Montemar Eco Luxury Villas

Home to giant tortoises and an organic coffee plantation

Set in the Galápagos Giant Tortoises Territory on the island of Santa Cruz, Montemar Eco Luxury Villas is a sanctuary for endemic giant tortoises, some of which you’ll see ambling about the surrounding grassland scattered with tropical fruit trees. The lodge also produces most of its own energy, collects rainwater and grows seasonal produce on its organic farm to help minimise its environmental footprint.

You’ll sip natural coffee grown on Montemar’s coffee plantation and learn about its cultivation processes in a curated tasting session. You’ll also savour farm-to-table dishes whose recipes you can test in a cooking class. Other activities immerse you in the Galápagos‘ nature. There’s kayaking, snorkelling and surfing in clear waters while hiking and cycling tours take you across the islands. For wellness, yoga and meditation classes are set in a bespoke shala overlooking the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean that doubles as a peaceful spot for lava treatments and massages.

On the property itself, two luxury villas invite you to unwind in privacy or come together. Both blend minimalist modernity with the essence of the Galápagos, awash in natural materials, including lava rock and bamboo.

Villa Tortuga can accommodate eight guests, with four bedrooms bathed in light. Alongside generous al fresco areas for lounging, dining and barbecues, there’s a private room for yoga sessions. Meanwhile, Villa Lechuza lodges up to four guests and takes inspiration from the owls in the reserve. It also has an outdoor deck, from where you can watch the sunset on the horizon as you gently sway in its suspended hammock.