My husband and I had the best experience staying in Suite Tortuga at the Wantara Suites. First, the location cannot be beat -- it is just 3 blocks off of La Ronda (perfect for dinner!) and everything in Old Town is walkable during the day. Walking is how you see/feel/experience Quito -- taking a cab from Mariscal into Old Town every day will get old (and trust me, everything is in Old Town!) Second, the the suites are gorgeous. The owner, Wolfgang, was there to meet us when we arrived, hot and sweaty from taking the bus and schlepping our backpacks around town. The heavy wooden doors opened to an oasis of a beautiful garden and charming suites. We stayed in Tortuga, which had a large living area with seating and a desk, a very comfortable bed, a large, clean bathroom and a kitchen with everything we needed to stay in Quito for 5 days. Quito is very fast-paced and busy -- you will want a nice place to retreat to in the afternoon or evening to unwind. Finally, the staff is so kind and wants you to be comfortable. We arranged to have laundry done (only $5 for a load!) and our suite remained sparkling and clean. Wolfgang showed us some local tiendas where we could purchase snacks, Pilsener, and small items (including a bakery just around the corner!) He even arranged for a taxi to take us to the airport at 5:30 in the morning. I cannot recommend staying here enough. I hope we return to Quito one day, and when we do we will stay at Wantara.
