Ikala is one of the newer hotels in Puerto Ayora, opened in 2017, and it has built a strong reputation for tidy rooms, helpful staff and a well-judged location. It stands a couple of minutes' walk from Academy Bay, the Malecón and the ferry terminal, so the day-trip boats, the harbour restaurants and the water taxis are all close, and it is within about a kilometre or two of Playa de los Alemanes and the Charles Darwin Research Station. The hotel has three buildings of up to three floors, without a lift, around a garden and an outdoor pool with a poolside bar. A rooftop terrace gives a place to sit in the evening, and the on-site restaurant, Ikala La Terraza, serves meals alongside the free buffet breakfast, which runs for a few hours each morning. Rooms are air-conditioned and come with a safe, a refrigerator, a smart television and a rainfall shower, and the choices are standard doubles or twins and larger superior rooms that sleep three. Its guest rating is among the highest in town, from well over a hundred reviews, which reflects consistent service and cleanliness. It suits couples, small families and independent travellers who want comfort at a mid-range level without the isolation of a resort across the bay.
Location and getting around
Because the hotel is two minutes from the Malecón and the ferry terminal, early boat departures are easy, and you can walk to the fishing piers, Las Ninfas Lagoon and most restaurants. The Darwin Station and Playa de los Alemanes are an easy walk or a short taxi ride, and Tortuga Bay is reachable by taxi to the trailhead. Baltra airport is about an eighty-minute drive and ferry journey away, and the hotel offers an airport shuttle on request, for a per-person charge, so ask about it when you book.
Rooms and facilities
The rooms are bright and practical rather than lavish, with good beds and reliable air conditioning, and the superior rooms add space for a third guest. Other facilities include bicycle rental, laundry, luggage storage, a 24-hour front desk, a business centre and free wifi in rooms and some public areas.
There is a playground, which helps if you travel with children, and a rollaway bed can be added for a daily fee. There is no on-site parking, which rarely matters in a town where most visitors do not drive. Children up to a certain age stay free in existing beds with a parent.
Good to know
Check-in runs from the afternoon until midnight and check-out is in the morning, so plan flights and transfers around those hours. Ecuador value-added tax is payable at the property, with an exemption for qualifying non-resident tourists, and payment is accepted by card or cash. Smoking and pets are not allowed. Book early for June to August and the December holidays, when Puerto Ayora has relatively few rooms and demand is strong.
Why stay here
- ✓Outdoor pool with poolside bar
- ✓Free buffet breakfast
- ✓Restaurant and rooftop terrace
- ✓Free WiFi in rooms
- ✓Air conditioning and in-room safe
- ✓Bicycle rentals
- ✓Airport shuttle on request
- ✓24-hour front desk
Good questions
How close is Ikala to the boats and the waterfront?+
It is about a two-minute walk from Academy Bay, the Malecón and the ferry terminal, so early departures and harbour dinners are easy.
Is breakfast included?+
Yes, the hotel offers a free buffet breakfast each morning, served over a few hours. Check the current hours when you book.
Does the hotel arrange airport transfers?+
An airport shuttle is available on request for a per-person charge. Confirm the price and timing with the hotel before you fly.
