Hilton has signed a franchise agreement with Serinatura SA to welcome the Curio Collection by Hilton brand to the Galapagos island of Santa Cruz with the conversion of the Royal Palm Galapagos Hotel.

The renowned 21-room boutique estate will remain owned and operated by its current management company, led by Diego Andrade Murtinho, while joining Curio Collection by Hilton, and will maintain the property’s storied commitment to sustainable, responsible travel.

With an anticipated conversion in July 2022, Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection by Hilton will represent the first international hotel brand name with a presence in the destination and will adhere to Hilton’s global environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy known as Travel with Purpose.

The existing Royal Palm Galapagos hotel immerses guests in the natural environment of Santa Cruz, which is one of the most important islands in the archipelagos and home to Tortuga Bay, the Charles Darwin Research Station and a port for ecologically responsible cruising.

Secluded on a 160-hectare estate in the lush Miconia Highlands Forests adjacent to the Galapagos National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the hotel is sheltered within a valley between two extinct cinder cone volcanoes and features nine areas of geological interest from craters to lava tunnels.

Sustainability is at the heart of the hotel’s ethos and woven into its operations as well as its engagement with guests and the community. It is the only hotel with a Miconia and Escalesia Reforestation Program and a Rain Harvesting program.

“The signing of Royal Palm Galapagos marks a momentous milestone for Hilton, our Caribbean and Latin America portfolio and the brand, as we welcome the sustainability-focused property to our growing Curio Collection of more than 115 one-of-a-kind hand-picked hotels and resorts around the world,” said Juan Corvinos, senior vice-president, development, architecture and design, Caribbean and Latin America, Hilton.

The boutique hotel has 21 casitas and villas and a pool, spa and fitness center. It also features the only fine dining restaurant located inside a cavern within one of the property’s lava tunnels. This once-in-a-lifetime experience gives guests a glimpse of the forces that created the archipelago, while they enjoy a tasting menu inspired by local culture and ingredients.

The Royal Palm Galapagos is currently undergoing a renovation that includes a refresh of the lobby, spa, guest rooms and dining. The renovation will complement and reinforce the hotel’s existing sustainable architecture and design, with a continued focus on local sourcing, as well as environmental programs including a water reduction system that allows the reuse of rainwater and recycles almost 90% of its residues, a Plant-a-Tree Program and an on-site produce farm utilized by the restaurants.

The Hilton Effect Foundation, the company’s global philanthropic arm that seeks to advance Hilton’s Travel with Purpose goals, has been engaged in projects across the region, including partnering with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy to protect native Ecuador fish species and Galapagos Conservancy to feed and protect the critically endangered Floreana Giant Tortoise.