Darwin's Legacy

World-famous imagery of tortoises, sea lions, birds and iguanas, have been streaming at us for decades. Tourism arrivals are now over 215,000 annually and with 97% of land mass deemed a National Park, the Galápagos is one of the most carefully managed ecosystems on the planet.

- Solomon Baksh

AFTER AN EXCITING WEEK of diving around the Galápagos Islands and seeing the unique and diverse animals underwater, Wayne B. Brown (CEO and owner of Aggressor Fleet) and I, were ready to do some land exploration. Our host for the next few days was Pikaia Lodge. Located 1,500 feet above sea level on 31 hectares of land, this palatial resort, sits on the rim of two extinct volcanoes, on the island of Santa Cruz.

There are 14 rooms of spectacular opulence. The high-ceiling rooms, together with the strong southeast trade winds eliminate the need for air-conditioning, though each room comes with one. They all have panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows with access to private shaded balconies and breathtaking unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape.

There is a spa, infinity pool, an enormous lounge with a 3-D TV, with full entertainment system. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the Evolution Restaurant. The two chefs create epicurean feasts daily, inspired by a unique fusion of Peruvian and Ecuadorian cuisine.

There is no other resort quite like it on the island. It is ecofriendly with more than a third of its power supplied by solar panels and wind turbine. Water is a precious commodity on this island so all of the rooms have a steeply angled roof that is designed to catch rainwater, which is stored in massive tanks.