Santa Cruz Gardens

Santa Cruz Gardens is a subdivision comprising 61 homesites of approximately 8.000 square feet each, in 17 plus acres of natural land.
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Santa Cruz Gardens is located in Santa Cruz Island, the second largest island in the archipelago with approximately 800 square kilometers. Santa Cruz Island is the tourist hub of the Galapagos and thus is better served than the other inhabited islands in the Archipelago.

Santa Cruz Gardens lies some five to seven minutes inland from Puerto Ayora and Academy Bay. The road distance should be about 4 miles from the Puerto Ayora and the coast.

The Santa Cruz Gardens site is a nice place in itself. However, just minutes from Santa Cruz Gardens you can be in really interesting sites, such as cozy Puerto Ayora, or the lush highlands, or world class lava tunnels, or white sand beaches with beautiful waters.
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Santa Cruz Gardens must not be thought of as a typical gated community. It is a sensible development where we offer:

An access road throughout the site leading to the communal areas and passing by each individual lot. This road is made of a hard packed clayish material that is very noble, and used extensively in the inner roads of Santa Cruz Island. Please remember that there will be very light motorized traffic in Santa Cruz Island to begin with.
An administrator’s house
Landscaping in the entrance and communal areas
Public lighting
Nature interpretation signs and other signs
Children’s playground
Communal house and pool with BBQ
Paths and rest areas
Sewerage treatment plants
Tubed water from the main grid
Electricity to each homesite (although we’ll require that houses have solar energy). Power from the grid is as back-up.
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Ecuadorians and foreigners alike can own land in the Galapagos. When the Galapagos National Park was created in 1959 an area consisting of 3% of the territory of the Galapagos was set aside as private. It is in this private area that land may be owned.

Although this private area is not part of the Galapagos National Park, it is an integral part of the ecosystem so utmost care has to be exercised on all activities in this area.

The Galapagos Special Law provides that non-residents of the Galapagos may invest in the Galapagos (i.e. buy land) provided they partner with a Galapagos permanent resident. Santa Cruz Gardens has established the legal structure for compliance with this provision.
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We believe that easygoingness is a much desired and needed value for Santa Cruz Gardens. We can’t take the Galapagos for granted and loose sight that through Santa Cruz Gardens we are being given the opportunity to own land in such a remarkable place.

This, because the Galapagos may require from time to time that we adjust and compromise.

For example, some things that we take for granted most elsewhere can be a challenge in the Galapagos so we need to have a good, kind and positive attitude never loosing sight that this is a minor tradeoff for such a good opportunity.
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There are different nationalities represented: Ecuador, Canada, USA, Germany, England, New Zealand. But more importantly, I can give faith that the lot owners in Santa Cruz Gardens are really nice, sensible people.
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Santa Cruz Gardens will not require construction of houses in the lots in any given timeframe. People may choose to hold a lot in the Galapagos for romantic reasons and people who wish to construct may do so. In any case, we’d prefer if you construct in the project within three years of your purchase.
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While there's no obligation to build in Santa Cruz Gardens, for those who would like a vacation home in such as special place we will offer two main house options. We are finalizing or research to determine the best and most efficient construction techniques which are also compatible with the Galapagos. Once we have this research duly advanced, we'll be able to know the time to construct involved and we will contact all the persons interested to share the information as well as the different options.

The houses will likely range from 1.500 square feet to 2.500 per square feet. Expect to pay approximately $95 per square feet for a nicely finished house. <back>

All houses to be built in Santa Cruz Gardens will have to abide by local regulations and, especially with conservation guidelines. We will coordinate this with each interested party. Santa Cruz Gardens will require that houses be only one story in height and be between 1.500 square feet and 2.500 in size.

The design of the house will need to be in tune with the natural surroundings and occupy space sensibly within the lot. We will be portraying the designs and sharing the specs in a short time.

No trees should be cut down unless indispensable for construction or access purposes.
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There are no oceanfront lots as Santa Cruz Gardens is located a few minutes inland. It’s possible that some lots may enjoy, from certain vantage points, a restricted ocean view. In any case, Santa Cruz Gardens has abundant natural vegetation which will for the most preclude any ocean views.

It’s important to mention that while Santa Cruz Gardens will be a nice, tranquil place to spend time in, the focus should most of all be had in how special the Galapagos are in general, how beautiful Santa Cruz Island is and in the many sites and places to visit and spend time in which are so accessible from Santa Cruz Gardens.
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Fresh water is in very short supply in the Galapagos, and hence major efforts should be had to ensure its efficient use. Water will be available in Santa Cruz through underground tubing. Also, water trucks are available on call. Each house shall have a cistern. Bottled water can also be called in for drinking and cooking. The administrator will take care of this as needed.
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There is electrical service up to the entrance of Santa Cruz Gardens. Efficient use of electricity is also a must. We are planning on routing underground electrical service to each lot. Nonetheless, all houses in Santa Cruz Gardens will use solar power as the main energy source.

As a matter of fact, it is very likely that Santa Cruz Gardens will be the first project in Ecuador that will sell or provide clean energy back to the main grid.
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Telephone, cell phone and internet service are available in Santa Cruz Island, predominantly in Puerto Ayora. However, as the supply is limited, there will be no telephone service to the lots in Santa Cruz Gardens. While it’s eventually possible that the service can be obtained, we should not count too much on this.

Nonetheless, we expect to have wireless internet in Santa Cruz Gardens as well as cell-phones for those who want them.
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Puerto Ayora, which is a cozy little port town with restaurants, bars, discos, tour operators, galleries, banks, stores, etc, lies a few minutes away by car from Santa Cruz Gardens (5 to 7 minutes). It is also easily accessible by bicycle from Santa Cruz Gardens.

Bicycles are one of the most prevalent means of transportation in the Galapagos and its use is encouraged as it is sensitive to the environment. Its great fun too!
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Puerto Ayora has many services and conveniences that, while at times relatively limited and basic, are nonetheless remarkable for such a paradisiacal and well-preserved natural place as the Galapagos.

There is an airport some 30 minutes travel distance from Puerto Ayora (25 from Santa Cruz Gardens) which receives twice daily flights in brand new Airbus A320 airliners.

There is basic medical care and a hyperbaric chamber for divers. There are a couple of local banks which can receive money transfers. There’s an ATM. There’s Western Union and DHL. There are mini markets and diverse stores. There’s a post office too.

There are restaurants, bars, discos, tour operators and galleries. There are tour operators and tourist services.

There is, of course, the world renowned Charles Darwin Research Station which offers a wealth of information on the islands and on conservation efforts.

There are buses and cabs available. There’s also water taxis and bicycle and kayak rental.
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Cars are allowed into the Galapagos but with a series of restrictions and after due process. The bringing in of cars to Santa Cruz by SCG participants, even though requirements may be met, is not at all encouraged. There is transportation available in Santa Cruz Island.

We are studying the feasibility of bringing in a couple of electric cars (GemCars) for six people each to do the rounds in Santa Cruz Gardens and from there to other sites.
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Transportation is available in Santa Cruz Island. There are nicely appointed buses that go between Puerto Ayora and the Itabaca Canal at the other extreme of the island. It’s a 25 minute ride.

There are taxis (fairly new white double bed trucks) that do the same route and that can take you within Puerto Ayora and to several visit sites in the island. Bicycles are available for rent too.

Getting to some visit sites requires some good walking. For example, its 25 minutes to Tortuga Bay (a beach), 15 minutes to Garrapatero (a beach), etc.

Getting to these marvelous places is part of the adventure and certainly a lot of fun.

There are water taxis available that cross Academy Bay and take you to some interesting places.

All cabs have radio and cell phone service and can be called in easily. They can be called-in by the administrator in Santa Cruz Gardens to pick you up.
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Non residents of the Galapagos (foreigners and Ecuadorians alike) may stay in the Galapagos for up to 90 days in a year.
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Participants in Santa Cruz Gardens must commit not to migrate to the Galapagos. Migration puts a burden on the Galapagos that we wish to avoid.

If the Galapagos have been able to keep to this day a remarkable 95% of the plant and animal species that ever existed on them it is in great part due to its very low (in relative terms) population density and, most of all, because they happen to be the last important island mass to be occupied by man at a late stage in human history.

As migration to the Galapagos adds strain to its environment, our idea is that lot owners, their friends and guests may visit Santa Cruz Island more as tourists would do, and in-doing-so-sensibly have a minimum impact on its environment, while at the same time contributing to the local economy.

There is a report from the Charles Darwin Research Station that shows that tourism has had negligible impact on the Galapagos ecosystem. There can be direct and indirect impacts nonetheless, so care must be exercised.

Out of all possible economic activities in the Galapagos it is perhaps tourism the one which has the least impact on the environment (there can be indirect impacts though, so carefulness is needed; for example, the introduction of species, the demand for more services and resources, etc.). A tourism oriented economy could help bring in residents of the Galapagos into this activity, away from others which are less friendly (to put it someway) to the environment.
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The maintenance fee has been set at $150 per lot per month, payable 6 months in advance. The Lot Owners Association may change this fee if needed.
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No, we can represent you in the purchase so the deed gets issued and registered to your name or that of the trust or corporation you tell us about.
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The approximate cost for the issuance of the respective deed, the payment of transfer taxes, and its registration is $500. This cost includes notary’s fees, registrar’s fees, transfer taxes, a legal services and coordination fee, etc.
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There are several ways in which one can contribute to conservation efforts. Among others by:

Strictly abiding by the rules of the Galapagos National Park.
Acquiring knowledge about the natural importance of the Galapagos and its prevalent problems and becoming outspoken for conservation
In any activity related to the Galapagos trying to make sure that it does not carry the risk of direct or indirect impacts, or minimizing them the most
Supporting specific conservation programs
Educating others, even in the Galapagos themselves, about conservation issues and pointing out when somebody breaks the rules

The website will soon provide links and information on specific conservation programs and issues you can support or participate in.
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The entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park is of $100 per person (adults and children alike). This fee is paid at the airport filters in the Galapagos and helps in great part to fund conservation programs.

Once inside the National Park and or the private areas the entrance to the different visitor’s sites, including the exhibits at the Charles Darwin Research Station, do not carry any added cost.

There are some nice places to visit in the private areas of the island (giant turtle roaming grounds, lava tunnels, etc), that may require a small contribution to the owner.
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We are interested in your Santa Cruz garden development… would it be a good idea to go see them before we make a decision? Would it be possible to see photos of the lots?

If you ask me, I would feel better if you visited Santa Cruz Island and the Santa Cruz Gardens site before your purchase.

The problem I see is that lots are going at a fast rate right now and I may not be able to hold on to the ones you may reserve for too long.

I believe the most important focus should be had on several issues different from the Santa Cruz Gardens site itself (which I believe to be quite nice in any case).

The idea is about the privilege of owning land in the Galapagos, in an island which is a showcase of the best of what the archipelago has to offer, with so many nice places, conveniences and attractions nearby; in a place which has been deemed the Mecca for nature-lovers and quite possibly one of the most sophisticated tourist destinations.

Please view the PICTURES link in the website, which shows places which are relatively near Santa Cruz Gardens.