El Dorado Hotel is a central hotel in Cuenca, close to Calderón Park, the Convent of the Assumption, the New Cathedral and the Plaza Rotary market. It has 52 rooms, including Superior Suites with premium bedding, minibars and a laptop-friendly workspace. Facilities include a restaurant called Goda serving Asian cuisine, a coffee shop, a bar, spa services, a sauna and steam room, a garden, a 24-hour gym, free Wi-Fi and free self-parking. There is also a concierge, luggage storage, laundry and dry-cleaning and a banquet hall. A buffet breakfast is offered, and whether it is included depends on the rate, so check when you book. Children are welcome, and one child under eleven can stay free using existing beds, while cots and rollaway beds cost extra. Pets are not allowed. Guests praise the attentive staff and the efficient restaurant team, and the hotel is rated well by travellers who want a mid-range base within reach of the main plazas.
Location and getting around
Central Cuenca is compact and walkable, and the hotel puts you close to the heart of it. Calderón Park, with the old and new cathedrals, is within an easy walk, as is the flower market on Plaza Rotary and the main shopping streets. The Tomebamba river and the cafes of Calle Larga are a short stroll downhill, and the Pumapungo museum and archaeological park are reachable on foot or by a short taxi ride. Taxis are inexpensive and easy to hail for trips to Turi, the airport and the craft villages.
After a day of sightseeing at altitude, having a gym, sauna and steam room on site is a real advantage. Rooms and facilities: rooms are modern and practical, and the Superior Suites give extra space for longer stays. The hotel does not have a pool, so choose a different hotel if you want one. The restaurant specialises in Asian cuisine, which makes a change from the Ecuadorian dishes you will eat elsewhere, and the coffee shop and bar are handy for light meals.
Free parking is a useful feature in a historic centre where street parking is limited. Check-in is in the afternoon and runs until midnight, so tell the hotel in advance if you will arrive later. The minimum check-in age is eighteen. Who it suits: first-time visitors, couples, culture lovers and business travellers who want a central address with good facilities at a moderate price. It works well as a base for the main sights on foot and for day trips to Cajas National Park and Ingapirca.
It is less suited to travellers who want a historic mansion atmosphere or a pool. Good to know: Cuenca is at altitude, so take it easy on the first day, drink water and ask the front desk about heating in your room, since evenings can be cool. Rates rise during festivals and national holidays, so book early, and compare rates with breakfast included when you book.
Why stay here
- ✓Restaurant Goda with Asian cuisine
- ✓Coffee shop and bar
- ✓24-hour gym
- ✓Sauna and steam room
- ✓Spa services
- ✓Garden
- ✓Free self-parking
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
Good questions
Is El Dorado Hotel central?+
Yes, it is in central Cuenca close to Calderón Park, the New Cathedral and the Plaza Rotary market.
Does it have a gym and spa facilities?+
Yes, there is a 24-hour gym, a sauna and a steam room, plus spa services.
Is there parking?+
Free self-parking is available, which is helpful if you are driving.
