La Mirage Garden Hotel & Spa

Environment and Location: The hotel is nestled in a garden-like setting, often described as a botanical paradise with flowering trees and peacocks roaming freely. The surrounding area is calm and safe, offering a relaxing escape from city life.

Great team, Veronica, Anita and the staff

Luxurious hotel for an indulgent splurge. The grounds are a virtual botanical garden, with all manner of birds to be seen partaking of the nectar from the many species of flowering trees and shrubs. Guest bungalows are beautifully furnished and quite large, with separate sitting areas, glittering chandeliers and a fireplace to ward off any night chills. Ours (#112) was occupied by the Queen of Spain during her visit to Ecuador in the 1990's. Bed warmers are also set in place during the nightly turndown service. There also a beautiful spa, with a lovely indoor pool and serene massage and treatment rooms. The delicious included breakfast is served in a glassed in setting that allows you to watch peacocks strut around the lawns outside and if you'd like to feed them the staff has bags of breadcrumbs ready for you to toss. The hotel also operates the most elegant restaurant in the area, if not the country and while the prices are above average for fine dining in Ecuador, the food and service more than justify the cost. That said we are not talking serious money by US standards. The most expensive main course, Duck La'Orange, being around $30, at lunch. Bottom line, after braving 13,000 feet to explore northern Ecuador, go ahead and treat yourself to this very special place.