Finch Bay Hotel is the best beachfront base on Santa Cruz for couples who want to explore the Galápagos by day and sleep on land at night. It sits at Punta Estrada, just across the bay from Puerto Ayora, so you arrive by a five-minute water taxi. The town's restaurants are close, but the hotel feels removed from them.
The big advantage is its own yacht. Finch Bay runs the Sea Lion for small-group day tours to islands such as North Seymour, Bartolomé, South Plaza and Santa Fe, which takes much of the stress out of booking day trips. Back at the hotel there is a pool, a beach next door and a restaurant cooking with vegetables from the hotel garden.
It suits couples who want a Galápagos honeymoon at a more moderate price than the luxury lodges, or who are not keen on a week at sea. It is also a good way to add two or three calm nights to the end of a cruise. The hotel is part of Metropolitan Touring, one of Ecuador's most established travel companies and it sells a dedicated honeymoon package.
Highlights at a glance
- Beachfront setting across the bay from Puerto Ayora
- Own yacht, the Sea Lion, for small-group day tours
- Six ocean-view suites with balconies
- Garden-to-table restaurant
- Five-minute water taxi to town
Why Couples Choose Finch Bay
Location does a lot. The hotel sits right by the water across from Puerto Ayora, so you get a beach setting with wildlife on the paths while staying minutes from the town's dive shops and restaurants. Marine iguanas sun themselves on the rocks and pelicans and herons hunt in the shallows.
The water taxi becomes part of the routine. You can head into town for dinner, then ride back across the dark bay to a quiet hotel. The atmosphere is relaxed rather than formal. For couples who want comfort, good food and a strong network of tours without the cost of the top lodges, it hits a useful middle ground.
Rooms and Suites to Book
The hotel is small and low-rise. Standard rooms are simple and comfortable and some share porches with hammocks rather than having private balconies.
For a honeymoon, book one of the six suites. They have direct ocean views and private balconies, which matter more here than extra square footage. You will want somewhere to sit with a drink at sunset and watch the birds over the bay. Suites are limited, so request one early and confirm the view in writing. If budget is tight, a standard room still gives you the beach and the yacht at a lower price.
Food, Drink and the Pool
The hotel restaurant cooks with local ingredients, many of them from its own vegetable garden and fresh fish is the thing to order. Reviews describe the chef as Le Cordon Bleu trained. Meals can be added through packages, which helps since there is little else on this side of the bay.
The swimming pool is a pleasant place to spend a free afternoon and the beach beside the hotel is a short walk away. For a change of scene, take the water taxi to Puerto Ayora for ceviche on Charles Darwin Avenue. There is no large spa, so treat this as a nature base rather than a wellness retreat.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Most days start at the hotel dock.
- Join a Sea Lion day tour to North Seymour for blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds, or to Bartolomé for the classic view.
- Snorkel at Las Grietas, a narrow canyon of clear water near the hotel.
- Walk to Tortuga Bay, a long white beach with marine iguanas.
- See giant tortoises in the Santa Cruz highlands.
- Kayak around the bay at dawn.
Sea Lion tours are limited to 20 guests and start from about $393 per person, approximately. Seas can be rough, so pack seasickness remedies. Use reef-safe sunscreen and repellent.
Getting There
Fly from Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE) to Seymour Airport on Baltra (GPS). From there it is a short bus ride, a ferry across the Itabaca Channel, a drive across Santa Cruz and finally the water taxi from Puerto Ayora, about an hour in all. Arrival logistics are handled through Metropolitan Touring.
Flights to the islands leave in the morning, so plan a night in Quito or Guayaquil on both ends. Entry and visa rules depend on your citizenship and can change at short notice, so check the official government website before you book. Allow extra time between flights in case of schedule changes.
Is It Worth It?
For couples who want a land-based trip at a fairer price than the top lodges, yes. The beachfront setting is lovely, the yacht tours are well run and Puerto Ayora is close but not too close.
The rooms are comfortable rather than lavish and there is no big spa. Couples who want high-end luxury should look at Pikaia Lodge, while those who want a canvas-and-tortoises experience may prefer Galápagos Safari Camp. Couples who want to see the remote islands should take a cruise and use Finch Bay for a few nights afterward. As a base for wildlife and beaches, it is one of the easiest choices on the islands.
Insider tips
- Book an ocean-view suite early; there are only six.
- Reserve Sea Lion tours with your room, since departures fill up.
- Go to Las Grietas early in the morning before the crowds.
- Carry small bills for water taxis and tips in town.
