Bright flowers adorn a clean pool and shaded tables provide a welcome spot for a drink. The outside area at Hotel Ancora in Puerto Lopez is one of the prettiest you will see in Ecuador! Rooms supply guests with a comfortable hideaway from the main strip without compromising on one of the most convenient locations in town.
Beautiful outdoor area for relaxing
The staff at Hotel Ancora know what their main selling point is and they quickly make sure you do too. Upon your arrival, you will be shown to the beautiful outside area at the back of the restaurant. You can wait here until your room is ready for check-in or alternatively, you will be shown to your lodgings via this route.
In this outdoor space, there is a swimming pool, corner-side bar and plenty of places to sit and enjoy a drink. The restaurant opens up into the outside area which means that the garden also benefits from the sound system inside. Don’t worry though, this is no party town and the tunes are strictly easy listening only.
Clean ensuite rooms
Whilst the rooms at Hotel Ancora aren’t the largest you’ll come across, they are comfortable and functional which makes them well-suited for the average traveller. Whilst not generally aimed at backpackers, there are twin rooms which offer comfy bunks so they are a great option for both you and your best travel buddy!
The beds are well presented and clean and all rooms come with an ensuite bathroom. This is definitely a welcome change from early mornings queuing to use shared toilets! Needless to say, from a hotel promoting the level of luxury that Hotel Ancora does, all of the showers have hot water around the clock.
Little details heighten guest experience
Whilst they may be insignificant details to the hotel’s normal clientele, backpackers are sure to appreciate the little things that Hotel Ancora does to make your stay convenient and pleasant. All rooms have a flatscreen television, fluffy towels and air conditioner.
To make things even better, the bathrooms even come complete with free toiletries! Having lived on a tiny square of my shampoo bar for weeks (really fulfilling the backpacker stereotype, I know), a proper hair wash was definitely appreciated!
Tasty restaurant on the ground floor
Located on the ground floor of the hotel, there is a tasty Spanish restaurant which is run by the same staff as the hotel. Owners Javier and Gema are a Spanish-Ecuadorian couple, so it is clear to see where the European influence comes from!
Evening meals in the restaurant are reasonably priced for international food and the quality of the dishes is high. I’d definitely recommend the Spanish tortilla for a taste of authentic Northern Spain. They even serve complimentary pinchos prior to your meal! Breakfast is offered at the hotel restaurant between 8 am – 10 am.
Good opportunity to practice your Spanish
Whilst some of the management have a basic understanding of English, the majority of the staff at Hotel Ancora speak only Spanish. Using a mixture of both languages will easily be enough to help you get by but don’t expect to have any in-depth conversations in English.
It is possible to arrange tours to popular local attractions such as Isla de la Plata and Los Frailles Beach directly through the hotel but make sure you’re ready to whip on your Spanish hat and get stuck in. There is nothing better for language learning than total immersion after all!
Prices
A single room with a balcony starts at $25 US per night whilst a double with bunk beds comes in at $45 US. You can check availability and book on Booking.com.
Sheree Hooker | Editor @ South America Backpacker + Winging The World
Sheree is the awkward British wanderluster behind wingingtheworld.com, a travel blog designed to show that even the most useless of us can travel. Follow Sheree’s adventures as she blunders around the globe, falling into squat toilets, getting into cars with machete men and running away from angry peacocks.
