I was excited to learn that the Illa Experience Hotel in Quito, Ecuador won a 2023 Gold Travvy Award for Best Luxury Hotel in South America. In December 2017, I was the very first guest at this wonderful 5-star hotel opened by Latin Trails in the historic part of Quito just a few blocks from the Plaza Grande and surrounded by artists’ workshops. When you walk into the hotel, you’re greeted by an enclosed courtyard surrounded by stone columns. But this courtyard has no roof, so there is a shallow pool of water that reflects the stars at night.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Marcel Perkins, the owner of Latin Trails, on more than one occasion, and it’s clear that he’s passionate about tourism in his native Ecuador. He has attended to every detail and made it his personal quest to turn the Illa into a true “experience” hotel that feels like home. Each suite is individually decorated but contains three items that Ecuadorian grandmothers have traditionally made for the birth of new family members – a sheep’s wool rug, a handmade embroidered cotton blanket, and pillowcases trimmed in lace.
Guests are also treated to hot chocolate before bed if they wish, which is a treat not to be missed since chocolate in Ecuador is an experience in and of itself. My room contained complimentary local artisanal chocolates as well, some of which were flavored with fruits indigenous to the country.
The “experiences” at the Illa include tailor-made courses or excursions for guests to get a sense of local life such as visiting an artisan’s workshop or even painting with an artist. You might also get to taste a traditional dish made by an authentic grandmother just down the street. Perkins is dedicated to helping guests become a part of the neighborhood while also giving back to the community.
The small boutique property contains only ten suites on three floors with each floor representing a different era in Quito’s history – the Colonial floor, the Republican floor, and the Contemporary floor. Surprisingly, despite its size, the Illa also contains a private spa with a Jacuzzi that’s available only to guests, a wine cellar, a reading room, a gym with cardio machines, and a rooftop bar with views of the city.
A local artist has created distinctive wall paintings for the suites, some of which depict Quito landscapes, and the doors to the rooms are all different with their own histories. Much of the furniture has also been locally handcrafted.
My Colonial Suite Junin was on the ground floor, so I had an internal bedroom window that opened up to the courtyard. Opposite the king-sized bed were a sitting area and a large television in the wall that was hidden by a lace-work gate. The ample bathroom was behind the wall containing the TV and had its own shower room, a separate room with the toilet, twin sinks, and a deep, free-standing tub with its own little shelf that ran across one edge.
Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association and the International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 39 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
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