So perfectly preserved is the historic city center of Quito, with its indigenous adobe walls alongside colonial Spanish architecture, that it was among the first two cities declared a World Heritage Site in 1978. A microcosm of that rich history can be found at the boutique hotel Illa (“Sacred light” in Quechua), which opened last December. The mansion dates to the 18th century and has been carefully restored, with each of the three floors representing an era in Ecuador’s history. “We added our own families’ deepest traditions,” says co-owner Marcel Perkins, noting that his wife’s grandmother’s gift with textiles is evident in the hand-woven rugs and embroidered linens. The “experience” in the hotel’s name refers to the eight activities offered to guests, including watercolor painting with a local artist and Ecuadorian chocolate tasting. Staffers “share our families’ way of living so [guests] can feel as Quiteños during their stay,” says Perkins. —Kaitlin Menza
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Tianjin Binhai LibraryCycling Through WaterMorgan's Inspiration IslandGolden BridgeTippet Rise Art CenterPandora: The World of AvatarElbphilharmonieMuseum MACANSeoullo 7017 SkygardenCentral Idaho Dark Sky ReserveThreadZaryadye ParkUnderwater Museum of ArtMariposa GroveTai KwunAustin Central LibraryChangChui: Creative ParkCasa VicensAl-Qarawiyyin LibraryDesign SocietyLöylySunder NurseryTivoli GardensKing Abdulaziz Center for World CultureLascaux International Center for Cave ArtExperimentariumTeopanzolco Cultural CenterThe National Memorial for Peace and JusticeTemple of MithrasLouvre Abu DhabiOriental Science Fiction ValleyGovernors IslandWarner Bros. World Abu DhabiZeitz MOCAATo Stay
Giraffe ManorViceroy Los CabosAlila Fort BishangarhConrad Maldives Rangali IslandCOO Boutique Hostel & SociatelMarriott Mena HouseSnow Bear ChaletsPonant Le LapérouseAmanyangyunTreehotelHôtel de CrillonSix Senses FijiConscious Hotel WesterparkViking OrionIl SerenoWilderness Safaris Bisate LodgeAtix HotelJackalopeIlla Experience HotelIcehotel 365The CollectionistGenerator MadridMorpheus HotelRaffles Europejski WarsawSkwachàys LodgeEcoCamp PatagoniaCasa TeoNorwegian BlissDetroit Foundation HotelHotel XcaretOberoi Sukhvilas Resort & SpaRetreat at Blue LagoonIveagh Garden HotelThe AWyndham Grand Rio MarTime + Tide King Lewanika LodgeSantani Resort & SpaSheldon ChaletSymphony of the SeasAwasi IguazúTribe PerthShipwreck LodgeThe MurrayStamba HotelHotel HenryTo Visit
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Tianjin Binhai LibraryCycling Through WaterMorgan's Inspiration IslandGolden BridgeTippet Rise Art CenterPandora: The World of AvatarElbphilharmonieMuseum MACANSeoullo 7017 SkygardenCentral Idaho Dark Sky ReserveThreadZaryadye ParkUnderwater Museum of ArtMariposa GroveTai KwunAustin Central LibraryChangChui: Creative ParkCasa VicensAl-Qarawiyyin LibraryDesign SocietyLöylySunder NurseryTivoli GardensKing Abdulaziz Center for World CultureLascaux International Center for Cave ArtExperimentariumTeopanzolco Cultural CenterThe National Memorial for Peace and JusticeTemple of MithrasLouvre Abu DhabiOriental Science Fiction ValleyGovernors IslandWarner Bros. World Abu DhabiZeitz MOCAATo Stay
Giraffe ManorViceroy Los CabosAlila Fort BishangarhConrad Maldives Rangali IslandCOO Boutique Hostel & SociatelMarriott Mena HouseSnow Bear ChaletsPonant Le LapérouseAmanyangyunTreehotelHôtel de CrillonSix Senses FijiConscious Hotel WesterparkViking OrionIl SerenoWilderness Safaris Bisate LodgeAtix HotelJackalopeIlla Experience HotelIcehotel 365The CollectionistGenerator MadridMorpheus HotelRaffles Europejski WarsawSkwachàys LodgeEcoCamp PatagoniaCasa TeoNorwegian BlissDetroit Foundation HotelHotel XcaretOberoi Sukhvilas Resort & SpaRetreat at Blue LagoonIveagh Garden HotelThe AWyndham Grand Rio MarTime + Tide King Lewanika LodgeSantani Resort & SpaSheldon ChaletSymphony of the SeasAwasi IguazúTribe PerthShipwreck LodgeThe MurrayStamba HotelHotel HenryGreatest Places
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Tianjin Binhai LibraryCycling Through WaterMorgan's Inspiration IslandGolden BridgeTippet Rise Art CenterPandora: The World of AvatarElbphilharmonieMuseum MACANSeoullo 7017 SkygardenCentral Idaho Dark Sky ReserveThreadZaryadye ParkUnderwater Museum of ArtMariposa GroveTai KwunAustin Central LibraryChangChui: Creative ParkCasa VicensAl-Qarawiyyin LibraryDesign SocietyLöylySunder NurseryTivoli GardensKing Abdulaziz Center for World CultureLascaux International Center for Cave ArtExperimentariumTeopanzolco Cultural CenterThe National Memorial for Peace and JusticeTemple of MithrasLouvre Abu DhabiOriental Science Fiction ValleyGovernors IslandWarner Bros. World Abu DhabiZeitz MOCAATo Stay
Giraffe ManorViceroy Los CabosAlila Fort BishangarhConrad Maldives Rangali IslandCOO Boutique Hostel & SociatelMarriott Mena HouseSnow Bear ChaletsPonant Le LapérouseAmanyangyunTreehotelHôtel de CrillonSix Senses FijiConscious Hotel WesterparkViking OrionIl SerenoWilderness Safaris Bisate LodgeAtix HotelJackalopeIlla Experience HotelIcehotel 365The CollectionistGenerator MadridMorpheus HotelRaffles Europejski WarsawSkwachàys LodgeEcoCamp PatagoniaCasa TeoNorwegian BlissDetroit Foundation HotelHotel XcaretOberoi Sukhvilas Resort & SpaRetreat at Blue LagoonIveagh Garden HotelThe AWyndham Grand Rio MarTime + Tide King Lewanika LodgeSantani Resort & SpaSheldon ChaletSymphony of the SeasAwasi IguazúTribe PerthShipwreck LodgeThe MurrayStamba HotelHotel HenryTo Visit
To Stay
To Eat & Drink
Full List
To Visit
Tianjin Binhai LibraryCycling Through WaterMorgan's Inspiration IslandGolden BridgeTippet Rise Art CenterPandora: The World of AvatarElbphilharmonieMuseum MACANSeoullo 7017 SkygardenCentral Idaho Dark Sky ReserveThreadZaryadye ParkUnderwater Museum of ArtMariposa GroveTai KwunAustin Central LibraryChangChui: Creative ParkCasa VicensAl-Qarawiyyin LibraryDesign SocietyLöylySunder NurseryTivoli GardensKing Abdulaziz Center for World CultureLascaux International Center for Cave ArtExperimentariumTeopanzolco Cultural CenterThe National Memorial for Peace and JusticeTemple of MithrasLouvre Abu DhabiOriental Science Fiction ValleyGovernors IslandWarner Bros. World Abu DhabiZeitz MOCAATo Stay
Giraffe ManorViceroy Los CabosAlila Fort BishangarhConrad Maldives Rangali IslandCOO Boutique Hostel & SociatelMarriott Mena HouseSnow Bear ChaletsPonant Le LapérouseAmanyangyunTreehotelHôtel de CrillonSix Senses FijiConscious Hotel WesterparkViking OrionIl SerenoWilderness Safaris Bisate LodgeAtix HotelJackalopeIlla Experience HotelIcehotel 365The CollectionistGenerator MadridMorpheus HotelRaffles Europejski WarsawSkwachàys LodgeEcoCamp PatagoniaCasa TeoNorwegian BlissDetroit Foundation HotelHotel XcaretOberoi Sukhvilas Resort & SpaRetreat at Blue LagoonIveagh Garden HotelThe AWyndham Grand Rio MarTime + Tide King Lewanika LodgeSantani Resort & SpaSheldon ChaletSymphony of the SeasAwasi IguazúTribe PerthShipwreck LodgeThe MurrayStamba HotelHotel HenryTIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.