Anahi 12 Days - Itinerary D

Upon arrival to the airport in Baltra you will be transferred to Anahi Yacht at the bay. After lunch, you will be transferred to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, up to a private farm, where giant tortoises roam freely. You will also visit one of the many lava tunnels existing in the area. At the end of the day head back to the yacht for dinner and rest.

Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/anahi-12-days-d

In the morning we will begin our first visit to the islets known as Las Tintoreras, located south of Puerto Villamil. This area has a small bay of calm turquoise water, where we can observe sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, stingrays, and many more aquatic species. Next, we will walk along a path and explore two different beaches. The first beach that we will encounter is a popular place for sea lions and marine iguanas that nest in the area, while the second beach is surrounded by button mangroves (Conocarpus erecta) and white mangroves (Laguncularia racemosa). After the visit to "Las Tintoreras", we will disembark to Puerto Villamil to head to the Sierra Negra Volcano, found in the highlands of the island, as it rises to an altitude of 1124m. It is located between the Cerro Azul volcano to the west, and the Alcedo volcano to the north. Furthermore, it is one of the most active volcanoes of the Galápagos, with the latest eruption occurring in June 2018. After lunch, during the afternoon, we will visit the wetlands known as “Los Humedales”, where we will be able to see a wide variety of wetland birds with majority of them being endemic to the island. After our visit, we will have some free time in the small town of Puerto Villamil. At the end of the day we will board the yacht for dinner and a well-deserved rest.

Early in the morning visit Moreno Point in the north coast of Isabela, between volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, through a trail of solidified lava until a coastal lagoon where you will see several species of birds. During the afternoon you will go to Elizabeth Bay, the excursion has no landing point. You will visit the Marielas islets, and see the most important penguin colony and a cove that is surrounded by red mangroves where you will observe sea turtles, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, brown pelicans and sea lions. End of the day and dinner.

Early in the morning the yacht will take you to Urbina Bay, one of the recent examples of geological uplift in the Galapagos, specifically to the base of Alcedo Volcano, where you will see land iguanas, giant Galapagos turtles, and marine iguanas. During the afternoon head to Tagus Cove in the west coast of Isabela Island, to see the Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorant and other seabirds. Then go to a hike along the trail to the top of the cliff where you can view Darwin Lake and uplifted lake, and catch a glimpse of Darwin and Wolf Volcanoes.

Early in the morning, visit Espinoza point in Fernandina Island, that is one of the youngest and most active volcano in the Galapagos, and where you will see large groups of marine iguanas, sea lions and flightless cormorants. After lunch, you will head to Vicente Roca Point, remains of an ancient volcano lay here, and you can also see blue footed boobies, flightless cormorants and fur sea lions.

Early in the morning, you will visit Puerto Egas, a beach located at the west side of Santiago Island, its main attractive is the black sand beach. After lunch you will go to Rabida Island, its main attractive is the red color of the rocks and sand, due to the volcanic material that lies there. A short walk along a trail will lead you to a coastal lagoon behind the beach, where you will observe finches, doves and mockingbirds, and also a colony of flamingos.

Early in the morning you will visit  Chinese Hat a volcanic cone, that forms an islet of the rocky coast of Santiago and where a small colony of Galapagos penguins have settled. You will also see Galapagos sea lions, and marine iguanas are also present in this place. You can also practice deep water snorkeling. During the afternoon, you will head to the volcano islet of Bartolome, which offers some of the greatest landscapes and panoramas of the entire Archipelago. You will have to climb the stairs to the view on top of the island called Pinnacle Bay to take amazing pictures and admire the view.  After lunch, In the late afternoon, return to the catamaran and dinner.

Early navigation to North Seymour Island, where you will walk through a trail and see colonies of Blue Footed Boobies and Frigate birds. After lunch service on the yacht, head to Bachas Beach, where a delightful swimming beach waits for you, with a lagoon behind where you can watch native wildlife and is also a nesting area for green sea turtle form November to February. After this activity head back to the catamaran for dinner service.

After breakfast, head to Genovesa Island also known as Tower Island, where you begin with a hike to to the top and enjoy a panoramic view of Genovesa Island. After lunch, you will go to Darwin Bay that is a caldera of a collapsed volcano. Walk along a coral sand beach, crossing barren lava formation and creeks where there are some species like swallow tailed gulls and red – footed boobies . Finally visit Prince Philips steps, one of the best nesting sites on the island. You can also practice snorkeling or kayaking.

After breakfast, head to South Plaza, where you will see one of the largest populations of Land Iguanas in Galapagos. You will also spot Marine Iguanas and hybrids of both species. Lunch service onboard and then you will continue to Santa Fe, that begins with a dinghy boat ride across the turquoise lagoon and once in the shore you will spot one of the many sea lion colonies in Galapagos. This place is also home to Galapagos Hawks and endemic Land Iguanas, one of the largest in all the archipelago.

First activity in the morning will be a visit to San Cristobal Island, specifically Pitt Point, that offers an impressive view after climbing up a steep narrow path. After this visit, you will head to Kicker Rock or León Dormido in Spanish, and take a dinghy ride around it to observe the narrow channel and the marine species that nest there. You can also practice snorkel here. Finally, we head to Isla Lobos to take a dinghy ride and watch the two species of sea lions that are found here. You can also snorkel at this spot. Return to the yacht and dinner.

In the morning, you will be transferred to San Cristobal Island, where you will visit Cerro Colorado Turtle Breeding Center, where you will learn about the work developed by scientists to preserve the Giant Galapagos Turtles. After this visit, you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight back to the continent.