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Illa Experience

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The award-winning Illa Experience Hotel is an intimate property in the San Marcos district of Quito, offering authentic cultural experiences for guests with local Ecuadorian families.

Just five minutes’ walk from the main Plaza de Independencia of Quito’s Old Town, this small boutique hotel has a dozen guest rooms across three floors, each decorated with different historical themes: colonial, republican and contemporary. There are subtle Ecuadorian motifs, arts and crafts throughout and some intricately-carved doors were donated by San Agustin nuns. Rooms are smart and compact with modern amenities, double glazing and patio views, while the best suites have views of the Panecillo and Virgen de Quito.

The hotel’s restaurant is highly regarded for its innovative à la carte and tasting menus inspired by a fusion of styles from the diverse regions of Ecuador. There is also a rooftop bar where you can relax with a drink as the sun sets over the city, and guests also have access to a large pool.

Self-styled as an Experience Hotel, guests are invited to take part in Quito traditions, with attentive staff bringing the city’s history to life through daily experiences offered on and off site – from traditional weaving to painting, cookery and a neighbourhood walking tour. The hotel also partners with INES Restaurant on the NESTS project, an initiative promoting young chefs from rural areas with housing and scholarships.

What our clients say

From the moment we were picked up, (on time) from our hotel in Quito, to the moment we were left at the departure lounge in the airport in Baltra, the…
TP, Lima Jun 2013
Ecuador is a wonderful country with much to see and do so often overlooked by those seeking to visit South America and that I now know is a big mistake.
DW, Lingfield Jun 2010
Probably the Tren Crucero (was the top experience) but too many highlights to mention.
SB, Cambourne Feb 2020
From the moment we were picked up, on time, from our hotel in Quito, to the moment we were left at the departure lounge in the airport in Baltra, the…
TP, Lima May 2013
Most memorable experience: "Where to start? Huge evening skies on the Napo river, pulling out of Chimbacalle station on the Tren Crucero in a cacophony of whistling and hooting; the…
DH, Portsmouth Jun 2015
It was all amazing to use an overworked word, but (i) the Cotopaxi days (train plus condors plus steaming volcano) was extraordinary, and (ii) encountering the Galapagos Islands and their…
JL, Winchester Jul 2015

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Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

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