Hacienda Abraspungo

Set amidst quiet, green gardens and a bubbling fountain, the hacienda is cosy and familiar. The Novoandina kitchen uses local ingredients that are harvested using ancient techniques to create unique gourmet dishes like creamy coconut and curry risotto with Pacific salmon, or quinoa empanadas. With dark red walls, the bar and restaurant is adorned with Andean trinkets, a huge steel chandelier, and roaring stone fireplace - you can imagine the scene! You may also like to dine outside in the fresh mountain air, with a glass of something chilled (if it's not too chilly).

Each named after one of Ecuador's 47 peaks, the rooms are chintzy and charming with floral quilts on large, comfortable beds and doors that open onto the garden. The rooms are spread across separate wings and their walls are decorated with artwork and photographs of each one's namesake. The family suites are larger and enjoy a private sitting area for leisurely moments with a book or hot cuppa. To ward off the chill, each room also has a small Swedish stove.

Head into town and visit the convent art gallery with collections from the 17th and 18th centuries, absorb the atmosphere at the Feria Artesanal market or visit the stall of the Last Ice Merchant - he frequently treks up Chimborazo to make his speciality 'batidos', made with only the freshest glacial ice! There are tons of hiking, horse-riding and biking routes, including one down the front of Chimborazo itself, or catch the Tren de Hielo, where you'll stop at Ecuador's highest train station.