Hostal Gardner Galapagos

The rooftop kitchen and terrace were a highlight for me, with a nice view, a fresh breeze and a comfy hammock. My dorm room with ensuite was clean, comfortable and good value. Andrea was kind and helpful too. I’d happily stay again!

I had a four-person room to myself since it wasn’t busy, and the staff were ready to meet me. The place was clean, cute and comfortable, with a cute rooftop and full kitchen. There was plenty of water, including hot showers. It’s conveniently close to the pier and lots of restaurants.

The shower had strong pressure and got nicely warm, and the friendly staff were around, possibly next door, though I couldn’t find them at first. Rooms were simple but spacious, and the beds a bit hard. For the price, that felt fair. The location is great. One towel had a stain when I arrived, but it was the floor towel and the others were clean. I left it crumpled on the floor as instructed to get it changed, but the same stained towel was hanging there the next day. They’d just picked it up and hung it back up. The posted bus schedule is wrong too: the last bus is at 9:30, not 9am. I rushed to the station when I could have walked and had plenty of time.

The reception guy, who is also the owner, was especially helpful. He quickly explained what I could do, how to do it, and ways to save money. They helped with our luggage, and I always felt safe with the lockers. When the shared room was full, they even opened other rooms for us. The whole team made us feel like family, and the service was outstanding. It’s spotless and within walking distance of basically everything. The hot water showers were the best I had anywhere in Galapagos, with boiling hot water, which is great in June, July and August if you hate cold showers. It’s a marvel of a place, and the location, cleanliness and service make it the best in Puerto Ayora for me. There is a downside: it gets noisy, especially on weekends because of a nearby bar. If you’re sensitive to sound, I wouldn’t recommend it. Otherwise, it’s an absolute delight.