Cozy, luxurious, and personalized attention are top highlights of this small boutique hotel and its restaurant. The Illa Experience hotel is a 10-room restored colonial house who focuses their service on the guests experience and interaction with the local culture and cuisine. Its restaurant, Nuema, was recently ranked in the top 50 in South America. The chef, Alejandro Chamorro, brings creativity along with well mastered gastronomic techniques and conveys more than just flavors but also history and passion into each plate served.

The location of the hotel is in the historic center in the cozy neighborhood of San Marcos, where the locals still pride themselves on their homes and tranquility. This area has also been known for its arts and culture and the staff can assist you with a walking tour and its history. The hotel collaborates with them and brings them to share their traditional trades with the guests such as how to make helado de paila (traditional ice cream), painting with a local artist, or taking a tour of an artisan’s workshop.

Enjoy and relax after a fun day touring the city in any of the hotel facilities such as the wine cellar, rooftop bar, and spa with jacuzzi and massage room.

We recommend to always leave room for dessert! Alejandro’s wife, Pia Salazar, is the mastermind for the sweet tooth. You must try the turron, a traditional dessert from Cuenca, that consists of two wafers filled with nougat, salted and dehydrated peas, seasonal apples and served with ice cream.