Santiago Island Luxury Vacations

Our stay at Hotel Cucuve was truly fantastic! The room itself was very comfortable, simple yet stylish furnishings, with AC and a ceiling fan, USB charging plugs throughout, a very spacious balcony with hammock to relax in and several seats. All of the staff were super friendly and very helpful in trying to locate our lost luggage and have it delivered to the hotel. Coffee and tea and some light snacks are available at any time free of charge, and if leaving early in the morning for day excursions, you can even request a packed up breakfast in advance. Definitely felt like our home away from home during our time there, I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone staying in Puerto ayora.

The hotel was in a good position, close to the town and the sea front. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the room was very big, as was the bed. However the rooms were very noisy, particularly very early in the morning with scraping of chairs, slamming of doors and people being noisy. The rooms could also do with a bit of maintenance in several areas. The shower was not particularly great and the dispensers for the toiletries were unattractive and didn’t really work. The breakfast was also pretty basic and didn’t really change much. All in all, although the hotel was good, I felt that it was very overpriced for what it offered.

The Royal Palm offers a truly immersive Galápagos experience—set inland on a stunning 100 acre property, far from the touristy feel of the ports. Recently under new ownership, the property is being refreshed: rooms are spacious and renovated, the pool has been redone, and quiet renovations are underway, including apparently a unique lava tunnel spa. Some exterior areas still need attention, but the overall feel is serene and authentic. Service is top-notch and boutique-level, with attentive, personalized touches throughout. A special thank you to Gustavo, the ever-present and gracious manager. The restaurant is excellent, with a warm team—Rita made us feel at home and remembered our names. Breakfasts are fresh, varied and awesome. Excursions can be organized by the hotel and work seamlessly. Duncan gave us a deep dive into the island’s geology and ecology, while Maritza kept our 8–14-year-olds fully engaged with her energy and knowledge. Boat tour days were a highlight—fantastic snorkeling, incredible island views, and a surprisingly gourmet chef onboard (kudos)! The boat crew was kind and professional. Guide quality, however, faltered which was disappointing. Overall, The Royal Palm is a peaceful, character-rich base for a Galápagos trip—elevated by excellent service, comfort, and nature.

We had a great stay at Blu Galapagos. Loved the location and our room was perfect - Great view, well maintained and had a king bed. Even if the description says queen bed and the picture looks like a king, you can trust the picture. Morning breakfast with iguanas and seals, and all day Galapagos coffee availability made this stay special.

Beautiful resort, impeccably clean, very kind and enthusiastic staff. Delicious restaurant. 5 stars all around, we will definitely return!

Great stay! The rooms, the service, the breakfast, everything was great. Definitely stay here

We had a great stay at Blu Galapagos. Loved the location and our room was perfect - Great view, well maintained and had a king bed. Even if the description says queen bed and the picture looks like a king, you can trust the picture. Morning breakfast with iguanas and seals, and all day Galapagos coffee availability made this stay special.

The hotel was in a good position, close to the town and the sea front. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the room was very big, as was the bed. However the rooms were very noisy, particularly very early in the morning with scraping of chairs, slamming of doors and people being noisy. The rooms could also do with a bit of maintenance in several areas. The shower was not particularly great and the dispensers for the toiletries were unattractive and didn’t really work. The breakfast was also pretty basic and didn’t really change much. All in all, although the hotel was good, I felt that it was very overpriced for what it offered.

The Royal Palm offers a truly immersive Galápagos experience—set inland on a stunning 100 acre property, far from the touristy feel of the ports. Recently under new ownership, the property is being refreshed: rooms are spacious and renovated, the pool has been redone, and quiet renovations are underway, including apparently a unique lava tunnel spa. Some exterior areas still need attention, but the overall feel is serene and authentic. Service is top-notch and boutique-level, with attentive, personalized touches throughout. A special thank you to Gustavo, the ever-present and gracious manager. The restaurant is excellent, with a warm team—Rita made us feel at home and remembered our names. Breakfasts are fresh, varied and awesome. Excursions can be organized by the hotel and work seamlessly. Duncan gave us a deep dive into the island’s geology and ecology, while Maritza kept our 8–14-year-olds fully engaged with her energy and knowledge. Boat tour days were a highlight—fantastic snorkeling, incredible island views, and a surprisingly gourmet chef onboard (kudos)! The boat crew was kind and professional. Guide quality, however, faltered which was disappointing. Overall, The Royal Palm is a peaceful, character-rich base for a Galápagos trip—elevated by excellent service, comfort, and nature.