Galapagos Safari Camp — Hotel in Parroquia Santa Rosa

I booked our stay at Galapagos Safari Camp after seeing great reviews on TripAdvisor and speaking with Diego, one of their Safari Designers. Our visit was every bit as amazing as I had hoped! Clearly the main focus of the camp is on delivering a high-end and personalized way to experience the magic of the islands, and their attention to every detail is really impressive. Nestled on a beautiful property up in the Highlands, it is kind of a cross between "glamping" and a serene retreat. Our tent was very comfortably appointed, and all the little touches like the inspirational notes each evening made it feel so special. While the bed was on the firm side as noted in some other reviews, it actually really helped my husband's bad back. We loved having the little deck out front with a view to enjoy morning coffee or watch the sunset before dinner. There are also some very inviting common areas (the Observation deck, the pool area, and the main lodge/dining porch) where you can relax, have a drink, and take in the views (and make friends with the finches).

The staff were incredibly attentive and eager to make our stay as perfect as possible. Our hosts, Ali, Melina, and Anna, went above and beyond to communicate the details of each excursion and meal, and to accommodate our every request. Jorge was amazingly knowledgeable about every aspect of the food and wine offered each day, and is a talented musician to boot! And the food was seriously INCREDIBLE - the chef is absolutely top-notch: each evening we were presented with a 4-course tasting menu based on locally sourced ingredients, and honestly was my favorite part of each day. They even did a special dinner celebration for my husband's birthday, which was so sweet!

For our daily excursions, we began the trip with a visit to the Giant Tortoise Reserve after being picked up at the airport, and that was awesome! For the rest of the week we opted for two days of boat trips to uninhabited islands (South Plaza and Santa Fe), and one day sightseeing around Santa Cruz. The boat trips were fantastic - perfect combo of snorkeling, hiking/wildlife spotting, and relaxing on the boat. The day on Santa Cruz was also really fun, although truth be told we were a little disappointed in the Charles Darwin Research Center which we thought would be a little more interesting/educational. All the tour guides were wonderful, and clearly devoted to the knowledge and preservation of the unique biodiversity of the Galapagos. Also, all the lunches provided during the day trips, whether on the boats or at local restaurants, were excellent! Our driver was great too - always right on time and the vehicle was very clean and safe. Because the island is so tightly regulated in terms of accessibility to tourists, it was really nice to just leave everything to the Safari Camp and not have to worry about transportation or arranging for guides and boat tickets, etc. My only caution would be that the tour schedule is a bit rigorous - several early mornings and very full days; so if you have any physical limitations (or are just getting a little old and tired like us, lol), you may want to consider working a down day or half-day into your schedule. The hosts are more than happy to tailor to your needs/desires!

Overall, we were blown away by our experience at the Safari Camp. Is it a little out of the way? Yes. Is it a place with awesome fast WiFi so you can stream movies and conduct zoom meetings for work? Nope. But honestly, that remoteness and "un-connectivity" is part of its charm and magic. Is it kind of pricey? Well, yeah it's a bit of a splurge... but in my (pretty well-traveled) book, it was worth...

How do I put into words the magic of the Galapagos Safari Camp? From the start of planning our trip to when we had to say goodbye and head home, the service and hospitality were beyond measure. When booking the trip, instead of emailing back and forth, GSC reached out to me directly to schedule a call so I could better understand the dynamics of our trip and what to expect. The communication was helpful, descriptive and put my mind at ease. I instantly knew that GSC would take care of all of the logistics so that my family and I could relax and enjoy the Galapagos. The moment we arrived and walked up to the front door I knew we had made the right choice. The wonderful staff greeted us by saying "Welcome Home," gave us cold towels and fresh juice. They allowed us to relax and hear about the amazing four-course dinner awaiting us, and the itinerary for the next day. We were blown away by the amazing food! We knew that the sights and sounds of the animals and nature would fill us with awe (and they did not disappoint), but we did not anticipate how delicious the food and wine would be. Each dish was fresh with delightful local flavors, and you could taste love in each bite. Our guide for our daily excursions, Pico Zambrano, was knowledgeable, excellent with kids (our kids are 6 and 9), and had a passion for the Galapagos that was palatable. He was a huge value-add to our trip, ensuring that our kids were safe and comfortable on hikes and snorkel adventures. He really instilled his love of the Galapagos in each of us. The tents at GSC add to the adventure of the trip, while not taking away from the luxury. The beds are comfortable, showers are great, you get to wake up each morning to the sound of birds chirping and a beautiful view of the island and ocean. Each night GSC left a note or quote on our bed that challenged us to disconnect from our day-to-day lives (and devices) and embrace the wonder of the Galapagos. This personal touch is another example of the heart & soul of GSC. I could fill an entire book with delights from our trip, but I won't because you should go experience it yourself! We love travelling as a family and have been all over the world, however this trip was truly exceptional in every way and left its mark...

Oh, what an amazing place! Galapagos safari camp is situated at the top of a mountain with beautiful views over the plains all the way out to the ocean. Sunsets are beautiful. But by far the best thing about this place is the staff. So incredibly friendly and accommodating, they think of every little thing to make, our stay perfect. They have a wonderful chef, who prepares gourmet, top quality, fine dining, and they serve it just like you’d expect of a Michelin rated restaurant.

Are they have beautiful wooden tables with wood from Indonesia and some wonderful art spread out all over. A very nice infinity, pool and lots of birds. There are a number of tents that are very nice, but if you can get the owners suite, it is, really fantastic with air conditioning and a very modern bathroom and super comfortable. It even has a couple of bedrooms attached if you have a large family.

Stefanie, the host was super friendly and helpful, and our nature guide Jose must have a PhD in Galápagos history and nature, because he was just so smart, and really brought out the best in our nature walks.

Very fun to walk around in the town and the staff arranged for wonderful meals at really nice restaurants with beautiful ocean views.

If you’re going to go to the Galapagos, which I highly recommend, it was very fun, this Galapagos safari camp is definitely the place to stay.

The only tiny negative was the road that leads to the camp. It is a dirt road and it has over 20 kind of bumpy things that make you have to almost stop the car, so it makes the drive annoying. It’s only seven minutes but it would be good if they pave that road assuming the government allows roads...