Galapagos catamaran west islands vacation itinerary 8 days M/C Anahi

To ensure that no animals or plants are brought to Baltra Island's airport from Quito or Galapagos (or both), travelers must pass an airport inspection. Once you have cleared the entrance to the park, your guide will meet and greet you in the lobby. He or she will then take you on the short bus ride to Itabaca Channel. We will cross the canal by using a small boat and then board the bus for the 45 minute / 1 hour drive to Puerto Ayora.

Motorized Zodiacs, called 'Pangas', will take you to the M/C Yacht Catamaran ANAHI from the town's pier. After a refreshing drink, the crew will welcome you aboard and then you'll be taken to your cabins for lunch.

Highlands

You will be taken to Santa Cruz Island's highlands, where you will have your first experience in the Galapagos Islands. You will be taken on a pleasant walk amongst the trees, including ferns, sedges, miconias and others. You will be amazed at the large tortoises who roam free in the farm, which is their natural habitat. Tortoises are shy and will usually withdraw into their shells if they see you approaching. These beautiful animals are not meant to be touched or fed. There are many species of birds in the area, including the iconic Darwin finches and the rare Pajaro Brujo (Wizard Bird), which is known for its beautiful red coloration. You will also find a nice, simple structure that allows you to rest and purchase drinks, beer or local fruit juices. You'll then head to one the many lava tunnels in the area. Enjoy a short walk into the tunnel to see the incredible results of the powerful volcanic eruptions that occurred 5 million years ago and created the islands we now know. After this visit, we'll return to Puerto Ayora. At 7 p.m., you'll enjoy the official welcome drink and dinner. The guide will give you information about the next day's activities and general recommendations for tourists to the Galapagos islands.

Puerto Villamil

The navigation to Isabela Island will begin at Puerto Ayora at around 1 a.m. To the port of Puerto Villamil. The guide will wake you up at 6:30 AM and prepare breakfast for you at 7:30 AM.

Las Tintoreras

We begin our first visit to Las Tintoreras in the morning. It is easy to get to this spot, as visitors can land at high tide or low tide. This beautiful site is located south of Puerto Villamil. You can see sea lions, turtles, and marine iguanas in the calm waters. There are also rays and other species of Oceanside fauna. It is connected to a shallow, clear bay that closes at low tide.
This is a favorite spot for fish and sharks. The trail from this point to the next is mostly "Ah Ah" type Lava. There are two beaches: a blackstone beach and one with white sand. We will be greeted by sea lions, who are peacefully sleeping on the first beach. There are also marine iguanas nesting in this area. There are also Nolana galapageia, an endemic species that is rare in Ecuador and is found in areas not typical of the continental coast zones.
Chile and Peru are the only exceptions

The second beach is completely surrounded by white mangrove (Laguncularia Racemosa) and button mangrove (Conocarpuserecta). You will see marine iguanas under mangroves and on the rocks throughout the trail.

Las Tintoreras is a rare place where iguanas can breed successfully. This is due to the lack of non-native animals which could harm the newly born reptiles. Many parts of Las Tintoreras can be used to nest marine iguanas. When nesting season is underway, be careful when exploring the area. Tintoreras, or reef sharks here, have nocturnal feeding habits. Some individuals will remain in the crevices and marine ponds throughout the day for rest. This is why you cannot swim in the area. For lunch, we'll return to the yacht.

Sierra Negra Volcano

After visiting Tintoreras you will embark to Puerto Villamil and head up to the Sierra Negra Volcano, a large shield-type volcanic located at the south eastern end Isabela Island. It rises to 1124m. It is located between the volcanoes Cerro Azul and Alcedo to its north. It is also the most active volcano in Galapagos, with its most recent eruption occurring in October 2005.

The volcano tour starts in Puerto Villamil. After a 30-minute car ride, we arrive at the start of our 1 hour-long walk to the massive caldera's rim. This stunning view is made possible by the fact that the caldera is 7.2 x 9.3kms in size and is the second largest crater in the entire world, after the Ngorongoro in Tanzania. The recent lava flow can be seen from several points along the rim.
2005 volcanic eruption. Another 2 hours of hiking from the Sierra Negra crater's rim, you will reach Volcan Chico, an area where you can observe fumes and explore this Martian-like environment. You can also see the distant volcanoes on Isabela Island from here. This last visit is recommended only for tourists in good physical condition. It depends on the group.

Wetlands

After lunch we'll visit The Wetlands, where we can view a wide range of endemic birds. After this visit, we will spend some time in Puerto Villamil. We will then board the yacht for a well-deserved meal and rest.