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Iguana Crossing

Customer Ratings
This is a Satisfaction Rating based on our own customer feedback

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Iguana Crossing is a beautifully appointed luxury hotel on a white-sand beach, combining a lean, contemporary mood with a remarkable natural setting.

The isle of Isabela is the largest and most rugged in the archipelago, comprised of six fused volcanoes. A large giant tortoise population roams wild amidst its scrub and grasslands. 

This beautifully appointed small luxury Iguana Crossing hotel lies on a delightful stretch of powdery white sand at the edge of Puerto Villamil – Isabela's only significant settlement but still little more than a fishing village. 

The hotel's design is uncompromisingly contemporary, built using local materials including impeccably crafted polished wood. Features and furnishings are decidedly angular; the clean unfussy lines look striking against the back drop of an elemental, almost minimalist natural environment. 

All guestrooms have sweeping views of the beach or out towards Sierra Negra volcano from their balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows. There is a small but attractive pool surrounded by smart wooden decking close to the sand, as well as a rooftop Jacuzzi and bar. The restaurant is very good though there are cheaper (if simpler) options in town.

The hotel owes its name to the marine iguanas that cross the beach right in front of it, heading from the wetlands into the sea. Watching them from the al fresco deck can be a great source of entertainment.

What our clients say

97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.

  • Being able to visit the Galápagos with a reputable company was a highlight - the boat was fantastic and everything about the holiday was first rate.

    KF, Norfolk

  • We loved snorkelling with marine iguanas, turtles, and the lovely playful sealions.

    FM, Manchester

  • Galapagos Islands wildlife, guide and boat. To be so close to birds and animals is a privilege and to see such pristine beaches and scenery is lovely.

    SJ, Winchelsea

  • The Galápagos were above expectation – the best thing we have done.

    DL, Dulwich

  • The cabin upgrade was definitely worth the extra money, much more space and good sized windows!
     

    LF, Alderley Edge

  • One of us had not snorkelled for a very long time and was hesitant in deep water. Martin the Naturalist on MV Eclipse helped her overcome her fears and enabled her to accompany him resulting in amazing underwater views that she would not have had. The whole trip was memorable for both of us... We just loved the Galapagos.

    AL

  • A truly wonderful and privileged experience!

    RD, Ashford

  • The wildlife in the Galápagos was so totally unbothered by our presence.

    SB, Leyland

  • The Galapagos blew me away. was even better than I expected. it never felt crowded and the guides and crew made us feel as thought we were special. 

    , Surbiton

  • Our time on the Galápagos Islands was unique to us, the wildlife was fabulous, we enjoyed every minute of it.

    BT, Ware

  • No-one should consider a Galápagos cruise of less then 8 days. We both had a holiday of a lifetime.

    LF

  • Galapagos was incredible. We loved it. The guides were all excellent and we especially enjoyed having guides with a naturalist qualification.

    LE, Poole

  • The highlight was always going to be the Galápagos and it lived up to our expectations. It is a unique place and unlike our last visit we came away with hundreds of photographs to remind us of the trip.

    NW, Wells

  • Highlights?: Snorkelling with green turtles sea lions and penguins

    PW, Twickenham

  • How close we could get to the wildlife in the Galápagos.

    DG, Neston

  • The Galápagos Islands were out of this world.

    DJ, Chesterfield

  • The Galápagos offer amazing access to stunning wild-life and a great week living on a boat.

    PJ, London

  • The Galápagos Islands were something else- quite outstanding for the wonderful wildlife and abundant sea life while snorkelling.

    CP

  • Breathtaking

    The Galápagos - just breathtaking - walking in woodland with wild giant tortoise grazing in clearings, watching wild land iguanas amble through long grasses, peering at eye level into the nests of red footed boobies, watching penguins and sea lions hunting fish whilst snorkelling, and as a finale, watching huge sharks circling in the boat lights during our final evening meal.

    JW, Newcastle

  • The Galapagos animals, scenery and sea were out of this world, just fabulous

    CH, Epsom

  • Visiting the Galápagos islands and coming so close to so many special species of animals and birds was a memorable experience.

    JB, Chiswick

  • The close proximity of the wildlife in the Galapagos is amazing.

    DW, Stevenage

  • It's very difficult to pick out one thing. Seeing the animals everywhere we went was amazing. We fell in love with the sea-lions. I loved the walk up to the view over Pinnacle Rock and then being on the beach by the rock afterwards. Seeing a white tipped shark from the beach was something I never expected.

    NR, Swindon

  • The Galápagos Islands are a wonderland. If I say that of all places I have visited in the world only the Grand Canyon is their equal in impact and living up to expectation you will have an idea of how they affected both of us.

    DW Lingfield

  • The Galapagos tour was our highlight because of the proximity and abundance of the wildlife.

    AB, St Neots

  • Most Memorable Moment?: The obvious answer is the whole thing!  If I had to choose, I'd say the experience of arriving at the top of the Prince Phillip Steps on Genovesa to be confronted by a sea of roosting and nesting seabirds completely unfazed by our presence. Of course I'd read about it in advance but nothing really prepares you for experiencing it for yourself.  Another key moment was going snorkelling for the first time at the age of 70 and immediately having underwater encounters with a sea lion and a green sea turtle. My prescience in investing in a GoPro camera ahead of the trip paid huge dividends in terms of lasting memories.

    DM, Nottingham

  • The wildlife on the islands (obviously the major reason for the trip) was spectacular and wonderful to experience. I’m please to have made the trip and would certainly recommend the Galápagos to anyone with similar interests and sufficient money.

    PM, Chesterfield

  • A couple of days in the Galapagos when we didn't see any other people. Intimacy of swimming with sealions, turtles & being chased in the water by a flightless cormorant!

    TC, St Albans

  • Wonderful experience

    Isolation on the Islands a feeling of being in the Galapagos by invitation of the inhabitants - the wildlife. A truly wonderful and privileged experience.

    SD, Rochester

  • Highlight?: Probably a sea lion playing underneath me and showing off whilst I was snorkelling.  Beautiful.  

    DD, Uxbridge
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Lina Fuller
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Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

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