Oro Verde Cuenca

Oro Verde Cuenca is the city's best-known luxury hotel, on Avenida Ordóñez Lasso in the San Sebastián district, a short drive from the historic centre. It has 69 rooms, including Junior Suites with a king bed and Deluxe rooms with a king bed or two twin beds, all with city views, premium bedding, bathrobes, a safe and free wired internet. Bathrooms have rainfall showers and bidets. Facilities include an outdoor pool with sun loungers and umbrellas, a sauna, a fitness center, a terrace and a garden, a restaurant and coffee shop, laundry and dry cleaning, an elevator and an electric car charging station. Free self-parking and free Wi-Fi are provided, and a free airport shuttle is available on request. Pets are accepted for a fee. Breakfast is served as a buffet, and whether it is included depends on the rate, so check when you book. The hotel has a well-earned reputation for polished service, and guests praise the staff, the cleanliness and the breakfast. It is a good fit for travellers who want comfort, space and a calm atmosphere after days of walking on the cobbles of the old town.

The Gran Colombia tram station is a twelve-minute walk, which is a handy way into the centre. The airport is roughly twenty minutes away by car.

Taxis are inexpensive in Cuenca, so most guests ride to dinner and walk back through the old town in the evening. Rooms and facilities: rooms have city views and premium bedding. The Junior Suite is the best choice for a special occasion, while the Deluxe Twin suits friends or family. At around 2,500 metres above sea level, evenings in Cuenca can be cool, so check the heating and air conditioning arrangements for your room when you book, since one guest mentioned a room without air conditioning.

The outdoor pool is pleasant on sunny afternoons, and the sauna and fitness centre are useful on cooler days. The hotel has two dining spaces, so ask at reception what is open during your stay, and plan to eat out at least once in the old town, where the cafes and restaurants of Calle Larga are famous. Who it suits: couples, honeymooners, business travellers and anyone who wants to separate their sightseeing from their rest. Families with children can use the pool and the garden, although rooms are best for two to four guests.

It is less suited to travellers who want to step out of the door into the colonial streets, for whom the Historic Center hotels are better. Good to know: the free airport shuttle needs to be requested ahead, rates are among the highest in the city, and weekends and local holidays are busy, so book early. Pets are allowed for a fee. Check cancellation terms when you book.