Land-based exploration On land, travelers can take more time to get to know their surroundings and join day trips out to nearby islands while basing themselves at one of the islands’ hotels, most of which are on Santa Cruz, where sites of interest include the Charles Darwin Research Station. Pikaia Lodge is found in a secluded hilltop location on Santa Cruz amid a dramatic landscape encompassing a giant tortoise reserve. This eco-lodge provides the setting for land-based tours as well as day cruises on its own yacht, with facilities back at the hotel including a panoramic infinity pool and a restaurant focusing on sustainable ingredients.
124 | ASTA | Worldwide Destination Guide 2024/25
Over in the highlands of Isabela Island,
Scalesia Galápagos Lodge offers safari-tent- style accommodation in a forested landscape overlooking the coast, complete with a restaurant and lounge. The experience revolves around exploration of Isabela Island, with activities ranging from surfing to birdwatching, along with island-hopping trips taking in Floreana, San Cristobal and Santa Cruz. Visitors can come to the Galápagos year-
round, with the season that travelers visit mostly defining the wildlife encounters they’re likely to have. December to May brings warmer weather and more rain while June through November is known for being cooler and drier.
Above: A Galápagos giant tortoise, Galápagos National Park