Galapagos 8-Day Island Hopping: Eastern & Central Adventure - Anali Catamaran

After arriving at San Cristobal airport, we will be greeted by our naturalist guide to then board the M/C Analí for lunch.

Lobos Island

Following our meal, we will navigate a short distance to Lobos Island. This visitor site has an 850- meter trail that crosses the island. There is a small population of blue-footed boobies and common frigate birds nesting at this site, that is also inhabited by the two species of sea lions present in the archipelago. This is also a great site for snorkeling, as the waters are calm and not so deep.

• Possible Activities: Hiking – snorkeling – panga ride
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Landing Type: Dry
• Wildlife: Sea lions, manta rays and sea turtles, blue-footedboobies, frigate birds

South Plaza Island

After a dry landing on one of the oldest docks of the archipelago on colorful South Plazas, we will explore the home to vibrant green prickly pears, deep red Sesuvium and coppery‐orange land iguanas. Impressive seaward cliffs make the perfect perching spot for a variety of coastal birds. This is also a great place to observe the adult and pup sea lions swimming along the shores.

• Possible Activities: Hiking
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Landing Type: Dry
• Wildlife: Land iguanas,finches,sea lions,swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds

Santa Fe Island

After a wet landing on Santa Fe, we will explore a white sand beach where sea lions are usually resting. We will be looking for the endemic species of land iguana, larger and more yellow than land iguanas on other islands. The largest prickly pear cacti in the Galapagos are also found here.

• Possible Activities: Hiking – snorkeling – panga ride - kayaking
• Difficulty: Easy
• Landing Type: Wet
• Wildlife: Galapagos hawks, Santa Fe land iguanas, sea lions, green sea turtles and lava lizards

Santiago Island: Chinese Hat

Less than a quarter of one square kilometer in size, this island gets its name from being shaped like a Chinese hat. The shape is best appreciated from the north side. Lava formations can be seen on the western side of the island, formed under the sea and later raised upward, making it possible to observe coral heads on the lava.
Be amazed by the landscapes covered by sea lion colonies, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins.

• Possible Activities: Hiking – snorkeling – panga ride - kayaking
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Landing Type: Wet
• Wildlife: White-cheeked pintail ducks, colorfulfish, sea lions, penguins,Galapagos hawks, white-tipped reef sharks, lava lizards, sea lions and marine iguanas

Santa Cruz Island: Dragon Hill

We head across to Cerro Dragon on Santa Cruz’s northwest shore (dry landing) to visit a saltwater lagoon, home to Greater Flamingos, black‐necked stilts, and white‐cheeked pintails. Further inland we can observe a fantastic land iguana nesting site.

• Possible Activities: Hiking – snorkeling
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Landing Type: Dry
• Wildlife: Flamingos, Darwin's finches, white‐cheeked pintail ducks and land iguanas

Charles Darwin Station

We will visit Charles Darwin Research Station to observe giant tortoises from different islands. They are found in large semi natural pens for their protection, but also to ensure easy viewing for the visitors.

• Possible Activities: Hiking
• Difficulty: Easy
• Landing Type: Dry
• Wildlife: Galapagos tortoises

Highlands

The highlands, in contrast to the coastal region, have lush vegetation and often a cloud forest-like climate due to the humidity.
We will visit one of the ranches of the area where it is possible to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. As these animals migrate from the coastal area to the highlands and back, the chosen ranch will depend on the presence of the tortoises since they roam free and change locations throughout the year. We will then transfer to the Analí.

• Possible Activities: Hiking
• Difficulty: Easy
• Landing Type: N/A
• Wildlife: Galapagos hawks, yellow warblers, and giant tortoises

Tintoreras

This area offers an abundance of marine life that is easy to view from a dingy or kayak. These tranquil waters are home to sea turtles, sea lions, rays, blue-footed boobies, and other marine species. This site is also famous for the channels formed by lava that are used as resting sites by the white-tipped reef sharks, known locally as Tintoreras.

Sierra Negra Volcano

Afterwards, we will transfer to the entrance to the Sierra Negra Volcano. Its caldera is considered the second largest in the world, measuring nine kilometers from east to west and 10 kilometers from north to south. After leaving the vehicle, visitors hike up a trail to reach the rim for spectacular views of the crater and Chico Volcano as well as the extensive lava fields created by the shield volcanos that form this island.

• Possible Activities: Hiking – snorkeling – panga ride
• Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
• Landing Type: N/A
• Wildlife: Sharks, seahorses and sea turtles

Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center & Wetlands

The Arnaldo Tupiza giant tortoise breeding center helps to repopulate the island with young adults of the five species threatened in their natural habitat by introduced animals such as goats, cats, and rats.
It can be reached by an elevated wooden walkway that passes through Isabela ́s wetlands that are surrounded by giant mangroves. This site is considered one of the best for spotting migratory birds, where is easy to observe flamingos, whimbrels, common stilts, and gallinules.

• Possible Activities: Hiking
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Landing Type: N/A
• Wildlife: Galapagos tortoises, shorebirds and seabirds

Isabela is the largest island in the Galapagos.

Moreno Point

After breakfast, we step ashore at Punta Moreno (dry landing) onto a superb pahoehoe lava field surrounded by giant shield volcanoes, some of which are still active.
From here we will do a short hike to a lagoon where flamingos are usually present.

• Possible Activities: Hiking – snorkeling – panga ride
• Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
• Landing Type: Dry
• Wildlife: Flamingos, sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, pintail ducks, sea lions, tropical fish, paint-billed crakes and white-cheeked pintails

Elizabeth Bay

In the afternoon, a panga ride takes us around the islets of Elizabeth Bay to observe marine iguanas, penguins, sea turtles, seabirds, shorebirds, herons, and blue-footed boobies.

• Possible Activities: Panga ride
• Difficulty: Easy
• Landing Type: N/A
• Wildlife: Marine iguanas, penguins, marine turtles, seabirds, shorebirds, herons and blue-footed boobies

Isabela Island: Tagus Cove

After a dry landing near Tagus Cove, we will visit this historic pirate hideaway where names of countless ships are recorded for posterity on the cliff face. A hike through beautiful Galapagos landscapes to Darwin Lake will provide great views of a salt-water crater lagoon surrounded by tuff stone.

• Possible Activities: Hiking – snorkeling – panga ride - kayaking
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Landing Type: Wet
• Wildlife: Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorant, finches, land iguanas, large-billed flycatchers, hawks, land birds, sea turtles,Galapagos sharks and hammerhead sharks

Fernandina Island: Espinoza Point

We cross Bolivar Channel to Fernandina Island, one of the world’s most pristine sites, and disembark (dry landing) at Punta Espinosa. Strolling along the shoreline, we will be on the lookout for flightless cormorants, Galapagos sea lions, Galapagos penguins and hawks, sooty-colored marine iguanas and bright red-orange Sally Lightfoot crabs.

• Possible Activities: Hiking - snorkeling
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Landing Type: Dry (slippery)
• Wildlife: Furseals, Galapagos sea lions, Galapagos hawks, oyster catchers, marine iguanas, finches, reefsharks, sea turtles, rays and different species of tropical fish

This visitor site has a delightful, long beach perfect for swimming or taking a stroll to observe the wildlife. The beach is a nesting area for green sea turtles that leave tracks in the sand after burying their eggs. There is more activity here from November to February.

After this visit we will transfer to the Baltra airport for the flight back to the mainland.

• Possible Activities: Hiking - snorkeling
• Difficulty: Easy
• Landing Type: Wet
• Wildlife: Green sea turtles