LA-153 – GALAPAGOS

MOTOR CATAMARAN ANAHI – FIRST CLASS YATCHT
ITINERARY “A2”

Five Days / Four Nights
Friday – Tuesday

DAY 1 – Friday: Arrival in Baltra Airport, Santa Cruz Island & Bachas Beach.

AM: Baltra Airport
Flying from Quito or Guayaquil, our flight will arrive to Baltra Island at around noon (local time), where we will be greeted by our guide in the lobby, who will be waiting for our arrival to drive us to Yacht Anahí. Your baggage will be handled by one of our crew members who, aboard the small Zodiacs will transport you directly to the yacht. The captain and the crew will welcome you on board, and then you will have your cabins assigned. After lunch, our guide will give you a brief explanation of the afternoon activities.

PM: Bachas Beach
The sand of the beach is made of decomposed coral, making it white and soft, while it is also one of the favorite nesting places of sea turtles. Nearby, we can also find a small lagoon where we will be able to observe flamingos, black-necked stilts, thrushes, as well as two old ships that were abandoned during the Second World War. Furthermore, we will also find sea lions, marine iguanas, and seabirds resting on the beach. We will enjoy the tranquility of the beach as well as spend some time with the playful sea lions that like to swim with the visitors.
At 7 pm. we will have an official welcome, followed by a delicious dinner. After dinner, your guide will give you information on the following day’s activities.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2 – Saturday – Genovesa Island

AM: Darwin Bay
A beautiful bay area due to the great diversity of seabirds that nest in the mangroves that dominate the area. These include red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, Galápagos petrels, seabirds, Darwin finches, mockingbirds, and Galápagos doves.

PM: Prince Philip’s Steps
Prince Philip’s Steps: We will climb 25 meters of stairs at one of the best bird nesting sites on the islands. We will have the opportunity to snorkel, kayak, hike, and take a ride in a panga.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

*NOTE: The activities of this day can be modified, depending on the weather conditions.

DAY 3 – Sunday: Plaza Islands and Santa Fe Island

AM: Plaza Islands
These islands have an unusual vegetation, which creates an interesting landscape that helps to enhance the fauna and the flora of the Galápagos. It is also possible to observe land iguanas in the shade of cacti. The main attractions of the Plaza Islands include land iguanas, sea lions, and swallow-tailed gulls, as well as lizards, island insects, red-beaked sparrows, frigate birds, and pelicans that glide down the cliffs. Then we will return to the yacht for lunch and a deserved rest.

PM: Santa Fe Island
Santa Fe Island: An extremely scenic island, where we can visit two different trails, with one of them leading to a beautiful viewpoint on the top of a cliff, where you can find endemic land iguanas of the island. The other trail is a small circular path close to the beach, where we will be able to observe another colony of land iguana. Here we will also have the possibility to kayak, snorkel, panga ride, or walk, to observe and enjoy nature. Then we will return to the yacht for dinner and relax.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4 – Monday: San Cristóbal Island

AM: Punta Pitt
Considered as one of the most beautiful and impressive sites in the Galápagos, it has become one of the favorite nesting sites for seabirds. Here we will be able to see three species of frigate birds and their nesting sites in the same area. Then we will return to the yacht for lunch.

PM: Kicker Rock
Is a gigantic and impressive rock formation known locally as ‘León Dormido’ where we can see a multitude of blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, pelicans and sea birds that will delight us with their majestic flights to be photographed.
Later we head towards Isla Lobos, an islet separated from San Cristóbal Island by a narrow stretch of calm waters. On the islet we will take a walk that will allow us to observe frigates, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, a colony of sea lions and we will also be able to snorkel in the arm of the sea, probably with the company of sea lions and different kinds of colorful fish. The atmosphere is one of tranquility and primitive beauty, a typical environment of the Galapagos Islands.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5 – Tuesday: San Cristobal Island & Departure

AM: El Junco Lagoon or Cerro Colorado
In the morning, our guide will take us to the top of San Cristóbal Island. Following, our tour has 2 options. The first option starts with Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and involves a visit to the El Junco Lagoon. For hundreds of years, rainwater and condensation have caused an accumulation of water in the caldera of an extinct volcano, creating a paradise for frigate birds and turtles.
Alternatively, we will visit the “Cerro Colorado” turtle breeding center. There we will have a pleasant walk along a path that allows us to be in close contact with the turtles, that can vary from the smallest to the oldest of giants.
After our visit, we will depart for the airport for our return flight to Quito or Guayaquil.
Meals: Breakfast aboard