Redmangrove

Red Mangrove Isabela Lodge is situated on a tiny alleyway that’s easy to miss from the main road if you’re not carefully looking for it. A red stucco half-wall and a white fence conceal the property from the street, but an elevated wood deck leads to guest rooms and the hotel’s lobby. The lobby is a multi-purpose space that functions as a restaurant, reception area, and communal Wi-Fi gathering place. Red poured concrete floors, wood-paneled walls, and lacy curtains combine to create an incongruous but cheerful and sunny spot with views of the beach. Not much goes on during the day at Red Mangrove. Many guests spend their days off-property exploring the island, and only return in the evenings to relax. The atmosphere is quiet and laid-back, much like the island of Isabela itself.  

Red Mangrove Isabela Lodge, along with sister property Red Mangrove Aventura Lodge on Santa Cruz (a much nicer property), offers all-inclusive packages for land-based Galapagos tours. Packages include all meals (no alcohol), and all pre-booked tours and excursions. The majority of guests at both Red Mangrove properties are all-inclusive travelers, and range from families with children to young couples to middle-aged friend groups. However, many guests complain about the quality of tours and guides booked through the hotel. All-inclusive meal plans also tend to be repetitive and overpriced for the food quality.  

Red Mangrove is located on the eastern edge of Puerto Villamil, the tiny port town on the island of Isabela. The hotel’s beachfront location is just a five-minute walk from downtown, but feels quiet and secluded.  

Isabela is a can’t-miss destination for many Galapagos travelers. Geographically, it’s the largest island in the archipelago, but with only 2,200 residents, it has one of the smallest populations of the inhabited islands. The volcanic island is a geologic wonder and has some of the world’s most diverse flora and fauna. Top attractions include La Concha de Perla, Urbina Bay, and Volcan Alcedo. But perhaps one of the most charming aspects of visiting Isabela is Puerto Villamil itself. The tiny town, with its sandy streets, humble restaurants, and friendly locals, has a utopian sort of feel. It’s the kind of place where couples dance in the streets, kids run through town with abandon, and old men nap on park benches in the afternoon sunlight. It’s a place where Friday night excitement consists of watching a pick-up game at the local soccer field and Monday morning traffic means getting off your bicycle to let an iguana cross the road. It’s simple. It’s relaxed. And it feels like taking a step back in time. 

It should be noted that there are no banks, ATMs, or money conversion services anywhere on Isabela. While most hotels accept major credit cards, many restaurants and local shops only accept cash. Ecuador’s currency is the U.S. Dollar.

Rooms at Red Mangrove are disappointing. Their forgettable decor and lack of amenities is almost shocking for this category of hotel. The room we visited at Red Mangrove has bland white walls and tile floors, a drop ceiling, and beds without headboards. A few decorative pieces were hang on the otherwise bare walls, and a fuzzy white rug desperately tries to add a little excitement in the middle of the room. Besides the beds and the simple wood nightstands next to them, a built-in armoire is the only other piece of furniture in the room. There are no TVs or mini-fridges in any guest rooms, but all are equipped with air-conditioning and small safety deposit boxes. 

Bathrooms are marginally nicer than their bedroom counterparts, with beige tile work, polished wood counters, and white vessel sinks. Bathrooms have curtain-enclosed shower stalls but no tubs. It’s not advisable to drink the tap water anywhere in the Galapagos, so Red Mangrove provides guests pitchers of purified water in every bathroom. This water should be used for drinking and teeth brushing. 

One major flaw found in rooms at Red Mangrove are their sliding glass doors. The huge doors take up the entire entry wall and let in tons of light during the day. The problem? The doors are the rooms’ only source of natural light, but they don’t allow for much privacy. If guests don’t want others looking into their room, they’ll have to draw the curtains and essentially cut off their light source. The scarcity of lamps and light fixtures within the rooms only enhances the problem. 

Red Mangrove’s beautiful beachfront is likely its best feature. Like all beaches in the Galapagos, the one in front of Red Mangrove is public, so the hotel cannot set up lounge chairs or offer private access for guests. Nevertheless, the large, crescent beach is typically quiet and uncrowded. The water can be rough from time to time, so swim at your own risk. For sunbathers, Red Mangrove has a beautiful beachfront sundeck with lounge chairs and a shaded pergola.

All room rates include free daily breakfast, but guests with all-inclusive plans also receive lunch and dinner. Breakfast is served in the multi-purpose lobby/restaurant space, and typically includes continental fare like toast, cereal, yogurt, and fruit. Guests arriving after the first 15 minutes of service will likely be disappointed — and hungry. Most of the buffet is wiped clean by the buffet’s earliest patrons, and the staff never seems too eager to replace anything that’s run out. The all-inclusive lunch and dinner buffets are equally humdrum. Many guests complain that the food is mediocre and lacks creativity and diversity. 

Wi-Fi is free for all guests, but is only available in the restaurant/lobby communal space. It’s slow and spotty, but this is common in the Galapagos, especially on Isabela.