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GENERAL HOTEL QUESTIONS

  • WHERE IS THE FINCH BAY GALAPAGOS HOTEL LOCATED?
  • HOW DO I GET TO THE HOTEL?
  • CAN I FLY DIRECTLY FROM AN INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION TO THE GALAPAGOS AND THE FINCH BAY?
  • WHAT ACTIVITIES CAN I ENJOY EASILY FROM THE HOTEL?
  • ARE CHILDREN WELCOME AT THE FINCH BAY HOTEL?
  • DO YOU ACCEPT TRAVELLER’S CHECKS AT THE HOTEL?
WHERE IS THE FINCH BAY GALAPAGOS HOTEL LOCATED?

The Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel is ideally located at Punta Estrada, a 5-minute water taxi ride across the bay from Puerto Ayora, on the southern side of central Santa Cruz Island. It occupies a prime position right next to the only public beach in Puerto Ayora, to which it has private access. Find us on this map!

HOW DO I GET TO THE HOTEL?

We always encourage our guests to consider our transfer services, which will take care of all of the logistics of arrival and departure. If you choose one of our programs, your first day’s itinerary will vary according to the day of the week and your programs, so please get in touch so that we can send you the correct documentation.

If you would like to book just the hotel, and do not want us to help with transfers, please follow these instructions:

  • To reach the Galapagos Islands, take a flight from the mainland of Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil airports) to Baltra airport (GPS); there are at least 2 daily flights from either city. Make sure you book your flight to Baltra Island (GPS).
  • Upon arrival to Baltra Island (airport) take a short ride by bus to the Canal de Itabaca (make sure you take the bus to the canal, NOT to the pier) then cross the Itabaca Channel by ferry to Santa Cruz Island. Once on the other side of the canal, take a bus or a taxi to the town of Puerto Ayora (over the highlands of Santa Cruz, a distance of 42 km (26 miles).
  • Upon arrival to Puerto Ayora, walk to the public dock and take a water taxi to the dock of the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel. From here, walk along the signed path to the hotel (about 5 minutes).
CAN I FLY DIRECTLY FROM AN INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION TO THE GALAPAGOS AND THE FINCH BAY?

All international flights coming to Ecuador will stop directly at either Mariscal Sucre International Airport (Quito) or José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (Guayaquil). If you are changing flights from Quito to Galapagos, you will have a mandatory stop in Guayaquil. If you travel directly to Guayaquil, you will fly directly to the Galapagos. Depending on your departure date and itinerary, you will be landing in the Galapagos at either Baltra Airport or San Cristobal airport.

WHAT ACTIVITIES CAN I ENJOY EASILY FROM THE HOTEL?

There are plenty of activities in and around the port of Puerto Ayora. At the hotel, why not hire some sea kayaks and go for a paddle around the bay? From the hotel, a short hike leads to the beautiful cliffs known as Las Grietas, which offer some great swimming. On the other side of town lies the famous Charles Darwin Research Centre and the Tortoise Rearing Programme, headquarters of science in the Galapagos Islands. Further afield, it’s an invigorating walk to lovely Tortuga Bay, which offers surfing and a quiet beach. And then inland, in the highlands, one can visit giant tortoises in the wild, explore the island’s agricultural life, and visit Garrapatero beach, where it is also possible to enjoy mountain biking and trekking.

ARE CHILDREN WELCOME AT THE FINCH BAY HOTEL?

Yes, absolutely. It’s a most amazing place for young minds to enjoy the wonders of the Galapagos! Our Expedition Leader will craft the ideal set of activities for them. Should they wish to remain at the hotel, we have a lovely pool overlooking the ocean, right in front of the beach!

DO YOU ACCEPT TRAVELLER’S CHECKS AT THE HOTEL?

No, we don’t. However, we accept all major credit cards and/or cash at the hotel.

SPECIFIC HOTEL QUESTIONS

  • WHAT TYPES OF ROOMS DO YOU HAVE?
  • DO YOU HAVE A SPA?
  • WHEN IS THE RESTAURANT OPEN?
  • DO YOU HAVE ROOM SERVICE?
  • DO YOU HAVE LAUNDRY SERVICE?
  • DO YOU HAVE BATHTUBS IN THE ROOMS/SUITES?
WHAT TYPES OF ROOMS DO YOU HAVE?

The hotel has two categories: Finch Bay Suites and Finch Bay Rooms. Please see the Rooms page for more information.

DO YOU HAVE A SPA?

Yes, we do! You can check out our facilities, spa menu, and even make a reservation here.

WHEN IS THE RESTAURANT OPEN?

Breakfast is served from 6:15 to 10:00; À la carte lunches and appetizers from 11:00 to 18:00; and dinner from 18:30 until 22:00.

DO YOU HAVE ROOM SERVICE?

We do now! To ensure health and safety for all our guests and staff, we are taking meals directly to your room, attending to your needs in the most personalized way.

DO YOU HAVE LAUNDRY SERVICE?

Yes, we do, for an additional fee.

DO YOU HAVE BATHTUBS IN THE ROOMS/SUITES?

No, we don’t. We have showers in the rooms/suites.

YACHT EXPLORATION TO THE ISLANDS

 

  • WHICH ISLANDS DO YOU VISIT WITH THE HOTEL’S YACHT?
  • WHAT’S THE LONGEST NAVIGATION WITH THE DAY TOURS?
  • CAN I SNORKEL DURING YOUR YACHT DAY TOURS?
  • DO I NEED A WETSUIT FOR SNORKELLING?
WHICH ISLANDS DO YOU VISIT WITH THE HOTEL’S YACHT?

Our yacht visits wildlife-rich North Seymour, iconic Bartolome, the wildly rugged South Plaza, and the beautiful Santa Fe.

WHAT’S THE LONGEST NAVIGATION WITH THE DAY TOURS?

The longest navigation inside the Galapagos National Park is the trip to Bartolome Island, at 2h15m. Add 45m by bus to the Itabaca Channel (where the boat is moored) to this journey time. Other islands are about 1h3m distant.

CAN I SNORKEL DURING YOUR YACHT DAY TOURS?

All our trips include time to enjoy some snorkeling – one of the highlights of any Galapagos experience – whether at the same island, or at a nearby site. Snorkel equipment (mask, snorkel, and fins) is included for free.

DO I NEED A WETSUIT FOR SNORKELLING?

We recommend using ‘shorty’ wetsuits from May to December, when the waters in Galapagos are colder and it’s more comfortable for snorkelers to remain longer in the water. A modest fee of $15 per person applies for suit usage for the duration of your stay.

GENERAL GALAPAGOS QUESTIONS

  • IS THE SUN STRONG?
  • HOW FAR IS THE GALAPAGOS FROM THE MAINLAND?
  • WHAT TIME IS IT IN GALAPAGOS?
  • WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT GALAPAGOS?
  • WHAT’S THE GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK FEE AND THE OTHER FEE?
  • WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN THE GALAPAGOS?
  • SHOULD I GO SWIMMING IN THE GALAPAGOS?
  • WHAT SHALL I PACK?
  • IS ALL OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS A NATIONAL PARK?
  • WHAT ARE THE NATIONAL PARK RULES?
  • ARE THE ANIMALS IN GALAPAGOS TAME?
  • ARE ALL OF THE ANIMALS ON GALAPAGOS GIANT LIKE THE TORTOISES?
  • WHERE DOES THE NAME GALAPAGOS COME FROM?
  • WHY ARE THE FINCHES SO IMPORTANT?
IS THE SUN STRONG?

Yes, very. Act accordingly! Make sure to wear sunscreen and a sunhat even on cloudy days.

HOW FAR IS THE GALAPAGOS FROM THE MAINLAND?

The archipelago is located 1,000 km (600 mi) from the mainland, less than 2 hours flying time from Guayaquil and an additional 55-minute flight (plus a 30–40-minute layover) if you are travelling from Quito.

WHAT TIME IS IT IN GALAPAGOS?

UCT (GMT) – 6 hours. One hour less than on the Ecuadorian mainland.

WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT GALAPAGOS?
  • Endemic species unique to the archipelago that are not afraid of humans, which means you can see them from up close. We call the most iconic ones our BIG15.
  • The islands offer virtually unchanged, pristine natural environments.
  • Great weather all year round.
  • Haunting volcanic landscapes.
  • A wonderful place to disconnect from the world!
WHAT’S THE GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK FEE AND THE OTHER FEE?

The entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park (www.galapagospark.org) is currently USD 200, and the INGALA Transit Control Card (to help regulate immigration to the islands) is USD 20 per person. These fees are subject to change.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN THE GALAPAGOS?

It’s always a good time to visit the Galapagos but there is some variation in the weather depending on the time of year. There are two distinct seasons in the islands, each of which offers its own pleasures in terms of vegetation and landscapes. Wildlife does not migrate and so is visible year-round.

The rainy, hot season is from December to June when humidity is high and average temperatures range from 26°-30° C (80s F). There may be occasional showers, but the days are generally hot and sunny.

From June to November, you can expect cool winds, occasionally bringing with them a light misty-type drizzle called “garúa”. Temperatures average 20°-24° C (70s F) during the day and lower at night.

SHOULD I GO SWIMMING IN THE GALAPAGOS?

Of course! It’s part of the second-largest Marine Reserve in the world and it’s a place where the wildlife both on land and in the water is fearless, giving you a great opportunity to discover all that lives beneath the waves. Snorkeling and swimming make up an important part of the Galapagos experience.

WHAT SHALL I PACK?

Check our detailed (and printable!) packing list to help you prepare for your trip of a lifetime with us in the Galapagos. Our boutique has you covered should you leave anything behind! Please remember that flights to Galapagos restrict checked luggage to one (1) piece that does not exceed 23 kg (50 lb). Hand luggage cannot exceed 8 kg (17 lb). So, pack light and pack smart!

IS ALL OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS A NATIONAL PARK?

Very nearly. In fact, 97% of the archipelago’s islands is designated a national park. Human settlements are concentrated on the remaining 3%. There are strict rules about visiting the areas on islands that have been designated as visitor sites by the National Park authorities. The Galapagos is also part of a huge Marine Reserve, which ranks among the largest in the world.

WHAT ARE THE NATIONAL PARK RULES?

The Galapagos National Park Service controls all visitor activities within the parks, including the vessels itineraries. Visits both within the National Park sites and the Marine Reserve, are always escorted by licensed Naturalist Guides. By following these rules, you are directly contributing to the ongoing local conservation efforts. The only footprints we want to leave are in the sand…

  • Do not stray from the trails.
  • Do not disturb any wildlife or remove any native plant or rock material.
  • Make sure you do not bring any live material to the islands – even accidentally – or from island to island. Insular ecosystems are fragile biological units.
  • Approach wildlife cautiously and always follow your Naturalists’ advice.
  • Do not feed the animals. Particular attention should be given to water bottles.
  • Do not bring food to the visitors’ sites.
  • Try not to startle and make sure not to chase any animal from its resting or nesting area.
  • There is no smoking on the islands, nor on any boat (dinghy) during your visits. The use of cellular or satellite phones is prohibited on the visitors’ sites.
  • Please do not buy any souvenirs made from native Galapagos species (except for wood).
  • Make conservation your business! Please do not hesitate to show your conservationist attitude. Become a Galapagos devotee and ask us about our protection programs that support sustainability on the islands.
ARE THE ANIMALS IN GALAPAGOS TAME?

This is not the best term to describe the animals in Galapagos, since this would imply that they had been tamed by humans, or domesticated, if you will. We prefer to say simply that they are fearless, because their ancestors never perceived humans as a threat, and so neither do they.

ARE ALL OF THE ANIMALS ON GALAPAGOS GIANT LIKE THE TORTOISES?

No, although marine iguanas can get surprisingly big! Nor are giant tortoises endemic to the Galapagos. The elephantine sub-species developed in other parts of the planet, too. In Galapagos, the interesting aspect to note is the speciation of the tortoises once they arrived on the islands, evolving in time into different species, to the extent that different islands’ species are unable to reproduce amongst themselves.

WHERE DOES THE NAME GALAPAGOS COME FROM?

From the medieval/Renaissance Spanish term for a type of saddle that was raised up at its front. The Spanish sailors who came across giant tortoises – of whom various subspecies have ‘saddle back’ shells – named them “galápago” after these saddles.

WHY ARE THE FINCHES SO IMPORTANT?

The finches on Galapagos are special because they are the bird species that inspired and illustrated Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. The work of the Grants on Daphne Major is an excellent case study of finch populations. The variations they show over a short period of time clearly proves that, as Darwin argued, “species are not immutable,” and adaptations can occur rapidly in populations in order to exploit ecological niches. There are 13 species of finch in all in Galapagos, some very similar in size and colouration: anyone who can says they can identify all of them in the wild immediately is a liar!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS

  • What is Placetopay?
  • How can I pay?
  • It is safe to enter my bank details on this website?
  • Can I make the payment any day and at any time?
  • Can I change the payment method?
  • Does paying electronically have any value to me as a buyer?
  • What should I do if my transaction was not completed?
  • What should I do if I did not receive proof of payment?
  • I didn’t get the product I bought, what do I do?
What is Placetopay?

Placetopay is the electronic payment platform that uses Finch Bay Hotel to process online the transactions generated in the virtual store with the payment methods enabled for this purpose.

How can I pay?

In the virtual store of Finch Bay Hotel you can make your transaction with the means of payment enabled for this purpose. You, according to the payment options chosen by the merchant, will be able to pay through (Define the means of payment enabled Diners, Discover, Visa and MasterCard); of all banks with current payment and with deferred payment, only the cards issued by Banco Pichincha, Diners, Loja, BGR and Manabí.

It is safe to enter my bank details on this website?

To protect your data Finch Bay Hotel delegate to Placetopay the capture of sensitive information. Our payment platform complies with the highest standards required by the international PCI DSS standard for security in credit card transactions. In addition, it has SSL security certificate issued by Geo Trust a Verisign company, which guarantees secure communications by encrypting all data to and from the site. This way, you can feel safe entering your card information.

During the payment process, the browser displays the name of the authenticated organization, the authority that certifies it and the address bar changes to green. These features are immediately visible and give guarantee and confidence to complete the transaction in Placetopay.

Placetopay also features constant monitoring from McAfee Secure and electronic message signing with Certicámara.

Placetopay is a brand of the Colombian company EGM Ingeniería Sin Fronteras S.A.S.

Can I make the payment any day and at any time?

Yes, in Finch Bay Hotel you can make your purchases online 7 days a week, 24 hours a day just a click away.

Can I change the payment method?

If you haven’t finalized your payment yet, you can go back to the initial step and choose the payment method you prefer. Once the purchase is completed, it is not possible to change the payment method.

Does paying electronically have any value to me as a buyer?

No, electronic payments made through Placetopay do not generate additional costs for the buyer.

What should I do if my transaction was not completed?

You must check if a payment confirmation email arrived in your email account (the one registered at the time of making the payment), in case you have not received it, you must contact [email protected] to confirm the status of the transaction.

If your transaction is declined, you must verify if the account information is valid, if it is enabled for non-face-to-face purchases and if you have space or available balance. If after this, you continue with the decline you should contact Finch Bay Hotel. And you can refer your application to [email protected].

What should I do if I did not receive proof of payment?

For each transaction approved through Placetopay, you will receive proof of payment with the purchase reference at the email address you provided at checkout.  If you do not receive it, you can contact the line +18443914613 or the email [email protected], to request the forwarding of the voucher to the same email address registered at the time of payment. Almost you can refer your application to [email protected].

I didn’t get the product I bought, what do I do?

You should check if the transaction was successful on your bank statement. If so, you should review our shipping policies on the website (https://www.finchbayhotel.com/) to identify delivery times.

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