Casa Gangotena

Casa Gangotena has been an icon in Quito for years and is one of the best hotels in Latin America.

This Relais & Chateaux hotel is of a classic beauty, light colours and brightness provide an oasis of tranquility. I stay here regularly when I am visiting Ecuador. The reception is very welcoming and all rooms and suites are spacious and beautifully decorated. Ancient, authentic wall paintings, beautiful large windows and the many Art Deco details offer a pleasant stay.

The central lounge is a very nice place to relax after your walks through the city. You sink into the cushions of a comfortable sofa and, surrounded by the most beautiful flower arrangements, you can enjoy afternoon tea or a “chocolate caliente”. You can also take a seat on the roof terrace where you can enjoy the best view of the city over the Plaza San Francisco.

Breakfast is more than ample and the beautiful breakfast room overlooks the San Francisco monastery. A wonderful start to a new day in Ecuador.

The history

Casa Gangotena has a central place in the historic heart of Quito on the San Francisco Plaza. The history of this location goes all the way back to the time of the Incas. According to early Spanish chroniclers, the square was surrounded by temples and palaces in the 15th century, with one temple located exactly where Casa Gangotena now stands. In the course of the following centuries, the large square would serve as the site of a giant open-air market (also known as a “Tianguiz”) for native traders from the surrounding regions.

The importance of San Francisco Plaza during the colonial period and subsequent centuries ensured that several wealthy families built their houses around it. The mansion that once occupied the current location of the hotel eventually became the residence of various presidents of the Republican era. Unfortunately, in 1914, a disastrous fire destroyed much of that mansion.

The remains of that structure were completely rebuilt in 1924 by the owners, the Gangotenas – one of the leading families of the capital Back to  whose members consist of important industrialists, politicians, landowners, academics and even poets. The Gangotena family owned the stately home until the middle of the year 2000 when the current owners bought the mansion with the aim of transforming it into a world-class boutique hotel.

In 1978, Quito was named the first-ever UNESCO World Heritage City in the world thanks to the largest and best-preserved historic centre in North and South America. A few years later, Casa Gangotena was included in the inventory of the city’s cultural heritage.