Hotel Plaza Grande

The present owners spent millions preserving the charming elements from the colonial past — the chandeliers, the wall hangings, and the step-out balconies. With that kind of money, of course, you can also expect to find twenty-first century upgrades like wi-fi in every room and a jetted tub in every bath. Although many guests stay here on their way to or from the Galápagos, the atmosphere is far from backpack-and-binoculars — here you’ll adjust to the altitude or ease into your return to civilization in a decidedly luxe fashion.

This might mean a glass of wine in the on-site cellar, with live flamenco music, or a traditional Ecuadorian delicacy in the more casual restaurant while listening to a guitar duo. The more upscale restaurant, on the top floor, serves gourmet international fare as well as an extraordinary sweeping view. For those who’d rather indulge a different way, the spa offers a full range of facials, massages, and treatments.

At just fifteen suites, the hotel might seem a bit pequeño — that is, until you see the lush drapery, matching divan, and grande bed, topped with a feather duvet. Some windows open onto the plaza, which is bordered by the Palacio de Carondelet, home to Ecuador’s president, the Palacio Arzobispal, once home to the country’s archbishop, and several other significant structures — best seen from within the hotel’s carriage, which is available for nighttime rides around the city’s historic center.