Hilton Colon Guayaquil Hotel

Technically, you wouldn't even have to leave the hotel if you didn't want to. Enjoy breakfasts by the pool, lunch at the sushi bar and an Italian dinner in the classy Portofino restaurant, whilst the 24-hour Cafe Colon is on-hand for any late or early flight snacks. The pool is secluded from the city and the swim-up bar is the perfect spot for a cocktail - in the evenings, that would be the Atrium. The spa is a dream with tranquil whirlpools, a sauna and treatments to send you off to sleep.

Decorated in soft tones of silver and white, the rooms feature the Hilton's signature 'serenity beds', Scandinavian desks and coffee tables, and soundproof windows to keep out the city clatter. The Presidential Suite is the largest with a private lounge, a dining room for private, candle-lit meals, and a private entrance. The bathrooms all have wide mirrors, shiny black counters and spacious showers - and some rooms even have a whirlpool tub and private terrace or solarium with views over Guayaquil.

The best way to experience Guayaquil is by wandering. Follow the trail of picturesque colonial houses to the city's bustling plazas, get lost in the natural beauty of its many parks, and get to know Ecuador's history at the Museum of Anthropology and Contemporary Art. There's even a chocolate museum! Cycle across the bridge to Isla Santay where you'll find epic birdlife to spot or walk all 444 stairs to reach the historical Santa Ana chapel - and take in the epic view from the top.