Where to Stay
Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.
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Our Team
Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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Our Tour Experts
We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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Heroes and Heroines
The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos and has the largest human population, living mainly in the town of Puerto Ayora.
The island is thought to have been formed in two parts, north and south. The northern section is the older part, created due to an uplift of land — you can see the layers of marine sediment and limestone as evidence of this process. The southern younger part of the island was formed through volcanic cones and lava, the landscape of which is often likened to that of the moon with craters, cones and tuffs.
A little more about Santa Cruz
The varied landscape means the island has different altitude levels and has developed seven different microclimates which have allowed vegetation to thrive and support the varied wildlife.
The island is also home to the giant tortoise, sea lions, flamingos, marine and land iguana, lava heron and boobies. By heading up to the highlands surrounded by scalesia trees, cacti and ferns, you will have the opportunity to see the giant tortoise thriving in this lush green scenery. Some can reach the grand old age of 200 years and weigh up to 250kg.
Further north, towards Las Bachas, you will find white sandy beaches and if you take a closer look, you’ll see marine iguana and turtle trails created by their climb out of the sea onto the beach. You may also see the iconic blue-footed boobies that tend to stand on the rock edge keeping a look out.
Travelling west you will come to Cerro Dragon, one of the only spots in the Galapagos Islands where you will be able to see land iguanas.
Idea
Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands by Land
This island-hopping, land-based adventure through the Galapagos Islands is ideally suited to wandering wildlife-lovers that prefer to keep their feet on solid ground staying at a selection of unique island properties with irresistible features. While sailing is the most traditional way to experience…
Idea
Peru
Machu Picchu & the Galapagos Islands
Encompassing the highlights of Peru, a stay in Quito and a Galapagos Islands cruise, this adventure tracks from colourful Cusco to the iconic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu before moving to Ecuador’s historic capital city and the enchanting Galapagos Islands.
Idea
Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands by Land
This island-hopping, land-based adventure through the Galapagos Islands is ideally suited to wandering wildlife-lovers that prefer to keep their feet on solid ground staying at a selection of unique island properties with irresistible features. While sailing is the most traditional way…
Idea
Peru
Machu Picchu & the Galapagos Islands
Encompassing the highlights of Peru, a stay in Quito and a Galapagos Islands cruise, this adventure tracks from colourful Cusco to the iconic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu before moving to Ecuador’s historic capital city and the enchanting Galapagos Islands.
Galapagos Islands
Royal Palm Hotel
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…
Galapagos Islands
Finch Bay Hotel
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…
Galapagos Islands
Pikaia Lodge
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…
Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Habitat
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…
Meet our experts
A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.
Paul Bird
The moment a blue footed booby makes its dive and plunges like a dart into the water is special, but to see hundreds do this at once was a breath-taking experience that Paul was not prepared for.
Talk with our experts
- 01285 880 980
John Faithfull
Half of the appeal of the Galapagos Islands is underwater, and a few minutes in the company of a five-metre manta ray off the coast of Isabela Island remains one of John’s most vivid memories of this incredible archipelago.
Talk with our experts
- 01285 880 980
Roxy Dukes
Wildlife is Roxy’s passion, so where better to immerse than in Darwin’s land? Having stepped on all but one of the islands in the archipelago and having personally visited our hand-picked selection of hotels and boats, there is little she does not know about the Galapagos Islands.
Talk with our experts
- 01285 880 980
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Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
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