The only beach-access hotel on Santa Cruz — eco-certified, with its own yacht for island excursions
The Finch Bay Eco Hotel is the only hotel on Santa Cruz Island with its own beach — a small, pristine cove at Playa Mann where sea lions haul out on the sand below the hotel terrace. The hotel's ecological credentials are among the strongest of any accommodation in the Galápagos: carbon-neutral certified, powered substantially by renewable energy, with an organic garden supplying the restaurant, and operating its own conservation programmes in partnership with the Charles Darwin Foundation. The hotel also operates a private yacht (the Isabela II) for island excursions — combining land-based comfort with cruise-quality wildlife access.
Comfortable, well-appointed rooms in the hotel's garden area. Clean lines, natural materials, and the Finch Bay commitment to environmental standards in every detail — from recycled water systems to biodegradable toiletries.
Rooms with direct views of the beach cove and, on most mornings, sea lions sleeping on the sand below. The first sight of a Galápagos sea lion from your bedroom window is an experience that doesn't get old.
The hotel's largest rooms adjacent to the main pool, with a private terrace and the full range of suite amenities. The preferred choice for couples and those spending a week or more on Santa Cruz.
The hotel's signature restaurant, with an outdoor terrace on the beach where sea lions occasionally investigate proceedings. The menu is driven by the hotel's organic garden and locally caught sustainable seafood — the ceviche is exceptional.
Cocktails, fresh juices, and light lunches by the pool. The fresh passion fruit juice is remarkable. Open throughout the day for guests returning from excursions.
Fly from Quito (3h) or Guayaquil (2h) to Baltra airport. A hotel shuttle crosses by canal ferry to Santa Cruz (20 min) then drives to Puerto Ayora (45 min). The hotel arranges all transfers.
A land-based stay at Finch Bay allows comfortable accommodation and access to Santa Cruz's excellent wildlife. The limitation is that the most wildlife-rich remote islands (Española, Fernandina) require multi-day sailing — the hotel's Isabela II yacht bridges this gap.
Sea lions sleep on the beach below the hotel. Marine iguanas bask on the rocks around the property. Blue-footed boobies fish in the cove. The Galápagos wildlife proximity is immediate and extraordinary.
The $200 Galápagos National Park fee must be paid in cash on arrival at Baltra airport. This is separate from hotel costs and not included in the rate.
📌 Playa Mann, Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos
Small cove beach with sea lions, snorkelling, and kayaking directly from the hotel.
The main town on Santa Cruz — restaurants, Charles Darwin Research Station, shops.
The tortoise breeding centre and research hub — free to visit.
Wild giant tortoises roam freely on private ranches in the highland zone.