes to an hour from the historic centre, so arrange a hotel transfer or a registered taxi rather than improvising on arrival. In the city, the Old Town is walkable by day, and taxis or ride apps are the easiest way to move between neighbourhoods, especially after dark.
Book six to eight weeks ahead, and earlier for the December holidays or if you want a specific suite at the small boutiques. Many travellers use Quito as a one or two-night bookend around a Galapagos cruise, so coordinate the internal flight to Baltra or San Cristobal when you reserve. Cancellation windows at the top hotels typically run 24 to 72 hours before arrival.
Two things to plan around. First, the altitude: at about 2,850 metres, some visitors feel breathless or tired on day one, so ease in and go gently on alcohol until you have adjusted. Second, the Old Town is a working historic centre that empties in the evening, and petty crime is a real if manageable risk, so use hotel transfers and taxis after dark and keep valuables discreet. Quito is also chiefly a stopover for many, so a night or two is often enough before moving on to the Galapagos or the Andes.
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