I recently stayed for several nights at Iguana Mar Y Sol. While the building is nice enough, I was unhappy with several aspects of the stay. First and foremost, Luis Mendoza, who lives on the first floor, has basically taken over the common space for himself, and was both uninterested in having us use the space, and unhelpful in assisting us explore for other options. While he went through the motions of making breakfasts in the morning, this seemed like more of a chore than a pleasure, and overall he was consistently unwelcoming. Other issues: (i) hot water was not consistently available for showers, and (ii) the hotel is located near a rental party venue - I mean VERY near - and it was used for a holiday party one night during our stay. This resulted in loud music until 5:00 a.m. - I thought I was back in my college dorms, trying to sleep with a pillow over my head. Luis was his regular uninterested and unsympathetic self when I reported this the next morning - he apparently slept well on the first floor, given that it has windows that close (the guest rooms do not). Overall, I would give this place a pass - I think travelers can find better in the charming town of San Cristobal.

I recently had the pleasure of staying with 3 friends at Casa Iguana Mar y Sol on San Cristobal in Galapagos Islands. Luis Mendoza was our primary host for the 7 nights stay and we learned that he built the house which has very intricate wood workings and decor. Luis also prepared very tasty breakfasts for us every morning complete with Galapagos Coffee, fresh juices and fruits, omelletes, pancakes, and french toast. Our goal on this trip was to relax, surf, and dive and having a home base at Casa Iguana Mar y Sol was truly awesome. It is in a great location up on a small hill with sweeping views of the town and bay and is perfect for evening cocktails and sunset viewing. Great hospitality, clean and comfortable accomodations, and views from every level.

We loved the location of this hotel which was near the water and close the to center of town. However, be warned that recently, a carpentry shop opened up and the noise from the saw during the day definitely detracted from the experience. Breakfast by Luis, was wonderful though.

I stayed here for 3 nights with my husband and 3 young children (ages 10,8,4) during a week long land-based trip around the Galapagos. San Cristobal was our favorite island and Casa Iguana was our favorite hotel. It was absolutely beautiful - hand built by Luis and Patricia with incredible care and detail. The view was amazing from the rooftop patio and we awoke in the morning to sounds of sea lions barking on Playa Mann. It was an easy walk to the beach, to down town, and really just about anywhere else we wanted to go. If you don't want to walk, take a cab anywhere for $1 (I think the airport costs $2). On top of the beauty and splendor of the island and the hotel itself, Luis and Pat were incredible hosts. They let us cook pasta on their stove in the main kitchen and eat around the bar with the kids, they gave us great travel advice on site as needed, they literally changed the configuration of the room we stayed in taking out a couch and adding an additional bed to accommodate our family. They were kind, fun, and flexible. Luis loved and played with our kids and they cried when they left him. Staying at the Casa Iguana was truly an incredible experience.