GALAPAGOS
CASA GANGOTENA
Every capital needs a superlative hotel, and Quito has found its star in Casa Gangotena. As the doorman ushers you in from the busy Plaza de San Francisco, it’s not just the waft of air-conditioning that hits you – you’re immediately encompassed by a sense of solicitous, cotton-wool comfort. With hardly time to appreciate the exquisite art
the impact on the environment, and to spread visitors around the landing sites – no one wants to be crowded on their visit to one of the world’s most remote spots. This does mean that to see every corner, you need to spend two weeks cruising the islands. Most visitors choose shorter itineraries, so it is worth checking whether clients have a particular species on their bucket list so you can make sure not only that they get to the right island, but also at the right time – for example, the Galapagos Albatross is only to be found on Española, between April and December.
Ship choice is equally key. I
sailed on La Pinta, a luxury vessel accommodating a maximum of 48 guests in some of the largest cabins in the islands, with floor to ceiling
windows. Social areas are spacious, from the dining room where we’re fed, amply and well, to an observation deck with wrap-around windows, and a sundeck with loungers and a Jacuzzi. La Pinta is owned by Metropolitan Touring, one of Ecuador’s biggest tourism players, which works with many UK tour operators including the likes of Cox & Kings. Passengers used to larger ocean-going cruise ships can find more familiar offerings, such as cabins with balconies, on the couple of bigger ships that cruise the islands – the 100-passenger Silver Galapagos, and the 92-passenger Celebrity Xpedition. With any cruise, the experience on ship is only part of the story, but in the Galapagos, where many
deco touches of the lobby – marble mosaic floors, intricately-moulded ceilings – you’re whisked room- wards on a waft of cool towels and welcome drinks. The 31 rooms in this remodeled 1920s mansion
are spacious, with towering ceilings, serious thread- count linen and large marble bathrooms. Whatever floor clients stay on, it’s worth taking a trip to the top; there’s a terrace, which stretches the length of the building, with one of the best views in the city. While remaining firmly Ecuadorian, (the fruit
bowl in the room comes with a guide so you can identify the weirder varieties), levels of service and cuisine hit international luxury standards. Breakfasts are dangerously large, with a sprawling buffet that deserves serious exploration, and the daily complimentary afternoon tea is a lovely touch, combining the best of both Britain and Ecuador, with scones and empanadas in the mix.
CASAGANGOTENA.COM
aspire september 2014 — 79
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