Semilla Verde Boutique Hotel

Location: Km 12 via a Baltra, Puerto Ayora, Puerto Ayora, ec

Star Rating: 4 Stars

Property Type: Hotels

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Check-out: 09:00 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Fitness facilities (surcharge)
• Parking
• Non-smoking rooms
• Air conditioning
• Swimming pool
• Restaurant
• Terrace
• Family rooms
• Pets allowed
• Luggage storage
• Express check-in/check-out
• Safety deposit box
• Tour desk
• Massage services
• Packed lunches
• Non-smoking throughout
• Private check-in/check-out
• Shared lounge/TV area
• Board games/puzzles
• Shuttle service (additional charge)
• Concierge service
• Kid meals
• Kids' outdoor play equipment
• Salt-water pool
• Outdoor furniture
• Shallow end
• Fence around pool
• Staff adhere to local safety protocols
• Guest rooms disinfected between stays
• Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
• Physical distancing rules followed
• Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
• Cashless payment available
• Fire extinguishers
• First aid kit available
• Sanitized tableware & silverware
• Contactless check-in/check-out
• Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
• Smoke alarms
• Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
• Guest room sealed after cleaning
• Physical distancing in dining areas
• Food delivered to guest room
• CCTV outside property
• Process in place to check health of guests
• Access to health care professionals
• Screens / Barriers between staff and guests for safety
• Face masks for guests available
• 24-hour security
• Delivered food - securely covered
• Thermometers for guests provided by property
• Key card access
• Mobile app for room service
• Supervised childcare/activities
• Television in common areas
• Front desk (limited hours)
• Express check-in
• Free wired internet
• Playground on site
• Scuba diving on site
• Snorkeling on site
• Self parking (surcharge)
• Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
• Airport transportation - drop-off (surcharge)
• Pool sun loungers
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Beach yoga on site
• Fitness facilities (surcharge)
• Internet access
• Housekeeping on request
• Wine release events
• Exercise/lap pool
• Japanese garden
• Secured parking
• Garage
• Fishing nearby
• Swimming nearby
• Water sports equipment
• Charcoal grill
• Vegetarian menu options available
• Pool toys
• Paddle boating nearby
• Accessible shuttle
• No accessible shuttle
• Accessible train station shuttle
• No accessible train station shuttle

Rooms Available

• Double or Twin Room with Garden View

  This air-conditioned twin/double room includes a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a private bathroom as well as a balcony with garden views.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Radio
  • DVD player
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Satellite channels
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Alarm clock
  • Tumble dryer
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Linen
  • Clothes rack
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Toilet paper
  • Pool towels
  • Trash cans
  • Cots
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body soap
  • Shower cap
  • Feather pillow
  • Smoke alarm
  • Key access
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Hand sanitiser

• Superior Double Room

  A large, comfortable air-conditioned room on the ground floor or first floor of the property, with a private balcony or terrace and hammock. Superior rooms have coastal and/or forest views. They are equipped with a flat-screen TV with cable channels, wardrobe and a private bathroom with walk in shower.

  Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Radio
  • DVD player
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Satellite channels
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Alarm clock
  • Tumble dryer
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Clothes rack
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Toilet paper
  • Pool towels
  • Trash cans
  • Cots
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body soap
  • Shower cap
  • Feather pillow
  • Smoke alarm
  • Key access
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Hand sanitiser

• Executive Double Room

  A comfortable room located on the 3rd floor and accessed through a wooden staircase. It features a private balcony, a flat-screen TV, a DVD player and a private bathroom with free toiletries.

  Max Occupancy: 4 (3 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Radio
  • DVD player
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Satellite channels
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Alarm clock
  • Tumble dryer
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Clothes rack
  • Drying rack for clothing
  • Toilet paper
  • Sofa bed
  • Pool towels
  • Trash cans
  • Cots
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body soap
  • Shower cap
  • Feather pillow
  • Smoke alarm
  • Key access
  • Single-room air conditioning for guest accommodation
  • Hand sanitiser

• Deluxe Triple Room

  The unit has 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)

Guest Reviews

• IVAN (10/5): Un hermoso hotel en un bosque con tortugas gigantes - El lugar
• Carcaramella (9/5): -
• M (10/5): Immerse yourself with the nature of the Galapagos - This place is truly exceptional! It’s the perfect destination to unwind and immerse yourself in the magical experience of being surrounded by giant tortoises. The food was consistently amazing, and Cattya—the manager—is wonderfully accommodating. She goes above and beyond to help with tours, activities, or anything else you might need during your stay. The facilities are beautiful, impeccably maintained, and finished to a high standard. The common areas are stunning, offering plenty of space to relax and take in the surroundings. Even the most budget-friendly rooms come with spectacular views, making every moment feel special. An unforgettable stay in every way. Highly recommended! Nothing it was perfect!
• Rebecca (10/5): Great Place!!! - We had a wonderful stay at this hotel and do not regret choosing it. The location is excellent, and seeing giant tortoises right on the property — even from our room window — was truly special. The service was outstanding. The woman (Cattya) managing the hotel is very kind, professional, and welcoming, and everything was well organized. We stayed with two friends and had a great time. Highly recommended! I wish to stay longer...
• Benjamin (10/5): Amazing place -
• Samuel (3/5): -
• Guest (9/5): Beautiful grounds and giant tortoises! - We loved our stat at Semilla Verde - the grounds and accommodations are beautiful, and the giant tortoises which roam freely made our stay extra special! Cattya is an amazing host, and she gave us some great advice/recommendation about restaurants in Puerto Ayora. Meals on property were delicious (we had breakfast, dinner and some snacks). We stayed in December, so got to enjoy beautiful Christmas decorations as well. This place is pricey but it was a perfect match after our long international trip - to rest, connect with nature and start our exploration of Galapagos!
• TonynoT (10/5): -
• Stephane (10/5): -
• Steve (10/5): Outstanding, Cattya and her team were brilliant…and the pets! -
• Firkins (10/5): Just a perfect peaceful location with staff who were extremely friendly and helpful - It was a tropical paradise. So peaceful with loads of tortoises. Nothing
• René (10/5): Fantastische locatie midden in de natuur. - Reuzeschildpadden iachter het hotel. Niets
• Mark (9/5): Amazing opportunity to see tortoise in the wild from a comfortable space. - Ability to see the tortoises and the wonderful open space. There are options to add additional luxuries. This is both wonderful to make it the stay you want and costs can add up quickly. To ensure you understand your costs you are asked multiple times, which I greatly appreciated.
• Marc-André (10/5): - We got to see giant turtles on the hotel grounds. Staff was very pleasant and made our stay excellent.
• Lukasz (10/5): - Wonderful atmosphere, beautiful garden area with lot of 🐢 around, my first avocado eaten straight from the tree 😉
• Alejandra (6/5): Hotel en la naturaleza - Es hotel esta en un lugar muy bonito de la isla, es tranquilo y puedes ver tortugas. Hay posibilidad de almorzar y cenar ahi mismo. Cattya nos atendió muy bien. La habitación que nos tocó tenía olor a humedad y las almohadas también. Nos quisimos cambiar a una habitación más grande con una linda vista, pero tenía muchos gkecos (lagartigas), lo cual no fue muy agradable.
• idit (9/5): מארחת נהדרת במקום קסום - את המארחת המופלאה קטיה,האוכל טעים וטרי ומבושל כל יום,אנחנו שומרי כשרות ובישלו לנו אוכל טיבעוני ודגים כשרים!!! הזרם במקלחת חלש מאוד
• syeed (10/5): Great stay - An excellent stay. Cattya, the manager of the hotel was superb. She gave us timely information and organised the transfer of my luggage to Baltra airport whilst I was stuck at Isabela (due to tsunami alert). The food was lovely, both at breakfast and dinner. I would highly recommend to stay here. The great thing is that we had giant tortoise in the back garden. No need to go El Chato Ranch. You have nature in your back yard. Make sure you stay here if you make a trip out to Santa Cruz. It is mid way between the main town and the itabaca channel. It is $10 into town.
• Sohna (9/5): -
• JAVIER PABLO (9/5): Espectacular! - Todo excelente Atenciona personalizada. Nos llamaban a cada uno por nuestros nombres y siempre preocupados por que disfrutáramos el lugar Al principio pesamos que estar en la parte alta de la isla , era un problema por el clima lluvioso. Pero luego a ir a cenar tres noches en Pueto Ayora, la verdad es como que no sé cómo las personas pueden dormir allí. Estuvimos cenando el AL MAR , hotel blue, y nos tuvimos que ir de los gritos y gente con alguna copa de alcohol, y luego pasamos por el Hotel Solymar y también era todo muy ruidoso. Eran las otras opciones que teníamos por el puerto. Lo bien que se descansa el semilla verde. Todo resuelto. Hasta binoculares y bastones de caminatas y paraguas te prestan. Hemos descansado tan profundamente que no nos podíamos despertar para bajar a tomar ese delicioso desayuno( cocina al imstante frente a Ud) pero salíamos a hacer las excursiones como nuevos, y ahí estuvo la clave para poder disfrutar bien. Aclaro que co mi esposa somos de 60 años, y nuestra hija de 24. Quizás a la gente más joven le interesa la parte baja , es decir el muelle. Parecería que se pueden divertir más, pero hay que tener energía para excursiones de todo el día. Para nosotros fue perfecto . Las tortugas sueltas en el lugar son increíbles. Reina La Paz y el buen trato. Estuvimos 6 días. Maravilloso
• Krongkamol (9/5): Superb -
• Robert (10/5): Our family of four (two children ages 3 and 5) had a wonderful time here! We'd love to come back! - We loved the location - with a huge bonus of tortoises right on property. The breakfast was delicious and our host, Katia, was exceptional! She catered to our every need and offered such wonderful insight for our trip. Thank you! We had a delightful stay, nothing comes to mind.
• Danny (9/5): Amazing - Everything! The room is amazing and you see turtles all around the property. All the staff is very friendly and welcoming. So quiet and cozy!
• Guido (10/5): Exceptional - A gem hidden in the jungle. A natural paradise where time has another dimension. The giant turtles in their environnement are amazing and the staff and the hotel manager are super careful to the guest needs and very professional
• Jesse (10/5): Tranquility in the Galapagos - What a perfect way to experience the Galapagos islands! So happy my wife and I chose Semilla Verde Boutique Hotel over a hotel in the town. The grounds are wonderful. We walked the paths and saw the tortoises multiple times per day. It was an easy 10 minute taxi into town for tours, restaurants and other activity when we needed it. But we loved the quiet and tranquility at Semilla Verde. The pool is refreshing. The staff are so helpful and friendly. The coffee is grown on the property and makes an amazing breakfast even better. And we used the yoga/fitness studio every morning. What a perfect hotel for us. Highly recommend. And we used Guiding Galapagos Tours, who also made our stay in Galapagos an amazing experience.
• Bidzina (10/5): - An amazing place to stay. The staff are super friendly and nice, while the hotel garden is as good as any botanical garden, with plenty of turtles and lizards. A bit far from the town, but takes 7$ and 20 min to get there, so not an issue.
• Vanessa (10/5): amazing, would love to go back - It was recommended to us and didn't disappoint. The staff was amazing and went above and beyond, the property was great, I just wish we had more time to spend there and enjoy the property!
• Gordon (10/5): A luxurious,relaxing stay - The location is in the Highlands and far away from any amenities - but thus very quiet and restful after Puerto Ayora. Lovely to see all the tortoises roaming around the garden. The breakfasts and evening meals were excellent. Nothing
• Joanne (9/5): Peaceful tranquil setting - perfect to see giant tortoises up close. - Cattya the manager was incredibly helpful when we encountered problems with our flights. It was wonderful wandering the grounds and watching the giant tortoises roam free. Meals were tasty and well presented. We were disturbed very early by fellow guests leaving, but this wasn’t the fault of the hotel.
• Andrey (9/5): Very nice hotel near Puerto Ayora - -Great and helpful staff -Nice location near the Puerto Ayora -Comfortable room -Free teepot in the lobby I liked everything
• Helen (10/5): Our stay at Semilla Verde was such a perfect way to finish our holiday, thank you! - Our whole stay at the villa was amazing, the facilities were excellent, the location was peaceful and relaxing, and the staff were lovely and took excellent care of us
• Jacques (10/5): Beautiful location - Our stay at Semilla Verde was truly memorable. We instantly felt welcomes by Cattya and her team at their wonderfully unique property. Giant tortoises roam freely and many were present on the vast property grounds during our stay, which adds to the overall experience. Being in the highlands, the views were stunning and the weather refreshing. Given the island of Santa Cruz is small, any location is a short taxi ride away, which is easily arranged by the property team. We also enjoyed (and made us of) the home cooked meals on site, the swimming pool and the excellent yoga studio. We are delighted we chose to stay here during our visit to Santa Cruz Island and we wouldn't hesitate to stay here again for any return visit.
• Edem (10/5): - Semila Verde Hotel on the edge of Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos is a stunning and serene retreat. The property is beautifully maintained, and it's a unique experience to see giant turtles wandering freely around the grounds. The hotel offers delicious local dishes that truly capture the flavors of the region. The staff were incredibly friendly and went above and beyond, arranging all transportation to and from the airport and the city, making the stay seamless. It was a wonderful experience, and I would highly recommend this hidden gem for anyone visiting the Galapagos.
• Umangi (10/5): Exceptional -
• Michelle (10/5): - Magical! Beautiful property close to town. Friendly team, wonderful breakfast… and tortoises in their natural habitat! On a walk around the property, we saw 10 the first day! We had room 3 - it had a view of the pond where the tortoises grazed and swam - literally right outside our room. If you are visiting the Galapagos, this is a must-stay experience!
• Claire (10/5): Simply amazing - Simply amazing. One of the best places we have ever stayed. The first thing we saw from our balcony was a giant tortoise having a dip in a pond. The staff were so helpful and friendly. The restaurant was fantastic. Breakfast was delicious and dinner blew us away every time. Fantastic value for money and we were able to fully relax and switch off for our visit, not needing to go elsewhere for dinner. It is so peaceful, quiet and beautiful. The trail around the hotel was great for walks and we saw so many tortoises, plants and little creatures. It was the most brilliant start to our time in the Galapagos. The coffee grown in the gardens was very reasonably priced and delicious... take some home!! The honesty bar was a great addition. Nothing is too much for the staff and they work very hard to make you feel at home. Thank you for an experience we will remember forever. Nothing!
• Sarah (9/5): Semille verde is a little heaven on earth. - Lovely welcome when we arrived. Relaxing homely feel to Hotel. Breakfast was excellent. Lovely fresh fruit, cereal and yogurt plus eggs cooked as you wished, with warm breads and pastries. Comfortable bedroom but also lovely communal areas with kitchen to make hot drinks etc . Manager Cattya could not have been more helpful and made us feel very welcome and at home. Loved her gorgeous Labrador and the tortoises were a joy to discover in the grounds.
• Michele Gottlieb (10/5): - Awesome property and great personalized friendly service. Meals are excellent. So relaxing and able to chill in nature. Giant tortoises roam the property!
• Olivya (10/5): Exceptional - Semilla Verde feels like home away from home. Cattya and the staff are extremely helpful and accommodating. Although it is 20 min away from the town center, they called a taxi for us every day and made sure we had everything we needed for our activities around the island. The property is so peaceful and lovely! I didn't mind at all, but there are many little friends on the property and in some cases in the rooms (geckos, frogs, etc). They were not harmful and did not cause any issues.
• Ross (10/5): Excellent final base before leaving Santa Cruz for the mainland - If, at the end of your holiday in the Galapagos, you want one or two days of relaxation before flying out from Santa Cruz/Baltra Island, I would heartedly recommend this wonderful hotel up in the highlands of the island. Not only does it have giant tortoises ambling through its extensive gardens and grounds, but it is also a relaxing quiet place to stay, enjoy an alternative ecological environment and prepare for the next leg of your trip into Ecuador or return home. Katia, the hotel manager, was an excellent hostess, and all the staff were friendly and helpful. We ate dinner and breakfast here and enjoyed both immensely. As the hotel sits within a coffee plantation, the coffee is very 'local'. The small swimming pool was pleasant on a very hot afternoon. Nothing to dislike
• Linda (9/5): Superb -
• Caroline (9/5): Superb - Cattya was so good at anticipating needs, every time I turned around she was already handing me something I might want. Meals were delicious and the property is well-versed in accommodating many different dietary needs and have multiple types of meals perfected from seafood to vegan to gluten free. There were always fresh fruit juices, tea, local coffee, and homemade desserts from bread pudding to refreshing sorbet, and one night a birthday cake for a guest! We enjoyed finches on our top floor room roof and balcony and enjoyed walks on the property to see tortoises lead by the resident dog. It was so nice to return to the cool highlands after a hot afternoon in town. Also, Cattya always gave strict instructions to taxi drivers so the service felt more like a personal driver and she had no shortage of available plans for day trips, shopping, and restaurants if you took a meal in town.
• KURSAD (10/5): - Katya the manager is an amazing person helpful and ,polite
• Nadine (10/5): Absolutely loved Semilla Verde, the staff was amazing, the tortoises were a special bonus and the overall experience was - Beautiful location that really lets you disconnect and enjoy time in nature, surrounded by the local residents! But far from main town area so keep in mind if planning to spend time there.
• Connie (10/5): - This property is incredible and so uniquely different in our opinions. We did a fair amount of research and comparisons before we booked this hotel and the stay recently has proved that we made the right choice. This hotel is in the highlands so a taxi is required to get into town but we expected that so it is not an issue. The host was very welcoming, the services were top notch and friendly. The property has a homely feeling and Sava the dog was a delight to be hanging around with. The daily sightings of the tortoises was the highlight of our stay as we love love them. All in all, it was a very enjoyable and memorable stay for us and we will always appreciate it. Thank you to the team who worked so hard to make our stay such an incredible experience. This
• dietlinde (10/5): Most amazing hotel. Recommend to everyone. - I’ve traveled allot and this place is incredible for service, location (gardens are beautiful with many giant tortoises), food, and atmosphere. You are making a mistake if you stay anywhere else.
• Rene (10/5): - Wonderful stay at this green, beautiful property! Meals on site were delicious. Great trails for walking. Comfortable, stylish rooms and common rooms. Highly recommend.
• kevin (10/5): - We stayed for 4 nights and the property and staff are GREAT! Cattya was very helpful and knowledgeable about things to do in the area. She did arrange transportation from the airport which was a huge benefit as the driver met us as we arrived and had the bus, boat and taxi transporting all set. Cannot say enough good things about her. The property is amazing as there are giant tortoises all over, we counted 12 when we walked on the trail! There was even one that stayed right out the door at night, pretty cool. Was great having breakfast every morning and then heading out for the day. Very quiet and nice to come back to after being active all day. Would most definitely stay again and will recommend to our family and friends.
• Jamie (9/5): Superb -
• Charlotte (10/5): Exceptional - Staff were so helpful and friendly Great breakfasts in the morning Loads of giant tortoises roaming the property outside the rooms So quiet and peaceful Need to get a 10-15 min taxi down to the town ($7 each way)
• SHWU (8/5): - The service is very good and the environment is quiet the view is excellent
• Alyson (10/5): Perfect stay! A must visit experience - I loved every minute of this hotel... walking around the grounds, seeing turtles in their natural habitat, relaxing on my balcony in a hammock with the beauty of nature, and eating dinner by candlelight.
• C (10/5): Green lush turtle retreat - It was a green lush hide away with winding paths to follow and tortoises to be spotted on all sides. I spent my birthday day and night here and it was a magical night sleeping in the cloud covered tree tops with turtles grazing 20 feet away. It's a beautiful place to get away. Just as it's a wonderful place to get away, it is remote and finding a cab isn't easy! The hotel offers breakfast, lunch and dinner (reservations required and a little pricy but good) but finding a nearby restaurant or store was not going to happen.
• Koon (10/5): Exceptional -
• Abhishek (10/5): Exceptional -
• John (8/5): Great place, nice food and great service spoilt by lack of sleep through the noisy Aircon. - Cattya was really friendly and helpful as was all her staff. Our room was very noisy as the Aircon compressor for our room and the room above were fixed to our outside wall. The first night was quiet and peaceful as we didn’t put the Aircon on, and nobody was in the room above. The next day and night it was really noisy as new guests had arrived. It came on for 3 minutes, then off for 6 minutes all night long.
• richard (10/5): - What a great property! We explored the property every day and found tortoises everywhere. The food was good- especially the lunch we had preordered for our arrival. We are vegans and it was perfect. The Manager, Shania, was really helpful and exceptional at her job. The rest of the staff was great as well. Our only complaint was that we were in room 7 in the main building. We were above the kitchen and the noise at 6:15am was as if we were sleeping in the kitchen. Until that sound proof the kitchen I would stay in the other building even though those are not the deluxe rooms.
• Mikko (10/5): Exceptional - Staff is great - thank you Shania and Brenda. Awesome support to assist with short notice Actually I have nothing to complain... Perfect spot unless one wants to be in middle of huzzle at the town
• Gregory (10/5): - This hotel is exceptional from the rooms, to the food, to the service to the grounds. I will definitely return and recommend highly.
• Sylwia (9/5): Superb - Very nice place to stay and relax.
• Crystal (10/5): restful and peaceful - Lush, beautiful, tortoises, a great dog and cat we only got to stay one night
• Pieternel (8/5): recommendable place - quiet, garden setting, very helpfull staff
• Sheila (10/5): Absolutely perfect! - Absolutely everything. I liked having access to tea and coffee facilities too. Morning tea in bed :) The room, location, the giant tortoises, the staff and the exceptional cooking. I liked everything
• tracie (10/5): - We stayed here three nights and wish it would have been more. Lovely place with tortoises galore. So nice to be in a quiet area yet a quick cab ride from the city. $7 for cab and Semilla arranged it every time. Great area with walking paths. Food and dining area was also superb.
• Neil (10/5): Heaven on earth! - As long as you don't want to walk to the beach (it's in the Santa Cruz Highlands), Semilla Verde is THE place to stay. It is a joy! Beautiful property, wonderful rooms with spectacular views, huge grounds with spectacular walks and giant turtles for ... Galapagos! The grounds are being returned to native bush and the giant tortoises - more than 70 of them actually on the property - seem to love it. A particularly warm welcome from Cattya and we were soooo well looked after by Cattya and her staff. I'd recommend dining in. There was nothing in our view that could be improved.
• Rano (10/5): - Absolutely amazing facilities, with trails and tortoises on the property. Beautiful view of the ocean.
• Bob (10/5): All the reviews are true. You won't be disappointed! - Semilla exceeded every one of our expectations. And we have high expectations! My mom and I were traveling together for a 60th birthday trip. I could not have selected a better hotel - it truly is an experience. Beyond the amazing meals (breakfast is included), you could spend a half-day just roaming the property's trails looking at the tortoises. Waking up every morning to the birds lightly chirping was refreshing and truly relaxing. The hotel is in the middle of the highlands - not close to town - so it was truly an escape. We didn't feel the need to visit El Chato, because we felt the proximity and exclusivity to the tortoises would likely not be beat. The staff - particularly Cattya - was next level. I have never been to such a place where someone is so invested in my stay and experience. Every day she would ask about our upcoming day, the experience we had before, and make personalized suggestions. She went out of her way to ensure we had a fantastic stay, and made all of our pain points non-existent. It was truly the little things she did that show where the place shines - she gave us a mini tour and welcome drinks on arrival (we were late; our plane was delayed; she adjusted meal schedules for us); she called taxis for us every day; she helped connect us with a high-quality tour operator when our original tour fell through; she packed a morning breakfast bag on our last day because we were leaving super early; she provided *personalized* recommendations of restaurants and tours based on getting to know our interests....the list could go on. The reviews for this place don't lie (and I read all the reviews before coming). Book it. You won't be disappointed. It can be a bit annoying being 20-min cab ride from town, but that's the tradeoff to being in the highlands and having giant tortoises roaming all around the property. The staff helps negate this tradeoff in literally every way possible to make it convenient getting to town - we would tell them the night before when we wanted to leave, and there was always a taxi waiting outside 10 mins before our requested time (yes, that fantastic!)
• Peter (10/5): Wonderful - Spotlessly clean. Beautifully furnished. Generous towels and shampoo and conditioner after a week of traveling! Warm and friendly staff. Excellent food
• Eric (10/5): An Absolute Gem of a Hotel - It took me several days to select the perfect hotel for my father and I but ultimately, I chose Semilla Verde because I read a few dozen reviews and they all glorified this place. It’s BETTER than advertised, if that’s even possible. This hotel is tucked away in Bellavista away from the crowded tourism. The days we were there, we saw 12 turtles on the property although reports were that there was twice as many. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted with warm smiles from the entire staff. Evelyn and her Aunt are wonderful women and amazing cooks. Cattya, the awesome manager on the property, made us feel like family. She was very accommodating and made time to make us feel at home. Even before our arrival, she was in constant communication with me about our stay and helped reserve our tour of the Chato Ranch and twin craters with tour guide, Duncan Divine. He was incredible… a walking encyclopedia who balanced informing us of the island while personalizing our tour to the ambiance we wanted. The food at the hotel is 5-star… homemade, fresh, delicious, and the menu was eclectic yet perfect for every meal. There was NO reason to eat any meal outside of the hotel, it was that good. Overall, I can’t sing enough praises of this place. You will NOT be disappointed if you book here for your trip to the Galapagos. The reviews are what they are for a reason… and I confirmed that during our stay there. This is truly a 10/10 hotel. Perfection.
• Neil (10/5): Just a delight - and giant tortoises galore! -
• Conor (10/5): Exceptional -
• Peter (8/5): Very good - the peaceful highland location . the views , nature trail with tortoises roaming and the delicious breakfast
• Seema (9/5): Superb - Great breakfast and dinner.
• Laura (10/5): we felt at home! - it is an amazing guesthouse in a lush area with turtles around the room was big and very nice the owner is very kind great food! it is perfect for relaxing, but it is isolated and you’d have to take a taxi to go everywhere else
• Eliana (8/5): Ok se vc souber q é distante e isolado - Hotel bonito em local isolado distante 20 minutos de carro de Puerto Ayora. Serviço excelente, tivemos problemas com o quarto e fomos transferidos p acomodações melhores sem custo. O chuveiro é ruim. O problema é a distância, cada vez que quiser sair do hotel deve-se ir de táxi, e a corrida ida e volta custa cerca de 15 dólares, além do tempo de espera do táxi, de 20 min, que devem ser acrescidos aos 20 da corrida
• Maura (7/5): Good -
• Christian (10/5): - Location is a bit out of the way, which makes it very peaceful and quiet but also a tad inconvenient. Taxis were necessary daily to get anyplace, but only about $8 each way. Rooms were nice, grounds were spectacular, and service stellar. The resident tortoises were visible daily, and the property manager spoke perfect English and did a fabulous job recommending activities, restaurants, arranging transport, etc. Everyone in our party agreed we chose the best place to stay, and would definitely stay again.
• Eva (10/5): - Fantastic host and property! Very beautiful
• Catalin (10/5): - We had a wonderful time at Semilla Verde. Thanks Robert and Cathya for making our stay unforgettable, your place is fantastic. We loved every minute of it!
• BROCK (10/5): - The hotel was very responsive pre-arrival to set up tours (ask for Duncan), arranged meals, and gave advice. On property, Cattya was amazing! From two very critical travelers, she’s the epitome of hospitality. She helped us at every point of our stay, and was invaluable. Property is set in a quiet highlands location, has trails, a very friendly dog and wild tortoises to boot! Perfectly secluded, it was a perfect way to experience Santa Cruz!
• Stacey (10/5): - Beautiful rooms and grounds, our dinner and breakfast were both delicious, and it was so fun watching the birds and tortoises. We hope to return soon!
• Katrina (10/5): The Galapagos experience right outside your room - Our time at Semilla Verde was excellent from the service to the quality of the rooms to the location. Having access to the trails and the tortoises right outside our room we really had the Galapagos experience the entire time. The staff, especially Cattya was superb and so welcoming. We really felt at home. We also worked with them to help organize our tours and we the tour operators were also excellent. We definitely highly recommended Semilla Verde and if we make it back to Galapagos we’d without a doubt stay again.
• Janelle (10/5): - Beautiful property inside and out. There's a nice walking trail around the property for viewing tortoises, birds and plants. We had dinner and breakfast, both meals were outstanding! We highly recommend this hotel.
• Oswaldo (8/5): - La atención es lo mas valioso del lugar, gracias a Cattya principalmente. El plus sería la piscina climatizada
• Theodore (10/5): - Nice hotel in very green and lush setting. Wonderful room like being in the canopy. Service and advice for tourism was first class. Highly recommended.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Semilla Verda was a beautiful paradise in the Santa Cruz highlands. The property was spectacular and unique with giant tortoises roaming freely everywhere. The landscape around the hotel was well maintained with fruit tree including citrus and banana. Shania, the hotel manager was super responsive, helpful and attentive. We had several meals prepared which were delicious, and prepared locally. Our room had expansive views of the forest and the ocean could be seen. We will definitely stay here again when we come back to Galapagos!
• jesse (10/5): Wonderful! - We loved our stay at Semilla Verde and HIGHLY recommend it to everyone!!!
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Owner Robert and Manager Katiana were terrific ! Friendly and extremely helpful. Grounds are beautiful and we saw four huge tortoises. It is a 15 minute ($7.00) taxi ride to town but worth it. Breakfast was great. Large areas of open living space if you are traveling with family - perfect place. Highly recommended.
• kathleen (10/5): Respite in the highlands outside of touristy areas - Beautiful hotel in the highlands outside of Puerto Ayora and the tourist vibe. This is a quite respite. This is a secluded hotel where there are nature trails and land tortoises, but close to town. We highly recommend this hotel and all of its tranquility.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - This hotel is amazing! We were personally greeted by the manager while our bags were taken to our room. It’s located in a beautiful spot roughly 20 minutes from town. The grounds are well maintained and there are trails to walk around where you can see tortoises. There’s a comfortable common area where you can get drinks or make coffee/tea while enjoying the view out toward the ocean. Breakfast is included and it’s HUGE and delicious. We chose to stay for dinner and it was excellent - highly recommended. We loved staying here.
• Maria (10/5): - The property location was paradise, surrounded with lush greenery and tortoises. Quiet and peaceful.
• Sam (10/5): - An incredible stay on a stunning property. Exceptional service with food you won't find anywhere else on Santa Cruz. We took advantage of all the amenities which resulted in walking the grounds with on-site grown coffee, seeing the giant tortugas which roam the property at will, enjoying yoga in their studio and taking a short swim after hiking a trail suggested to us by our host. This was an amazing experience that capped our visit to the Galapagos. We emphatically recommend this hotel.
• Verified traveler (10/5): Terrific hotel on a great property with a view - Excellent hotel - we loved it. Great room with an amazing view. Wonderful walkways with Tortoises and birds. Wonderful staff and a delicious breakfast. Plenty of hot water and WiFi is fast.
• Verified traveler (2/5): - This message is concerning Expedia and this hotel: 1) The total of my trip was $1,262.70 and the payment schedule in my itinerary says "You will be charged deposits by the property based on the following schedule. 30 percent (within 60 days of arrival)". 2) 30 days before arrival i got charged (not hold) $1,312. 3) For medical reasons, I had to first delay my check in for 2 days (contacted the hotel directly) and then cancel it (i did on phone with expedia). While the cancelation policy says "If you cancel or change your plans, please cancel your reservation in accordance with the property's cancellation policies to avoid a no-show charge. Cancellations or changes made after 6:00pm (Central America Standard Time) on May 30, 2019 or no-shows are subject to a property fee equal to 50% of the total amount paid for the reservation. Deposits charged by the property will be applied to any cancellation or change property fees", the hotel kept the original charge. 4) when i contacted expedia Gold support, they confirmed that the hotel shouldn't charge me more than 50%, and they contacted the hotel which said that the cancelation or no show fee is 100%. 5)I called expedia several times, and in each time they confirm that i should be refunded, they never did. The excuse was that the hotel is not being corporative with them. The supervisor said "ooooh we can't do anything about it" 6) I was told that this is the only way to escalate to Expedia Corporate Office.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Excellent quiet location, out of main town but easily accessible via taxi's. Enjoyed the location and the tortoises :)
• Eric (10/5): - The property's grounds were incredibly beautiful and well maintained. Staying at Semilla Verde was like having an additional vacation while on vacation. Walking alongside tortoises while exploring the property was an amazing experience.
• John (8/5): - Incredibly attentive service
• Nigel (10/5): Amazing hotel set in the forest. - Being up in the forest was great as it was cool and the views were amazing. The hotel is excellent, small and quiet. Cattya made us feel very welcome and helped with all our needs. Robert had organised an itinerary of day trips for us which was excellent and meant that we had a worry free stay from the moment we landed (well worth it - the number of people who were clueless as to what to do at the airport!). The only downside we found was the slowness of the internet but then you are in the Galapagos!! Would highly recommend and would stay again. Thanks Cattya and Robert for making our stay so memorable.
• Robert (10/5): Great stay - Very cool property to enjoy, great staff and breakfast.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Semilla Verde was just an awesome place to stay away from Puerto Ayora ($7 taxi drive to/from the center); surrounded by tortoises and a bunch of green. The food was fantastic, especially the breakfast that was included ;) Cattya, the hotel manager, and the rest of the SV team were fantastic; they made our lives much easier (laundry, taxi request service, etc.). We also had fun with the other SV hosts, Saba and Negra, their sweet dog & cat. Thanks a lot!!!

Photos