Hilton’s new Galapagos Island property

Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection by Hilton is scheduled to open in July 2022

The Galapagos island’s Royal Palm Galapagos Hotel in Santa Cruz will be converted into a Curio Collection by Hilton hotel as part of a franchise agreement with hotel operator Serinatura SA.

The property will remain owned and operated by its current management company, led by Diego Andrade Murtinho, while joining Hilton to access the benefits of the group. 

The conversion is due to be complete in July 2022. Once rebranded, Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection by Hilton will represent the first international hotel brand in the destination and, in line with the existing hotel’s ethos, it will adhere to Hilton’s global environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, known as Travel with Purpose.

Santa Cruz is one of the most important islands within the Galapagos and is home to Tortuga Bay and the Charles Darwin Research Station

Secluded on a 160-hectare estate in the lush Miconia Highland Forests adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Galapagos National Park, the hotel is sheltered within a valley between two extinct cinder cone volcanoes. 

Commenting on the announcement, Juan Corvinos, Hilton senior vice president of development, architecture and design in the Caribbean and Latin America said: “The signing of Royal Palm Galapagos marks a momentous milestone for Hilton, our Caribbean and Latin America portfolio and the brand. We welcome the sustainability-focused property to our growing Curio Collection of more than 115 one-of-a-kind hand-picked hotels and resorts around the world.”

Founded  in the year 2000, the boutique hotel comprises 21 Ecuadorian Hacienda-style casitas and villas built around nature. Guests can recharge at the estate’s pool, spa and fitness centre, or enjoy the Galapagos by experiencing wildlife encounters from green turtles to birds within the protected eco-sensitive location. The hotel also features a fine dining restaurant located inside a cavern within one of the property’s lava tunnels. 

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The hotel’s renovation will complement and reinforce the hotel’s existing sustainable architecture and design, with a continued focus on environmental programmes, including its water reduction system, a Plant-a-Tree Programme and an on-site farm utilised by the restaurants.

Jean Garris Hand, Hilton vice president, global environmental, social and governance, added: “At Hilton, we recognise that we have a critical responsibility to protect the communities where we serve, which is reflected in our Travel with Purpose strategy.

“We look forward to working with this legendary property to continue to protect this incredible destination, and to further programmes that allow our guests to travel to locations such as this, sustainably and responsibly.” 

The Hilton Effect Foundation, the company’s global philanthropic arm that seeks to advance Hilton’s Travel with Purpose goals, has been engaged in projects across the region, including partnering with organisations such as The Nature Conservancy to protect native Ecuador fish species and Galapagos Conservancy to feed and protect the critically endangered Floreana Giant Tortoise.

For more information, visit www.hilton.com/en/curio and www.hiltoneffect.org