Mansion Santa Isabella

Mansion Santa Isabella is located right in the heart of Riobamba, a colonial city that’s home to lots of well-preserved Spanish architecture. The city sits in a valley in the shadow of Chimborazo, Ecuador’s highest mountain, and is surrounded on all sides by beautiful views of the Andes highlands.

Mansion Santa Isabella’s rooms and suites are comfortable and luxurious, with a traditional style in keeping with the rest of the hotel. The floors are either authentic wooden beams or richly carpeted, while doors, beds and furnishings are made from rich dark wood. The aptly-named Simple room sleeps one and features a rustic style, with adobe walls and extensive decorative use of wood. By contrast, the atmospheric Suite Familiar, with red-painted walls and exposed ceiling beams, sleeps up to five.

The restaurant serves up a range of delicious Ecuadorian and international dishes in an evocative atmosphere, with terracotta-coloured walls, extensive use of dark wood and stone, and unique artworks adorning the walls. The food is of a high standard, and the restaurant is acclaimed in its own right, with many diners not guests at the hotel.

At the hotel’s tour desk, staff will happily advise you and help you plan excursions into Riobamba and the surrounding area. Mansion Santa Isabella is a family-friendly hotel, and kids are welcome. 

Riobamba is a vibrant town with a rich culture, thanks to the infusion of Spanish influences with a prominent indigenous community. Much of the town’s architecture is beautifully preserved and Spanish-colonial in style; the Museo de Arte Religioso, for example, dates from the 16^th century. To experience the local indigenous culture, head to the bustling Saturday market, when people from surrounding villages come to peddle their wares and handicrafts; this can be a great place to pick up a souvenir of your trip.

Further afield, visit the volcanoes of Chimborazo and Tungurahua, and trek around the glassy Atillo lagoons, flanked by mountains.