Guayaquil might be known to travellers as a port-stop en route to the Galápagos, but the opening of the chic Hotel del Parque puts this stopover city firmly on the map. What was once a 19th-century Catholic hospice is now a luxurious, waterfront boutique hotel. All interiors are cool and fresh, inspired by the tropical surroundings. The 44 guest rooms are light, airy and decorated in go-to boutique hotel shades of grey, white and yellow. Botanic themes dominate and Ecuadorian artworks hang on the walls. The hotel’s restaurant offers rich seafood and delicious dishes inspired by local ingredients.
The historic wooden beamed bell tower provides the perfect setting for a spa treatment. Guests can indulge in a traditional afternoon tea infused with herbs fresh from the garden. For chocolate-lovers, head to the grounds of the park to seek out cacao pods, watch as they are turned into chocolate. You can sample the produce, obviously.
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