Hilton Colon Quito

Rooms and decor

Picture a tall light-brown tower standing on the corner of one of Quito's main avenues, facing a big city park full of eucalyptus trees and Ecuadorian artists who stretch out canvases to sell handmade work every Saturday and Sunday evening — that is Hilton Colon Quito, a landmark that has been part of La Mariscal since 1967, one of the earliest Hiltons in South America still running today. Step into the high, open lobby with its glossy marble floor and dark-brown leather sofas ringing the central column and you feel the classic Hilton-flagship character that is hard to find anymore. Several renovations keep it clean and current while holding onto a buttoned-up business-hotel mood. There is a concierge desk for advice on tours to Mitad del Mundo and Otavalo Market, with warm coca-leaf tea served in small cups in the Andean tradition — a detail that tells you straight away you have arrived in Quito. The 485 rooms spread across many floors, and the simplest way to think about it is that the south side of the tower, facing Parque El Ejido, is the side you want most: on clear days you get a full view of the Volcan Pichincha summit, a volcano of around 4,700 meters that wraps around the city. Standard king rooms run roughly 30-35 sqm in warm beige-and-brown tones, plainly classic Hilton, with a large work desk, a marble bathroom with a separate shower and tub, and an in-room coffee maker.

Food and amenities

Inside, the tower is fully loaded. The spa and fitness center are open 24 hours, there is a heated indoor pool — which matters because Quito is cool all year — plus an outdoor pool for sunny days, a casino that runs late, and 6 places to eat covering Japanese, Italian and a 24-hour café, so on a day you do not feel like going out, everything is here. Book an Executive room, usually on the upper floors, and you get the Executive Lounge with free breakfast, afternoon snacks and evening cocktails — plenty of reviews call it better value than a standard room because it saves you several meals. The corner suites that open onto a view of Parque El Ejido are a favorite with couples and long-stay business travelers, with a separate sitting area and wide windows that take in both the park and the line of mountains.

Location and getting there

The location is the real ace here. Hilton Colon Quito stands at the far north end of La Mariscal, Quito's old gringo quarter packed with restaurants, bars, cafés and tour agencies, and it is about an 8-minute walk to Plaza Foch, the square at the center of a nightlife scene that buzzes every night. Across the street, Parque El Ejido turns into an Ecuadorian craft market every weekend evening — woven textiles, paintings, silverwork and carved wood, all from local artists. The clincher is the metro El Ejido station on Quito's first metro line, which opened to full service in 2023, sitting directly across from the building: hop on the metro and you reach San Francisco or La Alameda in the UNESCO-listed Old Town in a few minutes, or run north to the La Carolina business district just as easily. Mariscal Sucre airport (UIO) is about 45 minutes by car.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The most common complaint is room decor that still leans heavily on an older era — despite several renovations, the carpets, wallpaper and some furniture look older than a contemporary 5-star, and many reviews say it feels more like a 1990s-2000s hotel than a new one, so if you want bold modern design you may be let down. The next frequent gripe is Wi-Fi that is uneven by floor — signal drops in some high rooms, so you may need to call for an extra access point or work from the lobby. Safety around Plaza Foch late at night is worth knowing too: not seriously dangerous, but there is some pickpocketing and bag-snatching, especially for people walking alone with a camera, and several foreign ministries advise taking an Uber or a hotel-arranged taxi on late nights rather than walking far. Last is the altitude — at 2,850 meters many people feel it in the first day or two, so rest plenty the first night, drink lots of water, sip the lobby coca tea, and hold off on the TelefériQo up Pichincha (4,100 meters) on day one.

Our take

After reading through hundreds of real guest reviews, Hilton Colon Quito is the flagship Hilton landmark that sells its central La Mariscal location and full 5-star load with pride — a metro at the door, a park across the street, a spa, casino, indoor/outdoor pools and 6 places to eat all in one spot. If your Quito trip means using the hotel as a fully-loaded base — riding the metro to UNESCO Old Town one day, having the concierge set up an Otavalo or Mitad del Mundo tour the next, then coming back to the pool and a glass of wine in the building — this fits best. If you are after a modern boutique with sharp design, the classic-toned rooms here may feel older than you expect. Overall we give it 8.4/10, best for business travelers, families and couples who value location and full facilities more than brand-new room design.