Should you be dreaming of a trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos islands you can thank me now for finding the Hotel Oro Verde Guayaquil (pronounced Huay-a-keel). Being the detail driven traveler that I am, (others might have a different term for it), I researched long and hard to find the best hotel to stay before and after our trip of a lifetime to the famed islands that inspired Darwin.
We had decided to add a three night stay in the Galapagos Islands to our two weeks of adventure in Peru. With such a short time frame planned for the Galapagos, it was vital that the launching off point be smooth.
I worried more about this stay than any other in the itinerary. A smooth transition off the mainland of Ecuador would be vital. We did not have an extra day, let alone two, to deal with any travel issues.
Months before our departure my question filled emails flowed to the staff of Oro Verde. “Can you please confirm (for the third time) that the airport transfer is included? How will we know the driver? Are you sure you can get us back to the airport early enough the next day? Can you store a suitcase for us?
Each query was patiently and enthusiastically answered by the staff at Hotel Oro Verde within hours. I loved this hotel before I set foot in it.
What sets Hotel Oro Verde Guayaquilabove other hotels?
Rated by Trip Advisor as #2 of 55 hotels in Guayaquil, you know there must be special things happening at at the Oro Verde.
Airport Transfer Included
After a harrowing sprint for our flight connection in Lima we arrived in Guayaquil with adrenalin high and nerves frayed. There stood the Oro Verde driver with a sign bearing our name and a big smile. It has not always been our experience that just because a hotel says a transfer is included that it actually happens. That the cost is part of the stay makes it an extra bonus.
I was exhausted and completely relieved as he shook our hands and then pronounced our name correctly. Not a big thing but a rare and delightful occurrence when it happens.
Super sized rooms
Opening the door to our hotel room in Oro Verde a few things ran through my mind. Is this massive room really meant for us? (Turns out all the rooms are incredibly spacious, even the smallest ones.) Everything is so shiny. Was this renovated last week? (Turns out all the rooms have recently been renovated.) Are those fresh flowers? (Yes turns out they are in every room and throughout the hotel.) Basically everyone is special, not just me.
More features of the various rooms can be found here.
Complimentary welcome drinks and mini bar
I did my best not to squeal with delight as we were handed the coupons for our complimentary drinks in the hotel’s bar. More smiling staff who perhaps recognized my crazed ‘I-believed-I-was-going-to-miss-my-Galapagos-trip-by-missing-my-plane-in-Lima’ look. They kindly and efficiently directed me to the bar.
In the rooms the soft drinks in the mini bar are free. Are you kidding me? Most hotels charge the equal of a deposit on a college education for anything out of the mini bar. I thought how much families with kids would love that feature.
Free and Fantastic Wifi/Internet Access
Those of you follow our travels will know of my elusive search for WiFi and the fact that I can be often found standing on tables or crawling around the feet of the front desk staff in search if internet access. No matter how service oriented staff are, I have never found any that are amused with my behavior.
Almost worse are hotels that charge for WiFi, claim they have it only to find that it is accessible on the third Wednesday of the month between 1 and 2 pm.
At Oro Verde the WiFi worked instantaneously and everywhere throughout the hotel. Without exaggeration, and I am somewhat prone to doing so, but in this case the internet worked better than in my own home and absolutely everywhere in the hotel. After two weeks of searching for a connection in Peru I was celebrating with smart phone and lap top in hand.
Buffet Breakfast and Five Restaurants to Choose
When booking a hotel one of the first features I look for is breakfast included. There is a small window between my eyeball popping open and my cranky empty stomach making an appearance. At Oro Verde breakfast could keep you fueled for an entire day with it’s huge tables and vast variety of healthy choices.
For dining options from the formal to the casual, anything can be found at Oro Verde. From the French Le Gourmet to the Swiss Le Fondue to the traditional Ecuadorian food of El Patio to the casual Gourmet Deli, all tastes can be accommodated. I will admit we were found in Bar El Capitan celebrating our arrival with free snacks to go with our welcome drinks.
City Oasis in the midst of Guayaquil
Guayaquil is a thriving business center with a population of over 2.5 million people. Tucked just inside the Oro Verde is a surprising oasis of calm. Included in the stay is a fitness center, wet-spa with sauna, whirlpool, steam room and outdoor pool. After two weeks of hiking and cycling in Peru a blissful discovery.
Super Service at Hotel Oro Verde Guayaquil
I had fallen in love with the service at Oro Verde long before our bags were packed. No matter how many confirmations I asked for a quick and courteous reply came back. They kept telling us how much they were looking forward to seeing us. I thought they would want to strangle me on sight.
Many hotels have great service. It would be hard to survive in the industry otherwise. So what puts Oro Verde at the top? Besides the prompt and friendly replies that began months before our arrival and continued through our stay, it was the extras that stood out.
When I went to book our airport shuttle for departure our names were already on the list and high lighted in yellow. I imagine the third email got the yellow treatment. In the evening we received a call to confirm our airport time.
When we wanted to explore a nearby park the staff gave clear instructions on safety, as one should think about in any larger city, and what not to carry with us. The staff coordinated a licensed taxi and translated for us to the driver to wait for us to ensure our safe return. The feeling we had was that it wasn’t just a job to have hotel guests. They truly cared about us. Even obsessive, travel detailed me.
Hotel Oro Verde is located on Avenue Nueve de Octubre, one of the main roads in downtown Guayaquil, with easy access to Guayaquil’s international airport. For more information on the hotel or to book your Guayaquil getaway click here.
Disclosure: Thanks to Hotel Oro Verde for their photo contributions which can be seen by scrolling over photos in the galleries. We were guests of Oro Verde Hotel Guayaquil however all opinions are our own.
I agree! Hotel Oro Verde is such a wonderful place to stay!
So glad you have had the same experience. We loved our time there!
wow….that does look like a great place !!!
It really was such a treat to have such extraordinary service and so many amenities after our adventures in Peru. 🙂
Great photos, Sue. Yes, I always look for a good breakfast included in the price. Who needs to go out searching for breakfast early in the morning in a strange place? 🙂
That is for sure Sylvia! It always makes me so happy to wander down stairs and fuel up for the day.
What a fantastic place to stay! It’s too bad not all hotels realize it is sometimes the smallest thing that sets them apart and keeps people coming back.
That is so true! It won’t be the beautiful lobby or the gorgeous rooms that stick most in my memory, although they were fabulous. It will be the care given to us and friendly staff that would have me recommending them every time someone asks how we got ot the Galapagos.
That sounds like a very lovely hotel stay. In fact, this sounds like my dream hotel. Amazing WiFi. Free drinks from the minibar. I will never lose touch with the world and never go thirsty. The staff certainly sound very patient – and I am sure they had no problem with you taking photos of their breakfast table 😉 And thinking about your safety by getting a taxi for you, I think that is cherry on top service. Love the humorous write up and the photos 🙂
Mabel thanks so much for the kind and detailed comment. I’m always keen on finding the WiFi and especially when it has been a challenge for a couple of weeks solid. I agree the personal service of our little side trip to the park really was the cherry on top in the service department. What a great way to describe it!
Sounds ideal! Thanks for sharing and will keep it in mind.
My pleasure Darlene. I appreciate you sharing this on Twitter. Thank you!
Love reading your blog posts! An epic journey for me is a trip to the second-nearest supermarket to get my favorite brand of yoghurt, so It’s great to have a look at some places I’ll probably never have the chance to visit. (Although I’m seriously considering getting a permanent room in Oro Verde just for the WiFi.)
You make me laugh out loud. Well those supermarkets can be quite the adventure! I think your idea of living at Oro Verde just for the WiFi is a brilliant one! 🙂
A good hotel makes a great experience when traveling. When the family went to Ireland a few of us had standards that would make traveling easier – good hotels and a tour driver. We loved the hotels and the experience of those hotels. Our tour driver was excellent and so knowledgeable about the area and getting us in and out of the more popular destinations when it was not peak time. My favorite lodging in Ireland was staying in a castle – the father and son team that managed the property were supreme hosts and truly made it a unique experience.
Loving the capture, especially the 1st photo! Happy Weekend – Enjoy 🙂
I so agree that one’s lodging can make or break an experience. Sounds like your time in Ireland was amazing!
Thanks for the lovely feedback and wishing you a great weekend too!
great photos and what a great place, Sue! the rooms are huge and so clean. i always look for breakfast inclusive, too. 🙂 Oro Verde certainly has all to make their guests happy and comfortable. thank you so very much for being thoughtful and thorough! 🙂
Lola I am glad the photos illustrated how sparkling clean the place is. my goodness one had the thought that if a spec of dirt found it’s way to the floor someone would have it nabbed up before it settled. So happy to share this super location with you!
No, No, you ARE special, Sue ?
What a stunning hotel from lobby to room to food to pool. And efficient, friendly service on top of that! I loved your review.
Regarding the lovely Galapagos resident in your first photo, it occurred to me to wonder – do those guys (the Galapagos beasts) ever get a day off? Is visiting the islands a seasonal event? I know the number of tours is closely regulated, but just wondered from the inhabitants’ perspective if they have periods where they aren’t hearing camera shutters. (Of course I want to be that one ‘special’ person who gets to watch them when no one else is allowed …)
Sammy I am delighted you enjoyed the review and tickled by your ‘special’ comment. 🙂
The number of tourists to the islands are regulated and during the rainy season there would be far less visitors. Since no one hurts the animals they have no fear of people and in the case of said iguana there were hundreds if not thousands about. They don’t seem the least bit perturbed. One must be with a guide when visiting so no one is allowed to get too close. My guess is that if they choose they could easily hide away. Visitors must stay on a nature path.
Thanks for the info, Sue. I’m happy to hear they can take themselves off display whenever they want. I still can’t believe you actually set foot in such an important place of scientific discovery. Thanks again for generously sharing it with us.
My extraordinary pleasure Sammy. there is much more to come over the weeks and months ahead. You will be saying ” More animals?!”
Looks like you found yet another fantastic place to sleep…. such accommodations would make it difficult to leave. Turtles, Darwin, and a luxury hotel – score!
Always happy to find a good spot, especially after all that research. Yes it is the launching point to one of the world’s most amazing spots that’s for sure. 🙂
Looks like the perfect place to stay. For a few days, or a few weeks, or a few months. I often find that the researching and planning are so much fun. — makes me feel like I’m starting my adventure before I even get to the airport.
I am grinning ear to ear Wendy. Yes a few months might be nice indeed! The research definitely gets the travel juices flowing and the imaginings of all the wonders a trip will entail.
I truly think you could do a TV commercial for them! Great job….you sold me! Looks just like the type of place we always try and find!
I will be sure to tell the management at Oro Verde! Perhaps i will need to work on my Spanish before they hire me in Ecuador.
So happy to share a good hotel find with you Kirt. I would guarantee someone to be happy staying here. It was just perfect for our before and after to the islands.
Well researched, Sue! ?
Thank you Sue!
Sounds great. I also tirelessly research the hotels we stay in. Friends often tell me, it’s only where you sleep and it doesn’t matter, but I disagree. A hotel often sets the stage for a trip. It’s not the most important, by any means, but you have to stay in one so my opinion is stay in a good one. That one looks great.
I am totally with you in that a hotel is far more than a place to sleep. The staff alone, in giving you information and helping you get where you need to be , can make or break a trip. Oro Verde became part of the success of our wonderful trip to the Galapagos.
I’m impressed. Love the idea of staying there – add to my bucket list! 🙂
Definitely a good one to keep in mind if heading to the Galapagos. It worked out perfectly. 🙂
What a delightful sanctuary you found Sue! After you’ve been running to keep on schedule, biking and hiking and on the road so much, a clean and reliable and luxurious accommodation just makes all the difference. How did you like Guayaquil? We stayed in Quito and never made it to G. on our way to The Gal.
We missed Quito and stayed in Guayaquil. One really needs more time. coming from Peru Guayaquil appeared to be a thriving business center. From what we saw very clean and prosperous. I will admit we had very little time to explore but we did get to the most intriguing park where scads of big iguanas live. I will do a post in the weeks ahead.
Wow, so different then I would have expected!
Hotel Oro Verde was the most fabulous delight!
Oh wow, that’s a gem. Hotels do charge you an arm and a leg on those snacks. I don’t even dare touch them or I might be left behind washing dishes. Glad they delivered as promised.
Yes a very unusual find in all of our travels I must say! We had no time for washing dishes that’s for sure. 🙂 We were so happy with the accommodation at Hotel Oro Verde.
How impressive! Beautiful photos. 🙂 thank you for the info. 🙂
Thank you kindly Amy. Happy to share this amazing spot in Guayaquil.
Holy camoly! What an absolutely gorgeous hotel! I’m so glad you were able to experience it and report back to us…it sounds like and looks like a lovely place to stay on the way to paradise in Galapagos!
I love that! Holy camoly. One of my favorite spots is in Italy and it is Camogli, pronounced camoly. Happy to share this fabulous hotel. Definitely the spot to stay if heading to the fabulous Galapagos.
Your hotel looks and sounds perfect. So good to find a haven after the stress of Peruvian air travel. It was waiting in airports there that I learnt the Spanish word ‘todavia’ – the plane is not here yet! Oh my goodness, I empathise with your stress Sue, so glad it all worked out especially with such a short time frame.
Thanks Annie. I love that you learned that word. I can’t even tell you my relief when it all came together. Arriving at Hotel Oro Verde felt like bliss after all of that sprinting. Perhaps that would be good marathon training Annie. Running madly through airports with a pack on your back. 🙂
Oh dear, the stress! I remember one time having to run to a plane for an internal Peruvian flight, had to run because they hadn’t allocated enough seats. I was told that whoever got there first could fly. I wasn’t a runner in those days but on that day I pretended I was. That was in a little town in the north called Chachapoyas.
Oh my goodness that is some serious motivation to run! I haven’t heard of the town but what a fabulous name!
Oh Sue. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed somewhere as lovely as this hotel you reviewed. It looks sensational.
It really was a lovely spot and perhaps especially after our very active and adventurous two weeks in Peru. 🙂
Yes. Very well deserved after your many and varied experiences.
🙂
that is so nice 🙂
It truly is Joshi. Thank you.
You have now become my official travel guide Sue! This looks like THE place to stay.
I like the title LuAnn! Yes I definitely feel this is a great spot for those heading off to the Galapagos.
I really love that first photo of the iguana?lizard? for a minute I thought we might be asking him where a good place to stay was 🙂
He is a land iguana on the Galapagos. He does look quite wise doesn’t he?
I’m feeling like you could ask him for local recommendations 🙂
Yes he could have his own little booth and brochures. 🙂
Agreed 🙂
I think it was a good idea to pamper yourself after the hard ride on the bicycle 🙂
It did feel heavenly to stay there. In booking I don’t think I appreciated just quite how lovely the hotel was.
I was going to invite myself over for snacks and a drink, but then you persuaded me that an overnighter and breakfast would be more appropriate. Cheers, Sue! 🙂
Good idea Jo! You wouldn’t want to miss that buffet in the morning. 🙂
Sounds like a place to relax (against your best instincts it seems!) and be pampered – perfect!
Even i will admit I was ready for some rest and relaxation by the time we got to Hotel Oro Verde. It was blissful. 🙂
Wow, what a great experience for you! Sounds like just the ticket to soothe those frazzled nerves! 🙂
Indeed it was. I love to travel but i will admit that sprint through Lima almost did me in. Happy to have a lovely spot at Hotel Oro Verde to regroup. 🙂
Looks fabulous, although I could check in just about anywhere and think it the most wonderful and amazing thing ever. Feeling a little cabin feverish with the never ending cold and same same of going to work. Looks like you kids are having a freakin ball with this adventure. Good you are able to regroup and catch your breath tho. Will make the next part of your adventure all the better.
Sue, thanks for the review, I love spacious bedroom! Sounds an excellent hotel to consider when traveling to Ecuador 🙂
I would highly recommend it Indah. It was quite close to the airport so convenient that way too!
Oro Verde!… Do you know I means Green Gold!… Yes!… It is absolutely beautiful, dear Sue…
Thanks for sharing!. Love and a big virtual hug to you. Aquileana 😀
Well I had not put that together dear Aquileana. It definitely was a golden place to stay that is for sure. Hugs and my very best to you as well. xo