Santa Cruz Island Fishing Vacations

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.

The hotel location is close enough to what you would like to see or walk to and yet far enough away that it is peaceful and quiet. The room I had was spacious and cleaned daily. The staff was very helpful and available to answer your questions. The rooms face the bay, some completely and others partly. There is a good restaurant attached to the property and many shops, restaurants and tour offices within walking distance.

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

Great staff and location. Breakfasts were great with pretty views. We also really enjoyed dinner the night we ate there. The rooms were very spacious. Would highly recommend.

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.