HotelChatter

Abercrombie & Kent puts up clients at The Royal Palm Hotel. The Galápagos' only five-star resort and member of the Leading Hotels of the World rests amidst 500 acres in Galapagos National Park on Santa Cruz Island. Judging from the 360 degree view of The Imperial Suite, the hotel made skillful if unbridled use of local lumber (it takes a rainforest?) for built-in shelves and gorgeous wood floors. Guests won't get bored, with activities like a morning at Garrapatero Beach, kayaking, day tours to places like The Charles Darwin Research Center. Online rates start at $345 for the veranda suite to $825 for the imperial suite.

The less isolated Red Mangrove Adventure Inn sits, (where else?) on a mangrove on Santa Cruz Island. Close by are aforementioned Charles Darwin Research Center and downtown Puerto Ayora. The hotel has been open for over 20 years. From the looks of its website, it knows a thing or two about offering the "other Galapagos" land-based experience. Activities range from tours of the highlands to tortoise expeditions. Online rates start at $115 per person, for a non-ocean view, to $245 for an ocean view suite.

Finch Bay Hotel Then there's the Finch Bay Eco Hotel, also on the water, another lodging option on Santa Cruz Island. (How did we forget to note that the centrally located island is the most populous of the Galapagos.) In addition to the usual amenities and activities, Finch Bay has its own yacht, the Sea Finch, a remodeled Hatteras used for daily excursions. The boat, according to the hotel, is the fastest in the Galapagos. Three night packages start at $665.25.

[Photo: Mtchm]

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