Cuenca & the Southern Highlands - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 227

Overlooking the Río Tomebamba and bordering the north section of
town, the elegant Hotel Crespo , at Calle Larga 7-93 and Cordera,

/fax [phone], wins first place within its price cate-
gory. Ideally located along the river and away frommost of the down-
town hustle and bustle, the Crespo is a charming building with a mix
of colonial and modern architecture. Some of the spacious and well-
decorated rooms have riverside views, as does the highly recom-
mended restaurant. It's worth spending a few dollars more for a room
along the river. $$$

7-827-857,

A good choice within the “modern” category is the El Dorado Hotel ,
at Grán Colombia 7-87 and Luis Cordero, /fax 7-847-

390, [e-mail]. It's located in the historic center of
town just west of the El Conquistador and Presidente Hotels. A small
step up from the others in price range, the El Dorado also has a bigger
feel, with over 90 rooms ranging from singles to presidential suites.
The views from the sixth-floor restaurant are superb, as are those
from the piano bar. Although the staff is friendly and helpful, the at-
mosphere is a bit formal, and business attire is common. There's a
gym and spa. $$$

7-831-390,

Categories of Lodging

In Cuenca, as in Quito, lodging can be broken down into
three main categories. The first is low-end hostels and ho-
tels. Next is mid-range lodging, which usually involves
converted colonial homes or other buildings. The last cate-
gory is the higher-end modern hotels. Although Cuenca is
small for a city, its “downtown” area spreads out a bit. The
hotels recommended below are more-or-less centrally lo-
cated.

Cuenca
Themost expensive hotel inCuenca is the Hotel OroVerde , a couple
of miles away from the historic downtown on the road to Cajas, at
Ordonez Lazo,

/fax [phone], www.oroverdehotels.
com, [e-mail]. Completely refurbished, the Oro
Verde is a part of the international Oro Verde luxury hotel chain. It
sits near a small lake and is surrounded by eucalyptus trees, with
pleasant, peaceful grounds. Gardens stretch from the lake to the
banks of the Río Tomebamba. Families can enjoy the playground and

7-831-200,