Pikaia Lodge in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador – the eco-friendly luxury hotel on the Galapagos Island of Santa Cruz.
14-room headquarters for exploring Galapagos’ creatures and the islands’ extraordinary geology.
Hidden in a secluded location and nestled on top of an extinct volcano crater, the recently opened Pikaia Lodge is a new carbon-neutral luxury hotel in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. In fact, Pikaia Lodge is one of the most advanced green lodges built in the world. Part of “Small Luxury Hotels of the World”, Pikaia Lodge is a new alternative for exploring the “Last paradise on Earth” in a comfortable and sustainable land based way.
The Pikaia Lodge concept is designed for the environmentally conscious, physically active eco-adventure traveler, who seeks close contact with the unique natural wonders of the Galapagos with the highest level of comfort and services that could be reasonably provided within the limitations of such a remote, restricted and eco- sensitive location.
The hotel is on Santa Cruz Island in the centre of the Galapagos Archipelago. These islands belong to the Republic of Ecuador. The Galapagos and its surrounding marine reserve are Natural World Heritage sites of UNESCO. The marine reserve is one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the world and the second largest protected marine reserve, after the great Australian Barrier Reef.
Pikaia’s main building is perched on a small plateau on top of two extinct volcanic craters and the rooms are nestled amongst the slopes. This location offers one of the most spectacular view points in the Galapagos – a great scenic destination in itself.
The travellers will discover some of the finest beaches of the Galapagos near the lodge. Just by taking a stroll, you can come face to face with a wild giant tortoise. Pikaia Lodge has its own private Tortoise Reserve on the property.
The Lodge is carbon neutral, and powered with a mix of conventional and alternative energy sources that do not pollute or emit greenhouse gases.
Recent technologies allows the Lodge to use Photovoltaic solar power “Grid tied”, which means that the Lodge is connected to the local electricity grid and is feeding electricity to the islands grid.
The Lodge aims to produce gradually enough electricity at day as a surplus to compensate the amount that it uses from the grid. Batteries are not needed anymore to store energy, which where also an environmental problem. Other source is the use of encased sound proof electric generators that will run on a cleaner mixture of diesel with a high percentage of carbon neutral Bio-diesel.
All Lodges emissions of CO2 will be vastly compensated and offset by the Lodges endemic trees reforestation program on the property or by buying Carbon offsetting Bonds if needed, according to the yearly energy audit.
Interior and exterior Illumination uses state of the art ultra-efficient warm white LED´s and energy saving fluorescent bulbs. Exterior lighting is low, in order to not attract insects, birds or Bats and prevent therefore changing their natural feeding habits.
Solar luminescent materials for exterior signaling.
Water is heated by advanced and highly efficient solar collectors, local for each room or area to minimize heat loss. – Kitchen, laundry and Spa equipment uses clean LPG gas.
The interior and exterior fire places, placed for a cozy ambiance use sugarcane Ethanol for clean burning to prevent cutting local trees.
Visitors can go on a land exploration programme and discover the endemic wildlife. Visit the Charles Darwin Scientific Research Centre. Or, take a cruise on the hotel yacht and enjoy hiking, kayaking or snorkeling followed by sunbathing on the deck or watching out for dolphins. The next day, head to Santa Fe on Pikaia Lodge’s yacht to watch sea lions, iguanas, lava lizards, Darwin’s finches, swallow-tail gulls and petrels.
