Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton
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About
#12 of 37 hotels in Santa Cruz
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Located in the Miconia Highland Forests, our hotel is set within the island's beautiful scenery. Recognized as a Natural Heritage Site for Humanity, the Galapagos boasts incredible natural beauty as well as unique and endangered species. Our boutique property features natural lava tunnels, turtle sightseeing, an infinity pool, firepits, an onsite restaurant, and more.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Hot bath
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Tennis court
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Airport transportation
Business Centre with Internet Access
Outdoor pool
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Shuttle bus service
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
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Private balcony
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English, Spanish
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Loved our 2 night stay here after our cruise. It is away from the hustle bustle of Puerto Ayora however a very short 15-20 min taxi ride away ($10 one way). We stayed in family Villa 4 which was spacious with 2 bedrooms, massive bathroom and large living space - more than enough room for our family of 4. On site restaurant had great breakfast buffet and menu options (we had lunch in restaurant and did room service for an evening dinner). Service was impeccable, they organized taxi drop off to airport (driver escorted us all the way to airport incl the ferry and bus ride - you'll know what I mean if you've flown into Baltra before!). I understand Hilton recently acquired this property under their portfolio so there are some areas that are a bit dated however, the resort is expansive and highly recommend if you want to stay in the highlands!…
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Ask hotel to arrange for airport pickup and drop-off. Upgrade to a 2 bedroom Villa for more...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Cristina Gonzalez, Sales at Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton
Responded 4 weeks ago
It was a pleasure to have hosted you at our Enchanted Islands. We hope to see you in near future
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hotel's Favourite
This lovely hotel is equidistant from Baltra Airport and the main town, Puerto Ayora (about 25 mins). It is up in the highlands which means cooler breezes and fewer bugs. I was part of a UNC Travel group that stayed here for 4 nights last month. The staff could not be friendlier and more attentive. They aim to please! The grounds are lovely and the meals were very good! I highly recommend staying here. You can choose from the casitas or the villas (larger but a bit farther from the main buildings).
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Date of stay: March 2022
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Room Tip: When you make your reservation let the staff know if you have any accessibility issues (like...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
Very good Hotel with fantastic and helpful staff led by the Manager Diego who oversees the Hotel to ensure a first class experience. He was meeting guests every day to ensure all residents were happy with the service. We stayed in a Family Villa (number 4 ) which was absolutely fine with 2 large Bedrooms, Bathroom, Shower and separate Lounge. We had a fabulous dinner inside the Lava Tunnel, truly a once in a lifetime experience. Happy to recommend this Hotel.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: The Hotel is secluded but a local taxi to the Port takes 15 minutes and is very reasonable.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Polar opposite reviews of this place would have me believe this is either the best or worst hotel on planet Earth. My wife & I are in the former tribe and we can't imagine in our wildest dreams that the Royal Palm's incredible staff would provide anything but the best possible tailored experience to each & every guest. Sprawling hundreds of acres in the highland rainforests very near the geographic center of Sant Cruz Island, it is halfway between the two starting points of the yacht day tours that visit many of the uninhabited (by humans) islands: the Itabaca Channel to the north (near Baltra GPS Airport), and Puerto Ayora to the south (where you can also have a night on the town (Galapagos style), or catch the ferry to Isla Isabela or Isla San Cristobal...2 of the other 3 inhabited islands). The grounds are a manicured oasis of lushness surrounding casitas, private villas, a restaurant/lounge building, reception, a pool, tennis courts, spa, gym & trails...all connected by cobbled pathways. A beautiful & relaxing setting to feast, imbibe a libation or three, & be pampered and doted on like royalty amidst long adventurous days crammed with as much eco-tourism that all who come to the Galapagos strive to experience. If we had it all to do over, knowing everything we know now, we would definitely choose again to stay here (& nowhere else) while on Santa Cruz. And to give context and a frame of reference to our taste in these matters, we've spent a large quantity of quality time as vacationers & guests in upscale accommodations at some of the world's finest 5 star resorts and my wife has a lifetime of experience working in hospitality...so with confidence we attest that we can surely recognize competence & talent in the industry, or the lack of it. Lets start 6 months before our stay when I booked the Royal Palm in November for our visit the following May. My wife's lifetime dream has been to visit Galapagos & to viscerally experience for herself firsthand what makes these islands special. For 24 years of marriage her interest has inspired my own, but in all that time somehow we never stumbled on the fact that there were hotels there where non-scientists could vacation. We were under the mistaken impression that the only way for your average person to set foot on the islands was to take a disproportionately expensive cruise (compared to similarly appointed cruise ships that visit other parts of the globe) with a relatively short amount of time actually spent on the islands. Then by chance I came to discover this 5 star hotel existed...and that there were, in fact many hotels, though most of lesser quality, on several of the islands. What's more I could cash in some loyalty points that were burning a hole in my pocket to make my wife's dream a reality & share in it with her. 5 Months before our stay, I contacted (Maria) Cristina González (Jácome), Sales & Marketing Regional Manager for the Royal Palm. Her office is in Quito, mainland Ecuador. The internet there is much better than on the Islands, where it is very slow, unreliable & hit or miss...(Even the ATMs in the Galapagos & sometimes phones from the U.S. to the islands are unreliable for the same reasons...so bring some cash & don't rely solely on credit cards and ATMs!). I had also (in December) booked a 2 night stay in a B&B on San Cristobal Island and was working with a travel agent from that island the B&B owner recommended highly (to book full day yacht tours involving geologic/wildlife/sea life hikes, lunch, and snorkeling to several uninhabited islands with licensed English speaking bilingual naturalist guides)..the owner of the TA was on island but the main office and contact for the TA where arrangements were made were also based in Quito. So, no matter where you stay & go in the Galapagos, if you find your arrangements are being made from Quito (Ecuador's capital city), don't be alarmed, it seems to be pretty standard and I believe the reason is for reliable communication between you and them and good internet. Anyway, Cristina arranged a guided day tour in the Santa Cruz highlands into a lava tunnel (the biggest & best is actually on the Royal Palm's vast land and a nearby giant tortoise ranch in the highlands (the hotel also threw in a hike around Los Gemelos (a.k.a. the Twin Craters) as a surprise bonus the day of our tour. She also arranged ferries for us to San Cristobal Island and transfers from the hotel to the ferries & also the collecting of our bags at the ferry on our way back to Santa Cruz so we could explore Puerto Ayora, allowing us a night out on the town without the burden of luggage before taxing back to the hotel to sleep. (Incidentally, Manny, the hotel's GM actually made the trek out with the driver who came to get our bags that afternoon and cordially greeted us at the pier. We're not sure if he had another reason to come to town, but it seemed like a nice touch.) We immensely enjoyed our "one night out", but were very glad we didn't choose a hotel in the bustles & hustles of Puerto Ayora. It seems everyone there is trying to sell you something or recruit you to eat supper at their restaurant (kind of like "happy hour" in South Beach, Miami, Florida if you know what I mean) and buildings are packed in close, one practically on top of another. When I say the Royal Palm is an oasis, I mean its a perfect respite from the go go go of what will otherwise prove to be a very active vacation, and you won't find that same tranquility & recuperation in town. Although Santa Cruz is a must, and its the Hub of the Galapagos with the most "goings on", and while there, everyone should spend a little time in Puerto Ayora, San Cristobal, the less populated capital of Galapagos, is in our opinion, a better Island to "stay in town" in a hotel, than Santa Cruz is...and we loved our B&B there. Hey, everyone is different...& to each their own...but we were happy we chose the Royal Palm vs. the alternatives. Firstly & lastly, Cristina arranged for us affordable stress free transfers from and to Baltra GPS airport on both ends of our Galapagos adventure (involving a representative from the hotel meeting us at the airport, helping with our luggage throughout the journey, accompanying us on the short bus ride from the airport to the ferry & the ferry ride across the Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island, then driving us to the hotel in comfort...& doing the same in reverse on the return journey.) Baltra Island (part of Ecuador) was at one time the home of a US Navel base that protected the Panama Canal in WW2..and now, its the main airport of Galapagos, serving Santa Cruz Island which is separated from it by a narrow channel. Most visitors stay on the complete opposite side of Santa Cruz in Puerto Ayora (we stayed halfway, in the Miconia highland rainforest) , so regardless of hotel location, all flights to the island require a bus, a ferry, and a drive (except for multiday or multiweek cruises leaving from Baltra Island). It should also be noted that Christina would have been happy to arrange the same or similar full day yacht tours that we had already arranged to North Seymour Island and to Sullivan Bay Santiago & Bartolome Islands. We already had them on our books, arranged elsewhere, and despite that fact, the Royal Palm front desk staff liaised & coordinated with our TA & provided us with communications from our TA regarding necessary updates regarding our tours (changes made on the fly by our TA to rebook us onto comparable tours on comparable yachts, swapping out Monday's itinerary for Tuesdays & vice versa when one of the yachts went "down for maintenance"...changes coordinated from our TA's office in Quito, which we would not have been able to make on our own as we don't have the schedules & contacts for every ship on every day...and we were away anyways walking through lava tunnels, seeing giant tortoises in the wild, and trekking along side the Twin Craters in the Scalesia forest while all of this was happening...Our advice, unless you're staying in town & willing to fly by the seat of your pants trying to book discounted last minute tours which may or may not have any availability...not every island is visited every day, and each ship only goes to certain islands on certain days, & tours that don't get enough people get cancelled...(code word "maintenance"), go with a trusted travel agent or directly with the hotel through Cristina who acts as one, as these kind of things happen often...and they're the ones who can work the magic to make things happen & seamlessly save the day.) The Hotel also provided us timely complimentary transport on both tour days to the hotel's gatehouse (which is at the main road and further than one would want to walk at 7 & 8 AM-ish...remember, the property is sprawling) & waited with us in the van until the chartered tour busses from Puerto Ayora (one of which was late) with the rest of our tour-mates and our Naturalist Guide stopped to pick us up. Both of our yacht tours departed from the Itabaca Channel on the far north of the Island, (but remember, most people are staying on the far south side...Us, staying almost smack dab in the middle, allowed us to sleep in a half hour longer and ride half the distance.) Cristina never promised to provide transportation to the gatehouse...she would have if the tours had been booked through her (& taxis are very reasonably priced), but the hotel's drivers were not otherwise occupied at the times of our tours and they offered us complimentary transport which was greatly appreciated although it should not be taken for granted...They were under no obligation to do so whatsoever. On they day of our arrival, you already know we arranged to be met at the airport and accompanied to the hotel. (The price was very reasonable. You can do it on your own for considerably less...but if you go that route, read up on what to expect so you know "where to go" & "what to do when" so you're not figuring it all out after you land...The airport's on one island...that's about all that's there...& you are staying on a different island. It isn't complicated, but not everyone you encounter is fluent in English (though English is widely spoken as a second language...and Royal Palm's staff speak English). After a lot of traveling you don't want to waste time & stress spinning your wheels. (For us it was a day to get to mainland Ecuador, an overnight there, and a morning flight to Galapagos GPS...most people's flights from the US to mainland Ecuador don't line up for same day travel to the islands & ALL flights to the islands originate either from Quito or Guayaquil Ecuador & there are no flights from anywhere else on any airline....so most likely 2 days to get there & 2 days to get back with overnights on the mainland in both directions. Best to plan accordingly. Upon arriving at the hotel, we were met by Diego Gallardo, who is from Ecuador, but has obviously spent time in the US...his mastery of English is flawless and I greatly appreciated his insight into my query regarding an unusual political event that happened a day or two prior which the US state department had emailed me about during my night on the mainland...but without context I had no idea what it was all about. It was enlightening to receive his perspective and his candid explanation was delivered with appropriate decorum. Thank you Diego! Angela (or someone similarly named...I knew for sure at the time, but its been a while now), also at the front desk, informed us that we have been awarded a gratis upgrade to a private villa. I think it helped us that May, although I think one of the best times to visit Galapagos for many reasons, is not their super busy season (like it is when school gets out for the summer) and my wife & I both have Diamond status with Hilton. So I can't promise a free upgrade to a Villa if you stay here, but know that the Villa was very spacious & private making out time here all the more special and would probably be worth every penny if you can afford to book one outright. Ours had 2 bedrooms (1 King & 2 Queens, the second one we used a a staging area for our luggage, "wardrobe" , laptop storage & charging, & dressing area. We also had a living room with a fireplace, couch, chairs, & counters, a large screen TV that we didn't use, a dining area with table, chairs, and orchid centerpiece, a very spacious bathroom with separate walk in shower & commode rooms...the bidet even had a remote control...My wife could speak to that whereas I didn't try it out (I did contemplate taking it into the next room and pushing some buttons while she held court from the throne, but then I thought better of it & refrained). The restaurant/lounge was beautiful and we savored every delicious morsel we ate there: Lunch the first day, Breakfast and dinner the second & third days & breakfast on the 4th (The 4th & 5th nights we were on San Cristobal Island for 2 overnights, leaving the majority of our belongings in our villa at the Royal Palm, having booked a 6 night stay here) Then on the 6th, we had our "night on the town" in Puerto Ayora, returning only to sleep late in the evening. The last morning we enjoyed another breakfast and then we were off to the airport for the beginning of our 2 day journey home. Not only was the food top notch for a self proclaimed foodie like myself & I did my best to sample the menu...ceviche (several to choose from, I chose the mixed), steak, yummy tostadas-like creations that went by another more traditional Ecuadorian name, garlic shrimp appetizer, octopus salad, soups & artisan salads...muy delicioso! The breakfasts were included for us, I'm not sure if they are for everyone or if its a status thing. There were hot & cold choices buffet style and traditional menu items cooked to order like eggs, French toast, pancakes, omelets, and such. The craft drinks from the bar were yummy too. We especially liked their caipirinhas made with Ecuadorian sugarcane liquor in place of traditional Brazilian cachaça. Perfection Gustavo Garcia, our waiter & cocktail creator for lunches & dinner was friendly & personable, attentive and always the consummate professional. When we arrived for lunch the first day, he knew our name before we told him...basically, he asked, "Are you the ________s?" and when we answered in the affirmative, he informed us that the front desk had made some arrangements for our highlands tour later that day. Rita Pesantes took good care of us at breakfast time and double-teamed with Gustavo for lunch. Paolo was a good driver on our highlands tour (lava tunnel/tortiose ranch/Los Gemelos) & to the guard shack & back on yacht day tour days. I wish I could remember the name of the very pleasant gentleman who drove & accompanied us more than an hour each way to and from the airport including on the ferry across the channel & the bus between the ferry & airport. Jesus and another young man from the front desk whose name I don't know were also always gracious, friendly, and accommodating. This vacation was a unique bucket list worthy adventure with lots of moving parts and lots of balls in the air. Royal Palm & its staff contributed to our enjoyment of & all who played a role have earned our well deserved praise. I wish I hadn't been so busy since I've been back to reality. I feel guilty that I hadn't found or taken the time to leave a review before now. When someone does right by me, I like to pay it back in kind. All in all, Royal Palm gets our highest recommendation. I know its a lengthy review and if you've gotten this far, then thanks for reading it all & God bless! (& please forgive any typos...I'm tired...its past my bedtime). I understand that the new owners have been making substantial investments renovating the property and are continuing to do so, and are in the process of fully restoring this eco-tourism resort to a once former glory. I wish we had some time to explore the nature trails on property...Alas, every day was go go go...and we used what little downtime we had to enjoy a good meal and stroll trough the grounds to our villa. We've nothing but great things to say and hope if you go there, you have as special a time as we did. Safe travels & all the best!…
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
We stayed at this hotel during our recent visit to the Galapagos. It is in the island’s central highlands instead of the port. This added a few taxi rides to get to town. It was a series of individual cabins instead of a single hotel. The room was amazing and the view better. The best part was the young man that worked the night shift. He was amazing and made sure all our needs or anticipated needs were met. He got us taxis when needed, provided a breakfast on the house when we had an early tour and made sure we saw the lava tunnel on the property. He truly made our visit and I hate we didn’t get his name. He gave us a great restaurant recommendation for the port. The restaurant on the property was solid as well.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
We’re always leery of trying to arrive for a cruise on the day of departure, so we came a day early and spent the night at the Royal Palms, a Hilton property on Santa Cruz Island, which meant another adventure getting there. Baltra has buses to two locations; the ferry to Santa Cruz or the cruise ship port. So we bought tickets for the bus to the ferry ($5 US for seniors, and Ecuador uses US currency which is very convenient), were deposited at the ferry where they loaded our luggage on the open top, and then boarded. The ferry is $1, and crosses a short channel to Santa Cruz. We watched blue-footed boobies diving for fish on the crossing. At the Santa Cruz landing we were taxied to Royal Palms. This sounds complicated, but really isn't, and we were old hands at it by the time we left Galapagos. The ecosystem on each island is very different. Baltra was scrub trees and cactus, rocky, pretty flat and dry. Santa Cruz is like a different world. Lush, mountainous and very green. We’re here at the end of the rainy season, and while temps in the 70’s and 80’s seem glorious to us, many locals wore sweaters and jackets. The Royal Palms hotel is in the rainforest, with massive ficus trees, bamboo, ferns, a hibiscus hedge, and flowers. The bright sun of Baltra turned to an overcast cool mist in Santa Cruz. We’ve found the ecosystem of every island different. The Royal Palms casitas are well furnished with king beds, comfortable mattresses and pillows, highly polished wood floors and woodwork, a rain shower with optional hand held want and plenty of towels. Fresh flowers adorned the room. There was a TV, but all channels are Spanish speaking. The bar and restaurant are lovely, again with lots of dark wood and a lovely veranda overlooking the pool. The menu was very diverse and the food very good. The bar had a high end selection of most everything but bourbon! Wild Turkey was the only choice. We were told that the property will be undergoing renovations, and we could see a few areas that looked a bit tired, but seemed to be just the relaxed kind of place I'd expect in Galapagos. After a lovely dinner and a good night’s sleep we had to reverse the process and return to Baltra, where we checked in with Celebrity Flora and began our cruise journey. So, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, a ferry and a cruise ship. After the cruise we returned to Royal Palms for one more night before our flights home. We disembarked and headed back to the airport, where we caught yet another bus, ferry and taxi back to Royal Palms. And they had nicely upgraded us to a suite! Several rooms, a huge bathroom/walk in closet, rain shower, jacuzzi, fireplace living room, and a toilet with a heated seat as well as a remote control whose buttons I was afraid to push! We dined at the restaurant again, as Royal Palms is in the hills and a good 20 minute taxi into Puerto Aroya, which would have added $50 to the dinner bill. When we arrived we had planned to just relax, have a nice dinner and get ready for the big travel day ahead, but I happened to go onto the hotel’s website to look something up and I realized they had lava tunnels on the property! So we had one last adventure before flying home. These underground tunnels were formed millions of years ago when the outside skin of a molten lava flow solidified. When the flow of lava from the volcano stopped, the lava inside the skin kept running, which emptied out the skin leaving these tunnels behind. The lighting inside is lovely and the minerals in the walls shine gold, but it’s still a tad creepy-beautiful. And the ferns, plants and lichen growing at the entrances were such an amazing green. The hotel actually has a banquet facility down there, close to the entrance (near the red lighting) with tables, chairs and a pinhole lit dance floor, but I’m not sure I’d accept an invitation to party down there. But it was fun being in a lava tunnel for a while. The next day we did the trek back to the airport and checked in for our flight. It’s quite a nice airport with shops selling local handicrafts, bags of local coffee, and local chocolates. While we sat waiting for our gate to be announced we grabbed a soft drink at one of the vendors. Steve pointed behind me at one of Darwin’s finches munching on a piece of fried churro. He then said, “You know, in 50 years there’ll be a new species called a Food Court Finch”. Ah. Evolution at its finest.…
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Room Tip: Don't be dissuaded by the adventure it takes to get there, it's worth the trip.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
+1
My husband and I missed celebrating our 40th Anniversary, due to Covid. So he wanted to treat me to a special couple of nights at the Royal Palm. He rented one of the Villa's as a special treat. The resort which is more than 40 years old, doesn't seem to have been looked after, or renovated very much. Much of the resort is in ruins, with the jungle taking over the un- kept grounds. The rooms upon further inspection where quite dirty and very musty smelling, and no one had cleaned behind the curtains in what seemed like a lifetime. The VERY WORST NIGHTMARE, was that it was infested with centipedes. I am not talking a few dozen, our bungalow had literally hundreds crawling in every room. They moved us to another bungalow but it too was so infested, we could barely handle it. Then on top of that we had no hot water at all. My husband actually went into the control panel outside to reset the breaker and it was in shambles. Later we filled up the hot tub and I can't even begin to tell you what came out of the jets and how dirty the water was. Swimming in swamp water might have been safer. We came back from dinner and there was a maid in our room, literally sweeping up hundreds of centipedes with a broom. The hotel staff brushed us off, saying that we should expect bugs when we stay in the jungle, but we have travel all over the world and have never been that invested with bugs in all our trips or jungle stays! It ruined our Anniversary and they only gave us a partial refund. For a Hilton Hotel they ought to be ashamed. I still have nightmares. Worst Hotel in 40 years of traveling! :( …
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Room Tip: Book somewhere else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
My siblings and I came here on our Ecuador trip for my brother's birthday. It was a nice and quiet treat after staying in hostels in the middle of the city and felt incredibly luxurious and special. The staff was the most attentive of any hotel I've ever stayed in. They knew it was my brother's birthday and truly went above and beyond to make sure he felt special. They opened breakfast early on his birthday, they made him a cake, they answered any and all questions we had, and were truly the sweetest and loveliest people. We felt incredibly cared for. They even picked up up from the airport and had someone escort us to the bus and boat and make sure we got in okay. And when we did check in, they gave us the most delicious drinks. Not to mention, these suites/bungalows are unlike anything you'll ever see. This quiet and huge property is quiet and surrounded by the beauty of the Galapagos islands. The food is incredible, the pool is incredible, the service is incredible. And please--do not miss out on the lava tunnels that are on sight! It was an experience we cannot forget. Thank you Royal Palm! I still wear my slippers from my stay with you. You truly are a gem. Thank you for genuinely going above and beyond to make an unforgettable experience.…
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Date of stay: March 2023
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Room Tip: Don't miss the lava caves! Explore the property. Complimentary breakfast is incredible!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
This hotel has poorly trained staff, terrible breakfast, mediocre lunch, unsafe lighting (I almost fell and everything always looks closed since very few guests are here). ingredients not in stock at the bar, cheap chocolate in an expensive chocolate box, unfinished rooms and public areas, tries to arbitrarily price things like wine for room service ($85 for some cheap $20 2021 Rose), doesn’t answer the phone or answers with 100% Spanish, a gift shop with just items stacked and not ready, a generator that failed a few weeks ago that they hadn’t fixed (leading to daily power outages) and passive-aggressive management that won’t respond to my requests to check out, with or without the early check out fee (there must be a lot trying to leave to institute this fee). I’m a Diamond member and Hilton has no responded to my case # I created with them nor the BBB complaint. Management will only give you token things like cheap wine and taxi rides and then take the rides away where the front desk staff will not answer the phone thus you didn’t “play by the rules” and call first although they make that impossible and never specified these rules (fair enough that the worker had to pay out of her pocket the first time but never said anything and how pathetic is it for a hotel to do that?). Manager admitted all these problems but denied blame when he’s 9 months into a 12 month renovation project. The buck has to stop somewhere and he just had a sob backstory and excuses. That’s not my problem and shouldn’t affect my experience. It wasn’t disclosed the hotel was under renovation. He had the workers take me on a tour of an unfinished underground restaurant - while nice, what does this do for me? Now he’s completely disappeared. This doesn’t hold a candle to other Curio properties I’ve been to like La Quinta in southern CA or Umbral in Mexico City. This has been my worst experience ever with failures locally and at the Hilton corporate level where nobody is taking responsibility. How do you think they’re going to treat a non-diamond guest with how they treat me? STAY AWAY! There are much better hotels that are cheaper in Puerto Ayora.…
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
What can I say, me and my Fiancé’s experience at the Royal Palms Curio Collection Hilton was a vacation experience of a lifetime. We traveled to the Galápagos Islands with simple plans to relax on what appeared and turned out to be a beautiful property. We got so much more! We were welcomed and embraced by the staff who we both attentive and helpful while sharing invaluable knowledge. With no plans, Diego set up a full itinerary for our trip that took us on a boat cruise, snorkeling and to local restaurants. Diego was an excellent manager and guide for our travels. Please don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the delicious food at the restaurant and talk to Gustavo and Danny. Jesus and Jose at the front desk took care of all of our needs. In short the Hilton Royal Palms was an experience in relaxation, hospitality and professionalism. We can’t wait to come back. Thank you - Solomon and Ashley…
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Ask about a tour of the lava tunnels and in advance for a dinner of Scorpion Fish.
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1 Helpful vote
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
$268 - $406 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
royal palm hotel santa cruz, royal palm santa cruz
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Royal Palm Resort Hotel
LOCATION
EcuadorGalapagos IslandsSanta Cruz
NUMBER OF ROOMS
21
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Frequently Asked Questions about Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton
Which popular attractions are close to Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton?
Nearby attractions include Reserva El Chato (4.7 km) and Los Gemelos (2.8 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton?
Conveniently located restaurants include Rancho El Manzanillo, Ecuatorial Galapagos, and La Cevicheria.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton?
Yes, guests have access to a fitness centre and an outdoor pool during their stay.
Does Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton have airport transportation?
Yes, Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish.