Named after the Darwin finches that frequent the surrounding area, Finch Bay Hotel is nestled across from Puerto Ayora in a quiet oceanfront location on Santa Cruz Island.
The property features 27 rooms and suites, an outdoor pool and a restaurant that serves locally-inspired cuisine. The property is flexible in that it offers stays on only a bed and breakfast basis right through to a complete full-board package with daily guided land and sea excursions.
Named as one of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World, Finch Bay Hotel has dubbed themselves a beachfront Galapagos expedition headquarters. Whether exploring on their own private yacht or walking barefoot from your room to the ocean shore, the property offers enviable location.
Guests can head out to the water for scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking and surfing excursions at various sites around Santa Cruz Island or on other nearby islands, or venture out on land-based biking and hiking trip. It is possible to have guided wildlife observations with Galapagos National Park guides or visit the giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island.
There are day trips by private yacht to Bartolome Island, North Seymour Island, South Plaza Islands and Santa Fe Island, and scuba diving can also be arranged. There are plenty of opportunities for bird-watching, kayaking, snorkelling and mountain biking, and a number of interesting walking trails that lead to the nearby Tortuga Bay.
Metropolitan recently installed 364 solar panels at Finch Bay Hotel in the Galapagos Islands. They will produce 300,000 kWh annually and will cover 50% of their energy needs. This is the largest solar energy project installed in any hotel in the archipelago.
Finch Bay Hotel benefits from a quiet beachside location in Puerto Ayora on the southern side of Santa Cruz Island. Finch Bay Hotel is close to the bustling town of Puerto Ayora, accessible by a five-minute water taxi ride, and is the only beachfront property on the island.
Some of the wonderful places to stay that we frequently recommended.
An exclusive property nestled on a 480-acre private estate in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, Royal Palm Hotel is a secluded hideaway situated on a gently sloping hill with views to the ocean in the distance. Surrounded by native flora and fauna, and ringing with the hum of Darwin finches and egrets, the accommodation is an immersive base for further island exploration. Its eight well-appointed casitas have verandas that overlook the estate, while the 13 luxurious villas sit individually within the grounds and offer advanced privacy and space. An on-site restaurant affords guests with ocean-views on clear days, although many prefer to dine al fresco with a sundowner cocktail under the blanket of stars.
A unique concept in the Galapagos, Pikaia Lodge is a contemporary property that carefully balances adventurous land-based activities with ocean-bound excursions. Guests are welcomed on board the lodge’s spacious and luxurious yacht and allocated a private cabin, but are able to return at night to the comforts of Pikaia Lodge to sleep on steady ground. Providing an ideal base from which to explore a wide selection of islands, the lodge operates similarly to boat-based programmes by providing planned, fully-guided excursions that include sea kayaking, snorkelling and walking.
Situated in a grove of wild red mangrove and perched on the edge of the sea, Galapagos Habitat is peacefully removed from the hustle and bustle of the town of Puerto Ayora whilst being just a stone’s throw from the Charles Darwin Research Station. Featuring 17 stylish rooms and suites with views to the ocean or mangroves, each furnished to a high standard in a minimalist style, Galapagos Habitat offers a beachside restaurant that serves a fusion of Japanese and Ecuadorian specialities, a waterfront jacuzzi and complimentary use of kayaks. Wilderness excursions and day tours to the nearby islands also operate daily from Galapagos Habitat.
Consisting of just three superbly constructed eco villas that are the first of their kind in the Galapagos, Montemar is the sustainable passion project of two native Galapaguenos and environmentalists. Composed of natural local materials like bamboo, cedar and lava rocks, the villas blend seamlessly with the surrounding 43 acres of land, through which Galapagos tortoises and wild horses roam freely. The property has its own outdoor bamboo yoga and meditation studio, and the three villas range in size and are each uniquely decorated.
An oceanfront residence overlooking Pelican Bay on Santa Cruz Island, Villa Escalesia is a private home that offers sea views, a private infinity swimming pool, expansive sun decks, a whirlpool and ocean-view hammocks. Boasting total privacy and unobstructed views of Academy Bay and Santa Fe Island, the villa is an ideal location for groups of up to 12 people to congregate for private parties, reunions or annual get-togethers. Available for hire on a full-board or full-board and serviced basis, the property is designed to accommodate once-in-a-lifetime memories.
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