Book Hotel del Parque with VIP Benefits

The original building was the Hospicio Corazón de Jesús, established in 1891 to shelter people who were elderly, homeless or living with disabilities. When demolition threatened it, the Central Bank of Ecuador acquired the structure and moved it piece by piece into the Historical Park. This explains the unusual setting: a building rooted in the city's history, preserved within a landscape of rescued architecture. Designer Julio Vinueza drew on its republican character for the interiors. Two courtyards with fountains and tropical planting provide places to pause within the building itself.

The hotel has 58 rooms and suites across its original accommodation and Casa Castagneto. The latter contains 14 Deluxe Castagneto rooms and a rooftop pool. It belongs to Hotel del Parque, rather than operating as a separate hotel. Its architecture reinterprets a Guayaquil house dating from 1913, with a wood-fronted republican character and more contemporary tropical interiors.

Deluxe King and Deluxe Double rooms in the original accommodation measure approximately 37 to 45 square meters. The Double category has two full-size beds, rather than a king that separates into twins. Signature King rooms provide 51 to 60 square meters and a sitting area on the second floor. Gray and yellow tones complement furniture made in Ecuador. Deluxe Castagneto categories are more compact, at approximately 30 to 36 square meters, with a king or two full-size beds.

The 66-square-meter Junior Suite can connect to a Signature Room, creating a useful two-bedroom arrangement. For substantially more living space, the 171-square-meter Park Suite has a separate king bedroom, living room and dining room, plus a small pantry kitchen. Four large windows overlook the park, while a freestanding bathtub faces the tropical gardens. That layout gives a longer stay a different shape, with room to dine and relax away from the bedroom.

Rooms have air conditioning and Wi-Fi, along with a minibar, safe, bathrobes and slippers. A French press and kettle make it possible to prepare coffee or tea without leaving the room. USB sockets beside the bed are a useful practical detail, and hypoallergenic bedding can be requested.

Casa Julián occupies a restored nineteenth-century building overlooking the Daule. Ecuadorian ingredients and regional cooking inform its signature cuisine, with fish and seafood prominent alongside local preparations of soups and stews. The riverside dining room makes the meal part of the park experience. It is a place for lunch or dinner, rather than the hotel's breakfast venue. Private dining can also be arranged in the park or beside the river, giving a celebration a more intimate setting than the main restaurant.

Breakfast is served at El Jardín, the garden café, which also has sandwiches, salads, baked goods and coffee for lighter meals. La Pérgola adds tapas and cocktails beside the water. Guests with allergies or dietary requirements should let the dining team know before arrival so that suitable arrangements can be discussed.

The massage room occupies the wooden bell tower of the historic chapel, with views across the gardens. Exposed beams and the elevated position give treatments an architectural setting specific to this hotel. Aromatherapy, candle-oil and hot-stone massages form part of the menu, with appointments booked separately. There is also a gym for exercise between outings, and the reading room provides an indoor place to settle with a book or a game.

The park combines natural areas with an urban heritage zone and displays of local traditions. Trails pass through recreated coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, while restored houses and the former Banco Territorial building recall an earlier Guayaquil. Cultural presentations add another way to encounter the region beyond looking at architecture. This is also a public attraction, not simply a private hotel garden. Guest access and organized visits allow a stay to extend into the park, with guides helping to interpret its buildings, plants and wildlife.

Families can explore the sanctuary together, where the emphasis is on observing animals in managed habitats. Birds, mammals and reptiles are represented, including parrots, spider monkeys and crocodiles. A private guided visit can be arranged through the concierge. Children's treasure hunts and a children's menu on request add practical options for younger guests. The park supplies much of the interest here, so a family day need not depend on a long drive to an attraction elsewhere.

The hotel's coffee experience follows the plant through processing to roasting, with a specialist guiding guests through the beans and aromas. Cacao sessions trace a different Ecuadorian crop, introducing the pods, traditional chocolate-making methods and a tasting. They add substance to a short stop in Guayaquil and can be arranged alongside a walk through the park. The concierge can explain the format and availability of each experience when planning your stay.

The blue-toned chapel gives weddings and vow renewals a distinct setting, with Gothic, Renaissance and Mediterranean influences in its design. Receptions and private meals can move into other hotel and riverside spaces. The events team helps plan seating, decoration and dining, including served dinners or food stations. With rooms on site, a gathering can extend beyond the ceremony itself, allowing relatives and friends time together in the gardens and public rooms.

Samborondón places the hotel outside the downtown core. Across the river, Las Peñas has colorful streets and historic architecture, while Malecón 2000 provides a waterfront walk. Teatro Sánchez Aguilar is another option for an evening in the Samborondón area.

José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport is approximately ten minutes away by car in light traffic, and hotel staff can arrange a transfer on request. Allow additional time when road conditions are busy. Guayaquil is a departure point for flights to Baltra and San Cristóbal in the Galápagos, making the hotel a practical mainland base around an island stay or cruise.