The Secret Garden

Great chance to have a wonderful time, get to know other travellers and get informed, make new friends, have wonderful dinners and enjoy the best views, especially at night! When there is a special night sometimes there is a live band and evenings end up with dancing and a lot of fun!
Rooms are clean, comfortable and pleasant, with great beds and hot water. 8$US for dorms per person and 20 $US for doubles. There is Internet service, lockers and free storage. Walls are covered with artistic designs that give it a unique atmosphere together with the general familiar and homely environment.
The hotel is secure and very conveniently located near the Old Town.
The friendly staff are mostly travelers themselves working as volunteers at the hotel. If you are interested get info here: Volunteer Opportunities.
You'd better book your stay at least one week in advance because it's very popular. There is a pick up service if you arrive at the airport for 10 $US for 1 to 4persons. (Taxis are 7$US)
Well priced interesting tours are organised by the hotel, and finally there is a Spanish School for a quick language training.

4 more pictures...

This is MY problem, maybe not yours - One thing about budget travel is the damn hippies; the guys are spineless and the girls are humorless, the clothes are ugly, the music is awful and the smell... Like I said: It's my problem, but if you're like me, you might find The Secret Garden to be a bit too (extremely) hippy oriented. The rooms are basic and adequate, the shower was fine, the layout is asthetically nice... It's the roof-top restaurant/cafe that's the best feature, open air with killer views of Old Town Quito, unfortunately this is where you have to interact with the hippies, oh well. Oh yeah, very noisy place makes sleeping a challenge.

Unique Quality: Had live, local music (band) on the roof after dinner (popcorn & corn-nuts in a bowl), nice ethnic touch, but is this Ecuadorean food?? I'm not kidding about the dry-corn products... How 'bout some Cuy duuuude?

Directions: Old Town Quito

This is meant to be the best hostel in South America, I have to disagree. It was overpriced ($10 per person for a twin room with shared bathroom), the rooms were noisy (ours was next to the washing machineswhich ran until midnight and started again at 10am), the showers were cold (despite a sign promising 24/7 hot water) and when we checked out and complained about the hot water, the staff member said 'join the queue, what do you want me to do about it, I'm hungover and vomiting?' and this was the guy preparing the (overpriced) breakfast.

The only good points were the fantastic view from the (overpriced) bar and the lovely pillows (the only decent pillows we had in the whole of South America!)

Unique Quality: Good views, shame about everything else!

Studying my guidebook I found out I may have very cheap accommodation but have been very confused in choosing the location. The new city is good for nightlife but is advised to be cautious about after dark and early morning and even in daylight at some areas. The old city on the other hand makes it difficult for you to go up and down and also advised on security in the evening tho there is police secuirty. So what bout in between the two. I tried this hostel and the location is just perfect. Its just at the edge of the old town. and English speaking and professionally maintained. They have all different arrangements but to get a room you better book ahead. Increasingly popular among young people.

By the way don go for their airport pick-up service. Taxi costs only 5 USD from airport to the hostel and a big air-conditioned (what I used) costs just 8 USD.

Great people running the place. Also has a Spanish teacher on staff.

Unique Quality: Loads of charactor great view of the old town

Spent a few very relaxed days staying at this hostal. It has a very friendly atmosphere and is a fun place to stay.

Unique Quality: The view from the roof terrace over the Old town and the Virgen of Quito is fantastic.

The also do a 'deal' in the evening where you can have two courses (starter and main, or main and dessert) and all you can drink from 7pm to 10pm for $8.50!

If you're not doing the 'deal' they still have a system where the beer gets cheaper the more you buy!

Directions: Between the old and the new down. Near the Herman Miguel Trole stop.