Hotel la Laguna Galapagos

Lovely location overlooking the flamingo lagoon, with nice glass and patio. Hotel is modern and attractive - didn’t have breakfast since we had to leave too early. Close to everything, but the town is very small. Easy walk to beach. Comfortable beds, and adequate airconditioning.

I had actually booked Hostal Villamil but when I arrived to Puerto Villamil at the ferry port I was told that I had been upgraded to here. It seems like I lucked out as this was such a lovely hotel. The 2 guys that work at reception were very helpful and friendly and always gave a warm welcome. It is also possible to book trips through reception. The room was very clean and comfortable. The hotel has a nice roof terrace which is lovely to sit on and plenty of seating at the front of the hotel. It is situated opposite the lagoon where you can see flamingoes which is a nice start to every day. The beach is a one minute walk away and gives direct access into the sea. Puerto Villamil is a very small town so all accommodation is central. I would definitely stay here again if I visit Isabela.

A friend and I stayed at the La Laguna for 3 nights and stayed in a Superior Twin Room. The room itself was a bare-bones accommodation - 3 twin beds, an air-conditioner and a bathroom. There was no TV, but there was a wall-mount for a TV and a TV remote, as if the TV had been recently removed. We weren't there to watch TV, so no big deal, but it was a little weird. We swam or snorkeled everyday while on Isabela, so we had wet clothes everyday, but there was nowhere in or outside the room to hang wet gear to dry. (Bring your own portable clothesline.) The woman at the front desk helped us to book two excursions, which was helpful, but could not help us in recommending a place to eat - it was as if she had no idea what options were available closeby, which left us shaking our heads a bit. The breakfast was the worst we experienced in our over two week stay in the Galapagos, and was only served from 7:00 to 8:30. If you arrived later than about 7:45, you were forced to pick through the dregs of what was left. The sliced bread had already begun to harden and the fruit was of the overly-ripe variety. There were scrambled eggs, but they were undercooked and very 'wet'. I settled for a piece of toast, and a borderline banana each morning. The most interesting things happened upon and after checkout. I had booked on *******, and when we checked out, the woman at the front desk asked for payment. I told her I thought it was handled through *******, and she replied that ******* takes the reservation and I still had to make payment. She followed with saying that if I left a 5/5 star review, we could have the room for free. Wanting to save a few bucks, I agreed, and wrote and accurate review. Later, when I checked my account, I found that I HAD been charged by ******* for the room - and that the charge was posted the day PRIOR to our check-in. It would seem that La Laguna would have known this prior to our checkout, making it seem that much more sketchy. The topper on the visit was when I returned home, to find two invoices in my email from their 'sister' hotel, San Vicente, for 3 nights stays in their 'Matrimonial Suite', which of course we never booked. The invoices had my name, email and passport number. The only place on Isabela that I gave that information out was when I wrote it down on the sign-in sheet at the La Laguna. I notified both the La Laguna and the San Vicente of this situation, and received no reply from either. Beware, La Laguna was not a reputable establishment in my opinion, and they way they dealt with payment and personal information was incompetent at best. I don't trust them. No way we'll stay there again.