Volcanic crater lodge
Perched on an extinct crater ridge, days balance yacht excursions with quiet evenings across mist-wrapped highlands where giant tortoises roam.
“This 14-room luxury lodge sits on Santa Cruz Island… and allows for a very comfortable marriage between nature and modernity.”
Where it shines
Remarkable
Modernist steel and lava-stone pavilions with floor-to-ceiling glass framing panoramic volcanic calderas.
Remarkable
Private yacht day cabins and dedicated naturalist guides accompany all-inclusive land and sea expeditions.
Remarkable
A private highland sanctuary where giant tortoises roam across reforested volcanic crater trails.
What they say
Two Michelin Keys
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler, The 50 Discovery, AFAR and Tatler.
Rooms and suites are sleek and minimalist with floor-to-ceiling windows facing panoramic views of the mountains and the vast Pacific.
“the extremely high-end (but still carbon neutral) Pikaia Lodge, which opened in mid-2014, is unlike anything the Galapagos has ever seen.”
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
High in the Santa Cruz highlands, over three kilometres of private trails wind through the tortoise reserve toward national park savanna.
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The rooms
Floor-to-ceiling glass frames panoramic crater and ocean vistas, while Peruvian travertine bathrooms feature deep soaking bathtubs positioned against the horizon.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The heated infinity pool sits in Peruvian travertine marble, looking out across extinct volcanic calderas toward the savanna.
The spa
Sumaq Spa includes a glass-walled whirlpool overlooking the valley, with treatments using local volcanic ash and palo santo oil.
Evolution Restaurant
Ecuadorian dishes feature produce from local farmers and artisanal fishermen, served beneath a sculptural metal DNA installation.
Few properties embody this better than Pikaia Lodge, a sustainably constructed, carbon-neutral hotel on the edge of an extinct volcano in Santa Cruz.
DNA Bar & Lobby Lounge
Plush sofas and a cast-iron fire pit furnish this sheltered terrace, where bartenders mix classic cocktails beside the pool.
How it began
Built across extinct calderas, this former cattle ranch became a carbon-neutral sanctuary after owners planted twelve thousand endemic trees for giant tortoises.
“Set in an extinct volcanic crater, the two-year-old Pikaia beautifully incorporates luxury into its natural highland surroundings.”
Stay here
Pikaia Lodge
See rooms and prices on the hotel's own website.
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.