February 8, 2025
mangrove

Built in 1995, this lodge has a unique architecture design which blends with mangrove forest and seafront. Its location allows you to observe the mangrove ecosystem in action as well as to enjoy the best view of Puerto Ayora’s bay. The lodge owners are committed to develop an eco-friendly operation. The hotel has 14 guest rooms divided in 2 areas, seaside, or inside the mangrove, all equipped with air-conditioning, cable TV, private bathroom and hot water. There are 3 categories of rooms: Standard, Superior, Suite.

Red Mangrove Inn Description

Built in 1995, this lodge has a unique architecture design which blends with mangrove forest and seafront. Its location allows you to observe the mangrove ecosystem in action as well as to enjoy the best view of Puerto Ayora’s bay. The lodge owners are committed to develop an eco-friendly operation; therefore, the lodge is going through a process of certification for sustainable management.

Red Mangrove Inn Accommodation

The hotel has 14 guest rooms divided in 2 areas, seaside, or inside the mangrove, all equipped with air-conditioning, cable TV, private bathroom and hot water. There are 3 categories of rooms: Standard, Superior, Suite.

Suites

All four suites offer scenic views of the ocean and of the bay; three of them with private balcony and one with a whirlpool. Two are located on the second level and two on the third level. They are furnished with king size beds, full and/or twins, 20 channel Cable TV, air conditioning, safe boxes, CD player & alarm clock. The private bathrooms have hair dryer, mirror, bath tub with temperature control, biodegradable hair & body products and cotton towels, 110 volt electric outlets.

Superior Rooms

There are four guest rooms in this category with ocean view, one of them with private balcony on the upper level and the rest located on the ground level. They are furnished with king size beds, full and/or twins, 20 channel Cable TV, air conditioning, safe boxes, CD player & alarm clock. The private bathroom has a hair dryer, mirror, bath tub with temperature control, biodegradable hair & body products and cotton towels, 110 volt electric outlets

Standard Rooms

There are six rooms in this category with mangrove views. Three are located on the ground level and three on the upper level. They are furnished with king size beds, full and/or twins, 20 channel Cable TV, air conditioning, safe boxes, CD player & alarm clock. The private bathroom has a hair dryer, mirror, bath tub with temperature control, biodegradable hair & body products and cotton towels, 110 volt electric outlets.

Red Mangrove Inn Services & Facilities:

The hotel has a sea side restaurant with a choice of Japanese or Galapagos fusion cuisine. The Red Mangrove Inn offers 5 or 6 days Island Hopping packages with overnight stays on Floreana and Isabela in their other hotels.

Package 6 days:

Itineray

Day 01: Arrival – Highlands – Charles Darwin Station

From Baltra ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island (10 min-ride). Arrival on Santa Cruz Island. Then you take a bus ride to the Highlands of Santa Cruz to view “Los Gemelos” (enormous, collapsed lava chambers), geological explanation. Walk inside the remaining Scalesia Forest, here you have the opportunity to see the Vermilion Flycatcher, Small and Large Tree Finches. Afterwards, you will visit a Giant Tortoise Reserve for an easy hike to observe to Giant Tortoises in their natural habitat. Lunch in the Highlands. Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Red Mangrove Aventura Lodge check- in. Welcome cocktail. Briefing and Dinner.

Day 02: Santa Cruz – Florana

Departure around 8:00 am to Floreana, arrival around 10:00 am. Tour begins with a trip to the Highlands through the agricultural zone. The Peace Asylum- is a visitor site that tells you about the Human History of “The Enchanted Islands”. Floreana was the first island to be colonized by men. This is the only opportunity to see the Medium Tree Finch. Lunch. Red Mangrove Lava Lodge check in. Visit to the Loberia (snorkeling) and Playa Negra. Briefing and BBQ Dinner.

Day 03: Floreana – Isabela

After breakfast, departure to Isabela around 10:00 am, arrival around noon. Red Mangrove Sierra Lodge check-in and lunch. Then you will visit the Muro de las Lágrimas (the Wall of Tears), Cerro Orchilla, Humedales (Wetlands), Centro de Interpretacion and Small Lava Tunnels. Afterwards, you take a dinghy ride for a visit to “La Tintoreras” (White Tip Reef Shark resting site), a canal where they spend the night in the bottom of the crevices. The canal sits between a small natural lava outcropping and an enormous lava field, one of nature’s wonders set against a backdrop of emerald green sea, white sand beach, dark green mangroves and the hills of Isabela beyond. Above the resting sharks, the rocky sides are lined with marine iguanas, one of the few marine iguana colonies on Isabela that have not been disturbed by introduced species. You will probably have to watch your step on the trail as they are so abundant. Opportunity to see the colony of penguins recently established in Puerto Villamil, often resting side by side with Blue Footed Boobies. Briefing and Dinner.

Day 04: Sierra Negra

After breakfast, you take a bus ride up to the highlands of Isabela where you will mount horses for a ride and then hike to “Sierra Negra Volcano”, one of the active volcanoes in the Galapagos. Lunch will be in the Crater of the Volcano, the largest caldera in the islands with a diameter of 9-10 kms (approx. 4 miles). Sierra Negra offers volcanic activity as well as spectacular geology and vegetation scenery. “Volcan Chico” on the northwest side of the caldera is an area of fumaroles and the “Mina de Azufre” to the west is a sulphur deposit site with more fumaroles activity. Return around 4:00 pm. Afternoon relaxing on the stunning white sand beach of Puerto Villamil or at the lodge restaurant. Briefing and Dinner.

Day 05: Isabela – Santa Cruz

After breakfast, departure to Santa Cruz (around 9:00 am). Arrival at Santa Cruz around 11:00 am. Check-in at Red Mangrove Aventura Lodge. Begin your Academy Bay Tour at “La Loberia”, where you can snorkel with sea lions (optional). 40 min navigation to “Tortuga Bay”. As you enter the white sandy beach, you have a chance to observe different marine species like Sting Rays and baby Reef Sharks in the shallow waters of the Mangrove ecosystems. After swimming on the beach you take a very short hike to the Marine Iguana nesting site. The walk back is through a Prickly Pear forest carpeted in crimson Sesuvium with black lava outcroppings home to more marine iguana colonies. Box Lunch on the beach. Farewell Cocktail. Briefing and Dinner.

Day 06: Transfer to Baltra

After breakfast, transfer out to Baltra’s airport in order to catch your flight back to mainland for connections or visit Ecuador. Check out time will depend on the scheduled flight.

Package 5 days:

Itineray

Day 01: Arrival – Highlands

From Baltra ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island (10 min-ride). Arrival on Santa Cruz Island. Then you take a bus ride to the Highlands of Santa Cruz to view “Los Gemelos” (enormous, collapsed lava chambers), geological explanation. Walk inside the remaining Scalesia Forest, here you have the opportunity to see the Vermilion Flycatcher, Small and Large Tree Finches. Afterwards, you will visit a Giant Tortoise Reserve for an easy hike to observe to Giant Tortoises in their natural habitat. Lunch in the Highlands. Red Mangrove Aventura Lodge check- in. Welcome cocktail. Briefing and Dinner.

Day 02: Santa Cruz – Florana

Academy Bay Tour, “La Loberia” -snorkle with sealions optional) 40 min navigation to “Tortuga Bay”, as you enter the white sandy beach you have a chance to observe different marine species like Sting Rays and baby Reef Sharks on the shallow waters of the Mangrove ecosystems. After swimming on the beach you take a short hike to the Marine Iguana nesting site. (4 hours). Lunch on the beach. Return to the Hotel to shower and depart to Floreana Island, which is located 40 nautical miles south of Santa Cruz. Opportunity to see dolphins and whales. Navigation to Puerto Velasco Ibarra-Floreana Island (2-4 Hours). Red Mangrove Lava Lodge check in. Briefing, BBQ, Dinner.

Day 03: Floreana – Isabela

After breakfast, you drive up to the highlands through the agricultural zone. The Peace Asylum- is a visitor site that tells us about the Human History of “The Enchanted Islands”, Floreana was the first island to be colonized by men. This is the only opportunity to see the Medium Tree Finch (3 hours). Lunch at the Lodge. Departure to Isabela Island located 57 nautical miles northwest of Floreana Island. Opportunity to see dolphins and whales. Navigation to Puerto Villamil-Isabela (2-4 hours). Red Mangrove Sierra Lodge check in. Briefing, Dinner.

Day 04: Isabela – Santa Cruz

After breakfast you take a dinghy ride to do a morning visit in “Tintoreras” (Reef Shark resting site) than spend the night in the bottom of the crevices. The trail will take you to see one of the few marine iguana colonies in town, that have not been disturbed by introduced species. Opportunity to see the colony of penguins that are recently getting established in Puerto Villamil. (2 hours) Lunch. Navigation back to Santa Cruz (2-4 hours). Red Mangrove Adventure Lodge. Farewell Cocktail. Briefing, Dinner.

Day 05: Transfer to Baltra

After breakfast, transfer out to Baltra’s airport in order to catch your flight back to mainland for connections or visit Ecuador. Check out time will depend on the scheduled flight.