Hotel Oro Verde

Hotel Oro Verde has a wide variety of dining spots with equally diverse menus featuring French, Swiss and Ecuadorian cuisine. La Fondue does what it says on the tin (with a glass of sangria to wash it down), Le Gourmet is the place to go for a more swanky dinner, and El Capitan is the nautical-inspired bar complete with portholes. Republica del Cacao offers a range of delicious chocolates made in Latin America - pick some up to take home and you won't be disappointed.

The hotel has 236 rooms, all with floating or tiled floors, a cerulean feature wall, and an enormous King bed laid with 300-thread-count sheets. The design is fresh and minimalist and all have plenty of natural light. The bathrooms are slick and spotless with wide mirrors and rainfall showers, and larger suites have their own living room and dining area (some with a kitchen). The grandest of all are the Oro Verde and Presidential Suites, the latter of which has a Jacuzzi and hydro-massage shower.

The best thing to do in Guayaquil is explore, explore and explore some more. Hike the 444 stairs to the Santa Ana Chapel (your reward is the beautiful view of the colourful houses below), then head downtown to see the palace, cathedrals and museums. Follow the River Guayas past fun stalls and vibrant gardens, and don't leave Guayaquil without sampling its famous Creole crab. At the hotel pick up an original artwork or handcrafted souvenir at the Ecuadarte boutique.