El Capitan Canyon

Hotels
8.4 (47 reviews)
11560 Calle Real , Goleta , US

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Internet
Parking facilities
Restaurant facilities
Swimming pool facilities
Free WiFi
Free Parking
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Heating
Family rooms
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Accommodating, helpful staff
Excellent/gorgeous location and beach views
Pool and canyon activities
Animals on site (goats, sheep, llamas)
BBQs, firepit, large picnic tables
Family-friendly and memorable experience
Saturday night music/event atmosphere
Privacy and cozy cabins
Cons:
Cabins outdated; room and bathroom maintenance issues (tub not draining)
Perceived overpriced for cost of cabins and market items
Loft low ceilings not suitable for adults
Some cabins smaller/older than others (inconsistent room quality)
Limited in-cabin amenities (paper cups, no proper coffee maker)

Categories

Cleanliness
8
Generally no major cleanliness complaints across reviews, but one report of a bathtub that didn't drain and brought hair up from the drain indicates an isolated cleanliness/maintenance issue.
Service
9.8
Multiple comments that staff were very accommodating, warm, and helpful; service consistently noted as a strong positive throughout reviews.
Location
9.8
Several reviewers called the location excellent and gorgeous, with fantastic beach views and good access to canyon activities.
Room Quality
6.5
Repeated mentions that cabins are outdated or older, bathrooms need work (non-draining tub), high bathtub sides and low-loft ceilings limiting usability — clear negative on room condition.
Amenities
9.2
Strong amenity set cited: pool, animals (goats, sheep, llamas), canyon activities, BBQs, firepit, large picnic tables and Saturday night music — amenities are a major draw.
Value for Money
5.5
Multiple reviewers explicitly called the property overpriced (e.g., >$1k for two nights) and complained about high on-site market/pricing; value perception is notably negative.
Food and Beverage
8.6
Limited commentary on F&B beyond complaints about an overpriced Canyon Market purchase; no broader meal service complaints, so rating is adjusted upward to reflect limited information while acknowledging the market pricing issue.
Overall Experience
9.8
Overall sentiment across headlines and reviews is very positive ("Absolutely fantastic", "We had a great experience", memorable family stays) despite some specific issues; guests report memorable stays and fun activities.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-10-30 20:14

Property Description

Escape to El Capitan Canyon, a tranquil retreat nestled in Capitan. Luxurious Accommodations await you with an outdoor pool, free parking, and a delectable on-site restaurant. Experience top-notch service with free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and a helpful concierge. Wake up to a delicious à la carte breakfast before exploring the stunning surroundings with available bike and car rentals. Adventure awaits with nearby hiking and cycling options. Unwind in our non-smoking property, just a short distance from popular universities and attractions. Book now for a memorable stay at El Capitan Canyon.

Important information:

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Check-in / check-out

    Check-in from 16:00:00, check-out until 11:00:00.

  • Minimum age

    Guests must be at least 18 years old to check in.

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed; charges may apply.

  • Important information

    This property will not accommodate hen, stag or similar parties.

  • Payment

    Payment: pay at the property.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.4
Based on 47 reviews
Cleanliness: 8
Service: 9.8
Location: 9.8
Room Quality: 6.5
Amenities: 9.2
Value for Money: 5.5
Food and Beverage: 8.6
Overall Experience: 9.8
K
Kim • couple • us
8
Ended up canceling my stay there due to the fact that it was extremely hot. Only one fan and the creek was loaded with m
Pros:

I have always loved and adored this location and facility

Cons:

I think the property is rundown. It needs to be revamped. I’m not sure if it’s new ownership, but it definitely does not look like it did years ago. The cabins need to be refurbished. I understand it’s a glamping type of rustic camping, but they are very worn out. The grounds are very dead surrounding the cabins.

2026-11-02 • via Nuitee
I
Inge • family_with_children • nl
3
eerder weg gegaan omdat het verblijf erg tegen viel
Pros:

Locatie was mooi, de accommodatie erg oud.
fotomateriaal die gebruikt wordt bij bookings.com is niet realistisch en klopt niet met de werkelijkheid

Cons:

Ontzettend hoog in prijs , extreem hoog voor een houten hutje zonder luxe, bizarre prijs.

2026-10-27 • via Nuitee
D
David • extended_group • us
10
Absolutely fantastic.
Pros:

It was a great choice for our group gathering. The staff was very accommodating and helpful. The location was excellent and the beach had fantastic views.

Cons:

We had no issues.

2026-10-08 • via Nuitee
J
John • couple • us
4
Great concept but outdated and overpriced.
Pros:

It's a great concept. The location is good. The vibe is good.

Cons:

The cabins are way to old for the price. The bathroom in the cabin needs serious work. The tub didn't drain so when you took a shower the tub filled with 3" of water that brought hair up from the drain. Paper cups and no real coffee maker. This place is way over-priced.

2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
R
Re • family_with_children • us
9
Family fun place to stay with animals, pool, and places to ride your bike or hike.
Pros:

Activities in the canyon were wonderful. We enjoyed the pool and seeing the goats sheep and Llamas was a new adventure, with a very rigorous climb to the top. The Saturday night music gathering was great. Each Cabin had a barbecue and the roasting of Marsh mellows and hot dogs was a hit.

Cons:

We had a older smaller cabin compared to our family members with kids that had newer larger cabins. Bathtub had very high sides. I am the grandmother so it was more challenging. Needed more light in the kitchen. We still had a memorable three days.

2026-08-19 • via Nuitee
M
Melanie • family_with_children • us
10
It's such a beautiful, fun place to stay with friends and family!
Pros:

Gorgeous location, warm and helpful staff, cozy cabins, large picnic tables and firepit, great privacy.

Cons:

I went to the Canyon Market and bought a small propane canister, bag of marshmallows, box of graham crackers, and 1 bag ice -- I was shocked when the bill came to $47! While the loft in the Corral cabin is fantastic for kids, it wouldn't work well for adults due to low ceilings. Overall, it's pretty pricey (> $1k for 2 nights for the Corral cabin), so unfortunately we won't be able to do it very often. Otherwise we'd be back often!

2026-06-19 • via Nuitee
J
Jesus • couple • us
10
We had a great experience
Pros:

The rustic look

Cons:

Nothing we had great experience

2026-06-17 • via Nuitee
A
Andrea • couple • us
9
A lovely getaway in nature.
Pros:

We had a nice cabin near the creek. Location was quiet and the soaking tub was great!

Cons:

The WiFi signal was a bit weak.

2026-04-12 • via Nuitee
C
Claudia • family_with_children • us
10
Es agranable, acogedor y convives con la naturaleza, con lo que Dios a creado, excelente 👍
Pros:

Todo

2026-04-05 • via Nuitee
M
Mohammad • couple • us
10
2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
L
L • couple • us
1
2026-01-20 • via Nuitee
A
Alejandra • solo_traveller • us
9
Thank you so much a a quiet, welcoming and lovely stay.
Pros:

Quiet, clean and easy to explore. Thank you!

Cons:

NA/ currently access to the beach was under construction so we couldn’t go to beach as easily expected from the initial site review but we understand.

2026-01-16 • via Nuitee
M
Martin • family_with_children • ar
5
hermoso entorno pero muy venida a bajo las habitaciones
Pros:

el entorno. Es espectacular. muy lindo, sobre la ladera de la montana y se puede ver el mar

Cons:

la cabana que me toco estaba muy venida abajo (la 102), detalles serios de falta de mantenimiento, etc.
no daba sensación de limpieza y estaba lleno de hormigas

2026-01-10 • via Nuitee
R
Rocio M • extended_group • us
9
2026-01-05 • via Nuitee
I
isabella • extended_group • us
8
Pros:

we dont eat breakfast there at the market. but i like the set up very close to nature

Cons:

they dont alllow dogs. that place is ok with dogs 🐕 i rhink.

2026-01-04 • via Nuitee
J
Jennifer • extended_group • us
10
Pros:

Location and all the amenities included.

Cons:

We needed an additional mirror, other than the one in the bathroom.

2025-12-09 • via Nuitee
A
Angelos • family_with_children • us
1
Don't get fooled! Definitely Not Luxury/glamping. Zero Services, Very Outdated & Super Expensive
Pros:

The location was the only good think about it although the facility overall wasn't well maintained.

Cons:

The overall experience was horrible, and I feel completely scammed for paying over $400/night for getting zero services, unlike the “4-star” hotel advertisement on Bookings. Here’s why:
1. El Capital was listed as 4 stars, but in reality it isn’t even 2. A cheap roadside motel would’ve been far better.
2. The photos of clean bathrooms and bathtubs didn’t match what we got. We walked into what felt like a century-old, unmaintained shed with flimsy fake-wood walls. Calling this a “King Suite” is very deceptive.
3. The “King Suite” description on Booking.com was inaccurate. There was no telephone, coffee maker, or several other listed amenities. There was only a microwave, a water kettle, and a small fridge, but all the basics were missing (hair dryer, TV, dishes, utensils, stove, or coffee maker). Nothing about this resembled “luxury” or “glamping,” since you had to bring EVERYTHING like regular camping. Compared to real glamping providers, this wouldn’t qualify even by 1920s standards.
4. The Wi-Fi barely worked, yet you had to pay a $15/day “resort fee.”
5. Housekeeping was essentially nonexistent. On day two, someone handed us towels late in the evening and left. No cleaning. We even ran out of toilet paper and paper towels.
6. There was no room service and no acceptable food options anywhere on the property.
7. The BBQ grill was rusted, broken, filthy, and had a giant hole in the center, making it completely unusable.
8. The bathroom looked like it belonged to another century—no vanity, weak water flow, and just one bar of soap for four people over three days.

Clearly the management does not care to provide any real services—they just want a quick buck.

2025-12-07 • via Nuitee
B
Baiyu • couple • us
10
2025-09-29 • via Nuitee
J
John • couple • us
9
It was a great stay location
Pros:

Remote feeling, nestled in the woods, nice accommodations.

Cons:

Roads need work, lots of potholes. Weak internet.

2025-09-15 • via Nuitee
P
Philip • family_with_children • gb
8
2025-09-05 • via Nuitee