Mansión Alcàzar

The mansion is surrounded by jasmine gardens brimming with birdlife and blooms - we highly recommend enjoying a good book or afternoon tea at the pergola or perhaps in the interior courtyard, adorned with plush rugs and balconies laid with greenery. Casa Alonso is one of the best restaurants in Cuenca and serves a seafood-focused menu - try the salmon in bourbon sauce, or sea bass encrusted with green plantain. The spa is a delight with everything from Ayurvedic to Incan treatments including a cacao body wrap.

Overlooking the garden or courtyard, all rooms are each uniquely decorated with antique sculptures and petite artworks. Polished wooden floors are covered with richly patterned rugs and lamps cast a warm, relaxing glow. The bathrooms are well-designed with a delightfully strong shower, and some have a clawfoot tub too. The Cielo Suite is the most luxurious with an impressive frescoed ceiling. In the new wing, the suites are styled in soft greys and modern furnishings and come with a dining area and kitchenette.

Dubbed the 'Athens of Ecuador', Cuenca's riverfront is a beautiful spot for a bicycle ride and there are plentiful restaurants to stop for taste of local cuisine. Visit the town centre and marvel at its stunning Cathedral Nuevo and wander through the rose-filled flower market. Visit Pumapungo Museum and take a step back in time at the neighbouring Inca Ruins, soak in the natural springs of Banos de Cuenca, and see the true home of the iconic Panama Hat.