Want to know where to sleep for cheap in Ecuador?
Considering I don’t really have an official home, it’s safe to say I spend a lot of time in hotels.
So, here are my value picks for all over Ecuador, in other words, where I stay.
You won’t see the Hilton or Marriot on this list.
Yes, they’re in the big cities of Ecuador, but if you’re going to stay in a Marriot, why not save yourself the flight and do it in your backyard, cause they’re all the same anyway. Not much of a way to experience a country.
Most of my picks you won’t find on the net, nor will you be able to reserve beforehand, so just show up and maybe I’ll be there.
And you’ll quickly notice that rates on the coast and in the smaller towns are much cheaper than in the bigger cities.
Except for my new place in Quito that opened this week and my place in Guayaquil, I dont have any affiliation with any of them except maybe friendship… here goes:
Cotacachi:
Hostal El Arbolito, Calle Imbabura N 911. Right on the main square of Cotacachi, spacious well cared for rooms starting at $25/single $40/double.
Otavalo:
Hostal America Inter, Sucre y Quiroga. Right on the main indigenous market everyone goes to Otavalo to see, renovated rooms with WIFI and private parking suffice starting at $10/person.
Ibarra:
High end: Hotel La Giralda, Av. Atahaulpa y Juan Francisco Bonilla. The rooms are cramped but borderline luxury and the assortment of crepes available in the restaurant is to die for, really good, I eat there whenever I pass by Ibarra. Has pool. Rates start at $44/single, $58/double.
Budget: Hostal El Dorado, Oviedo 5-41 y Sucre. Simple, bland, clean place right in the old town center with WIFI, hard to beat the $10/person asking price. Even better, eat at the Giralda, sleep here.
Quito:
In town… Hostal Veintimilla, Amazonas y Veintimilla. Whenever I have to stay in town I usually gravitate here, love the location near both the Mariscal traveler/nightlife district and the old town. Right where a tourist wants to be. Good cable TV channels in English, Wifi in some of the rooms, and newly refinished bedrooms. Some may not like the location for the occasional night walkers looming on the city streets outside. Rates start at $13 per person.
Near new airport: Of course I’d have to recommend my new place that opened 3 days ago, Quito Airport Suites. Set a few blocks from the entrance of the new airport, relax in an old Spanish Hacienda setting with WIFI internet, room service, an English speaking staff and airport transfers available 24/7. Avoid the hour and a half drive to Quito and sleep better while you’re at it.
Mindo:
Dragonfly Inn: This hotel is my pick for budget travelers, right where you want to be within walking distance of most of the points in the town with wooden rooms. Clean, safe, simple rooms starting around $20 per person.
Latacunga:
Villa de Tacvnga: An old Spanish colonial turned hotel, the rooms have WIFI and heaters (needed here) and the restaurant has some great dishes (try the trout).
Banos:
Hostal Nomada, diagonal to the bus station. Love the location in town and near the bus station and within walking distance to the spas. The rooms are surprisingly nice for the price ($10/person) but there is no WIFI.
Puyo:
Hostal Las Palmas, 20 de Julio y 4 de Enero. This colorful hotel has macaws walking around the lobby and has a character all its own. Right in town, my pick when in the area. Rates $15/single $26/double.
Cuenca:
High end: Casa del Barranco, Calle Larga. Right where a tourist wants to be in Cuenca, on the gorgeous Tomebamba River in the Old Town and on the street Calle Larga where most of the cities best restaurants and bars are just a few steps away. Rates $30/single, $44 double.
Budget: Hostal Majestic. Just a block or two from the center of the old town and Parque Calderon, despite the creeky floors and dark rooms this is my pick when I want to save money on a sleep in Cuenca with rates from $8-10 per person.
Loja:
Hotel Prado Internacional, right on the edge of the old town in Loja this hotel is one of the best value picks in all of Ecuador with luxury-class rooms, an elevator, and a rooftop restaurant with delicious food like the filet mignon and t-bone while enjoying the stunning view of the town for very reasonable prices (approx $25/single, $40/double). Ask for the owner Lucia, very helpful, tell her Dom sent you.
Vilcabamba:
High end: Madre Tierra. This hotel-spa doesn’t skimp on the spa portion of the business offering a full array of relaxing treatments at very reaosnable prices. The restaurant is particularly good, once again try the filet mignon.
Budget: Hotel Mandango. I know the name of this hotel sounds like it should be the name of a male p-o-r-n star, but its actually a decent budget place to sleep right on the outskirts of town with no frills rooms but at $6-8 per person you can’t expect much. My pick, but Ill go eat in Madre Tierra.
Zamora:
Eco-lodge Copalinga: A hydro-powered nature lodge great for hummingbird watching right at the entrance of the beautiful Podocarpus Natural Park. (From $25 per person).
Guayaquil:
Murali Hostal, Garzota 2 Calle La Salle y Tercer Callejon Mz 135, V 7. At just 2 blocks from the airport entrance and 1 block from the vans to Cuenca and bus terminal this is the ideal place to stay in the more affluent and less noisy north of town if just passing through Guayaquil. OK, plus I’m the owner. 🙂
Playas:
Hotel Nevada with rooms from $20 per person per night, mainly because of the proximity to both the beach and center of town, also you’re right across the street form some delicious restaurants.
Salinas:
Hostal Aqui is the top expat hangout/bar/hostel in town with rooms starting around $20 per person its a clean, safe, friendly option.
Hostal Marnier, nothing special, but it is also a good pick if looking for a cheaper, safe place to crash for the night somewhat near the beach with prices starting aroud $10 per person.
Ayangue:
Oasis Ayangue. Relax between scuba dives at this friendly Canadian-owned hostel/bar/restaurant. One block off the beach, has pool and some good thin crust pizza. Tell Paul and Denise I said hi. Rates start at $15 per person.
Montanita:
The OCEANVIEW HOTEL on the outskirts of the main town just out of the heavy noise and right on the beach with newly finished rooms with WIFI starting around $10/person per night. Friendly owners who should charge more, just dont tell them, ask for Tony or Evelyn, tell them Dom said hi. For longer stays consider my bungalows with oceanviews, WIFI and kitchenettes.
Ayampe:
LA BUENA VIDA Hosteria… American owned, they also offer surf classes upon request, the rooms are elegant and well sealed against bugs and they feel like they should cost more than they do. Rooms start around $20 per person.
Puerto Lopez:
Im not a big fan of Puerto Lopez so when I get stuck in the area I will usually sleep in the bungalows of the friendly indigenous community just a quick cab ride away in Aguas Blancas in the Natural Park Machalilla. Hike, take mud baths, mix with locals, sleep for around $10/person.
Manta:
Not a big fan of the overpriced manta hotels, so i stay in the no frills Hotel Leo: This hotel is my pick for budget travelers, right in the center of town and across from the bus terminal. Clean, safe, simple rooms with TV and fan await you starting around $12 per person.
Crucita:
For a clean, safe, Spartan, budget option right on the boardwalk I recommend the Marlin Hostal, $15 per person.
Canoa:
My top choice for a quiet, clean, safe place right on the beach is the Hostal Playa Azul, at $8 per person for a private room with a shared bath or $10 per person for a private room with a private bath.
Bahia:
High-end: La Herradura Hotel, the only hotel right on the boardwalk, ocean front in Bahia. The hotel has an upscale restaurant and prices start from $20 for the single room, $40 for the double. Ask for one of the few rooms with an ocean view!
For budget travelers I recommend y personal fav, La Bahia Hotel, right in front of the Puerto Amistad Bar-Restaurant or the expat hang out of town. The rooms are Spartan but clean and the price is right, $8 per person and $16 for a double.
Pedernales:
Hotel Arenas, a few blocks from the beach with cable TV and well kept rooms starting around $10 per person.
Machala:
For budget travelers I’d stay at the Hotel Mosqueto, 2 blocks from the main plaza right beside Hotel Montecarlo, singles with fan $12. Acceptable, simple place. For bigger budgets looking for nice AC rooms, I’d try Hotel Montecarlo (all the taxis know it) 2 blocks form the main plaza. Single $30, Double rooms $40.
There you have it, my picks, as you can see you dont have to break the bank to sleep in Ecuador!
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