Isabela, Galápagos · Galapagos

Scalesia Lodge

Isabela highlands, Galápagos, Ecuador

A safari-style tented eco-lodge in the Isabela highlands16 canvas tents on Sierra Negra's slopesAll-inclusive, the only highland base on Isabela

★★★★★Super-deluxe

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Location

Isabela highlands

In the cloud-forest highlands of remote Isabela, on the slopes of the Sierra Negra volcano, with forest and Pacific views — the only highland lodge base on the Galapagos' largest, wildest island.

Transfer

A Galápagos transfer

Reached via the islands' airports and a boat to Isabela, flying in from Quito, UIO, or Guayaquil, GYE — the boat crossing part of reaching the wildest island.

Villas

16 tents

Sixteen canvas tents on raised platforms, around fifty-three square metres each with a twenty-three-square-metre private deck, with forest and Pacific views — named for the endemic Scalesia trees around them.

Best For

Who it suits

Couples and adventure travellers wanting the only highland base on Isabela — a safari-style tented eco-lodge on the slopes of Sierra Negra, all-inclusive of guided excursions to the volcano, the Tintoreras and the Los Tuneles lava arches, on the wildest island in the Galapagos.

Board Basis

All-inclusive

All-inclusive of guided excursions to Sierra Negra, the Tintoreras and the Los Tuneles lava arches — a modern lodge plating gourmet home cooking in the cloud-forest highlands.

Overview

A tented eco-lodge in the Isabela highlands

Scalesia Lodge is a safari-style tented eco-lodge in the cloud-forest highlands of remote Isabela, the Galapagos' largest island, on the slopes of the Sierra Negra volcano. Sixteen canvas tents on raised platforms run around fifty-three square metres each, with a twenty-three-square-metre private deck and forest-and-Pacific views, named for the endemic Scalesia trees around them. A modern lodge plates gourmet home cooking, and all-inclusive programmes run guided excursions to Sierra Negra, one of the largest volcanic calderas on Earth, the marine wildlife of the Tintoreras and the Los Tuneles lava arches, where the snorkelling is among the best in the islands. Isabela is the wildest of the inhabited Galapagos, seahorse-shaped and barely developed, home to penguins, flamingos, giant tortoises and the only place to see the flightless cormorant with any ease, its lava fields and mangroves barely touched. It is the only highland lodge base on Isabela, reached via the islands and a boat from Quito or Guayaquil — glamping immersed in nature, made for couples and adventure travellers who want the archipelago at its most remote.

Accommodation

Tents

Sixteen canvas tents stand on raised platforms, around fifty-three square metres each with a twenty-three-square-metre private deck and forest-and-Pacific views. Named for the endemic Scalesia trees of the highlands, they make a comfortable, low-impact base immersed in the cloud forest of Isabela, the canvas walls opening to birdsong and the cool air of the highlands.

Signature

Forest Tent

Sleeps two. A canvas tent on a raised platform, around 53 square metres with a 23-square-metre private deck and forest-and-Pacific views.

53 sqmPrivate deck

Food & Drink

Dining

A modern lodge plates gourmet home cooking, with a bar in the highlands, all folded into the all-inclusive rate. The kitchen draws on island produce, the dining relaxed after long days out on the volcano, the lava fields and the water.

Signature

The lodge restaurant

The lodge restaurant, gourmet home cooking on island produce.

All-inclusive

All-inclusive, meals and guided excursions.

Bar

The bar

The bar, in the highlands.

Wellbeing

Highlands & nature

Private tent decks look into the cloud-forest highlands, and all-inclusive guided excursions run to Sierra Negra, the Tintoreras and the lava tunnels. Wellness here is immersion itself — the quiet of the forest, the Pacific in the distance and the wildest island in the archipelago at the door and Sierra Negra's vast caldera, one of the largest active craters on Earth, a short hike above the tents.

Private tent decks

Private tent decks, forest-and-Pacific views.

Sierra Negra

Sierra Negra, a volcano hike.

All-inclusive excursions

All-inclusive excursions, guided daily.

Activities & Experiences

Signature Experiences

The volcano, the tunnels and the sea define a stay — hike Sierra Negra, one of the largest calderas on Earth, snorkel the marine wildlife of the Tintoreras, explore the Los Tuneles lava arches, and look for penguins, flamingos and the flightless cormorant. Snorkel the calm pool of Concha de Perla, walk the Wall of Tears and the wetlands near Puerto Villamil, and watch for the marine iguanas and rays of the shore. The cloud-forest highlands surround the lodge itself.