Su Merced — Hotel in Puembo

I recently spent a few nights at Casa Su Merced near the airport in Quito, before and after a trip to Southern Ecuador. This is not your typical airport hotel! It is a restored adobe hacienda dating from the 16th century, surrounded by a few acres of lovely gardens. It is quiet and peaceful , the perfect antidote to a long flight, either before or after boarding the plane. The property is extremely well maintained, with beautiful decorations in the rooms and sparkling cleanliness. My hostess, Elizabeth, was attentive and kind, just what you want from an innkeeper. She is also an excellent cook, and the meals were wonderful. I stayed in a double room on the first occasion, which was spacious and comfortable. At the second visit I was in a casita behind the main building, with a separate dining/kitchenette area and a large combined bedroom/sitting room. Both were beautifully furnished and decorated. The property is about 15 minutes from the airport, and the staff arrange airport pickup and return, not matter the hour. ||||If you are looking for a standard hotel right by the airport, this hacienda is not for you. But if, like me, you long for a more authentic Ecuadorian experience where you are treated like an old friend, Casa Su Merced...

What a wonderful introduction to Ecuador! My fiends and I spend two nights here. We wanted a place to relax, unwind and acclimatize after a long flight from Canada. What better place to stay than a 400 year old Hacienda in the country not far from the airport. ||||We were met at the airport late at night by Washington who drove us to hotel and showed us to our room - the Luz de Luna. The room was lovely and spacious, perfect for three people. The next morning we were treated to an excellent breakfast served by two young women in traditional dress. Elizabeth, the owner, greeted us warmly and gave us a tour of the property. Hacienda Su Merced is a beautiful property with numerous antiques and artifacts in the house and on the grounds. We loved it. ||||As out intention was to relax that is exactly what we did. We ate lunch and dinner here and spent the day resting and bird watching on the grounds (16 species). Although neither the staff nor Elizabeth spoke much English, communication was not a problem. The staff were friendly and helpful and Elizabeth even prepared special teas for my friend who was sick after the flight. We were very well cared for and the food...

This is one of the most amazing places that I have ever stayed! We arrived late and had not had anything to eat so asked Elizabeth if there was anyplace nearby to get a bite. She said there was not but that she could fix us something. My Spanish is not the best, and I thought she said she could make us some chicken soup - perfect! Well I had that all wrong - they made us a three course meal that was beyond amazing! It was one of our favorite meals in Ecuador. And Elizabeth is a food artist (and a lovely woman) - the dishes were simply beautiful. The grounds and buildings/furnishings are gorgeous and there was ample hot water. Many of the rooms and linens are painted with beautiful flowers and birds painted by an artist friend of hers. There is an amazing great room for small events. You definitely feel like you are in the country, but Quito is quite close. Reservations...