Welcome to The Royal Palm Hotel - a secluded hide-a-way nestling in the lush Miconia highland forests of Santa Cruz in the heart of the Galapagos. The Royal Palm is a spacious and exclusive 190 hectare (480 acres) private estate, only 20 minutes-drive from the bustling port town of Puerto Ayora. With just 8 Casitas (Spanish for little house!) and 13 exclusive villas, our guests can enjoy privacy, space and quiet seclusion. Designed and crafted to complement our natural environment, this is as close to nature as you can get! The native ferns and flora create a carpet of contrast and color that cover the gently sloping hills down to the coast and beyond. Our resident birds include owls, Darwin Short Beak Finches, Garrapatero birds and Egrets and for our more active guests, the longest lava tunnel on the Island is a few steps from reception!