Anahi, Luxury Galapagos Catamaran Cruise

Itinerary B1 (8 days) Fri-Fri, West and East

Upon arrival at Baltra guides will meet you, collect your luggage, and escort you on the short bus ride to the harbour.

Motorised rafts, called ‘Pangas’ will transport you to the Anahi and the crew will welcome you onboard.

After lunch, the first island visit is made to the Santa Cruz Highlands.

Beginning at the coast and travelling across Santa Cruz the road climbs through the agricultural lands and into the mist covered forests. Santa Cruz has all of the various life zones present in the archipelago and offers excellent opportunities for viewing wild Galapagos Tortoises.

There are also plenty of lava tubes, sinkholes and craters to explore. These eerie formations offer a fascinating hike into the belly of the island to view its volcanic make-up.

Head to the yacht for dinner and briefing.

Isabela Island is the largest and one of the youngest islands in the Galapagos archipelago.

In the morning we begin our first visit at 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 walk along a path and explore two different beaches. The first beach that we
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).

We then land in Puerto Villamil, which has the second smallest populated island in Galapagos with approximately 3,000 habitants.

We head up to the highlands and will hike to the Sierra Negra volcano rim. Sierra Negra has the second widest crater in the world. From here you have fantastic sights into the 6 x 5 mile wide crater over to the other volcanoes. You can also gaze into Perry Isthmus, a 12km wide lava field.

(Note: Alternative programme available for those who do not want to hike.)

In Puerto Villamil, we take a beautiful trail from lagoon to lagoon in an area known as Los Humdales. Keep a look out for Flamingos, Common Gallinules, White-cheeked Pintail Ducks and Black-necked Stilts as well enjoying a walk through a forest of button mangroves.

There is also some free time to wander around the town before we return to the yacht for a briefing and dinner.

Punta Moreno is located on the northern coast of Isabela. A trail runs along a lava flow into a complex of coastal lagoons and the main attraction here are several species of birds which can be found around these lakes and mangroves.

We continue to Elizabeth Bay, a marine visitor site. The excursion is carried out in a zodiac and starts with a visit to the Marielas islets where we find the largest and most important penguin colony in the Galapagos Islands.

The excursion continues into the cove that is surrounded by red mangroves. It is here that you are able to observe sea turtles, Flightless Cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, Brown Pelicans and sea lions.

Frequently visitors have been able to see Galapagos Hawks soaring overhead while schools of Pompano and Dorado fish swim below.

Return to the yacht for a briefing and dinner.

South of Tagus Cove and still on the West coast is Urbina Bay.

It is an easy wet landing on a gentle sloping beach. This area is very interesting in that it is a perfect example of the geological activity of the islands.

The waters of the bay are a good place to see turtles and rays and ashore is a short trail leading to a coral reef. From here it is easy to reach the Alcedo and Darwin volcanoes.

You can see large coloured land iguanas here and the chances of seeing giant Galapagos turtles, Flightless Cormorants, Blue-footed Boobies, Galapagos penguins, Pelicans and marine iguanas are excellent.

In the afternoon we visit Tagus Cove. A tour along the cliffs in a zodiac will give the visitors a good chance to see more wildlife. From the landing dock it is about a 30-minute hike along the trail up to the top of the cliff from where you can view Darwin Lake, an uplifted ultra saline lake, saltier than the sea.

You can also see several volcanoes from this location. Look carefully at the graffiti on the surrounding cliffs of the cove and you’ll see it has been written by pirates, whalers and buccaneers of centuries past.

Return to the yacht for a briefing and dinner.

Fernandina is the third largest island in the archipelago and has a single visitor site: Punta Espinoza.

It is located at the northeastern tip of the island and here some of the unique species of Galapagos can be seen. Marine iguanas conglomerate in larger groups than in any other island. They bask in the sun and swim near the shore.

Another special species found here is the Flightless Cormorant.

After lunch aboard, we make our way to Punta Vicente Roca. Here the remnants of an ancient volcano form two turquoise coves with a bay, well protected from the ocean swells.

We take a panga ride along the cliff and explore a partially sunken cave at the water’s edge. Masked and Blue-footed Boobies sit perched along the point and the sheer cliffs, while Flightless Cormorants inhabit the shoreline.

There is an abundance of marine life which, in combination with the protection of the coves, make Punta Vicente Roca one of the archipelago’s most sought after snorkelling spots. Keep an eye out for turtles, puffer fish, rays and schools of fish.

Return to the yacht for a briefing and dinner.

Our excursion to Puerto Egas – with its black sand beaches – is one of the most rewarding visits in the Galapagos.

The island was the site of a small salt mining industry in the 1960s, one of several unsuccessful attempts to commercialise the Galapagos.

A hike inland to the salt crater is an excellent opportunity to see land birds such as finches, doves, and hawks. A walk along the rugged shoreline, especially at low tide, will allow us to observe many marine species as iguanas bask on the rocks and sea lions laze in the tide pools.

At the end of the trail there is a series of grottos or sea caves where fur seals and Night Herons are regularly found resting on the shady ledges.

For many, this is the only opportunity to see the Galapagos fur seal, once thought to be on the verge of extinction.

Later it’s on to Rábida Island, unique because of the red colour of the rocks and sand. A short walk along a trail lead you to a coastal lagoon behind the beach which permits you to observe the land birds such as Finches, Doves, Yellow Warblers, and Mockingbirds. At the lagoon there is a colony of Flamingos.

Return to the yacht for the evening briefing and dinner.

Chinese Hat is a small islet located just off the southeastern tip of Santiago Island.

It is a recently formed volcanic cone, shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from north side. Here you can see lava formations that have formed under the sea and raised upward. It is an excellent visit for interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows.

The landscape is covered with sea lions colonies, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins.

After lunch, our next stop, Bartolome Island, is a small barren island that is located across from Sullivan Bay off James Island, with two main visitors’ sites.

The first site offers the possibility to climb to the summit of the island, for a great view and fascinating panoramas around you.

At the second site, you have the chance to relax on a beautiful beach, which offers great snorkelling opportunities.

Dinner on the yacht completes your day.

North Seymour Island is generally flat and strewn with boulders.

There are good nesting sites here for a large population of Magnificent Frigate birds.

Blue-footed Boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas and Swallow-tailed Gulls perch on the cliff edges.

Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul out onto the beach and can be found bodysurfing the waves.

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

Itinerary B2 (8 days) Fri-Fri, North, South, East

Upon arrival at Baltra airport, all passengers have to pay the park entrance fee, collect any luggage and then heads into the arrivals area.

You meet your guide and it’s a short bus ride to the harbour and the Anahi.

After our welcome aboard and lunch, we head to ourfirst visit at Bachas Beach. These two small beaches are found on Santa Cruz island. Their sand is made of decomposed coral, which is white and soft, making it a favourite nesting site for sea turtles.We can also observe Flamingos at a coastal lagoon, as well as a multitude of other birds.

Head to the yacht for dinner and briefing.

Darwin Bay originated when the crater of the island collapsed below sea level. The wet landing (jumping from the panga to the shallow waters of the shore) is on a beautiful white coral sandy beach

.This island is a paradise for birdwatchers: Red-footed Boobies, Masked Boobies, Wandering Tattlers, Lava Gulls, Whimbrels and many more.Continuing on the trail, we will climb to the edge of the cliff to see red footed-boobies nesting in the mangrove trees below.

Bird watching includes sightings of sharp-beaked finches, large cactus and Ground Finches, Galapagos Doves, and Swallow-tailed Gulls.

Return to the boat for lunch.

El Barranco is a visitor site located on the southern part of Darwin Bay. The trail is made of volcanic rock and has a length of 1.5km, which we will walk slowly in about 2 hours. The youngest area of the island, from a geological point of view, is found here. The natural erosion that has occurred in these lava flows has transformed the place into an ideal spot for nesting Storm Petrels. We will see two species of petrels that nest in cavities and holes in the lava.One of the main predators of this place is the Short-eared Owl. The Nazca Booby is also present on this island.

During the panga ride along the cliffs we have can observe sea lions and other several species of seabirds.

Return to the yacht for a briefing and dinner.

South Plazas is located to the east of Santa Cruz, and despite its small size, some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the Galapagos are found here.

Throughout the island we find several hybrid iguanas, a result of crossing a male marine iguana and a female land iguana. These unique animals, recognisable at first glance by their black/grey colour, have the face and tail of the marine iguana. We also find Swallow-tailed Gulls nesting in the rugged cliffs along with other sea birds such as Frigate Birds and Brown Pelicans.

We return to the boat for lunch.

Santa Fe Island is located in the south-eastern part of the Galapagos. This island was formed by an oceanic floor uplift and not a volcanic eruption, which give it a flatter shape than neighbouring islands. Santa Fe is home to a number of endemic species like the Galapagos Hawk, the Galapagos snake, the Galapagos Mockingbird and one of the two species of land iguanas in the islands.

After disembarking we visit one of the many sea lion colonies. There are also great opportunities for snorkelling with sea lions and tropical fish.

Return to the yacht for a briefing and dinner.

Punta Pitt is located on the northern part of San Cristobal Island.

Here we can find endemic species such as the lava lizard and the Red-footed Booby. We walk to the high part of the island for an impressive view.

Next is Kicker Rock which lies off the coast of San Cristobal. The remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea and the two vertical rocks that rise 500ft from the ocean surface form a small channel suitable for small boats. This natural monument has become a top spot for cruises because of the many tropical birds, Frigates and Boobies that can be seen here. Beneath the sea, the crystal clear waters offer a superb show of colourful tropical fishes and invertebrates.

We return to the boat for lunch.

To reach Lobos Island we navigate an hour from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.Here, we find a small population of Blue-footed Boobies and Common Frigate-birds nesting on the site. We can also observe the two species of sea lions present in the archipelago. During the boat ride it is possible to see Brown Pelicans and several species of shorebirds. And when snorkelling, it’s common to see juvenile sea lions, manta rays and sea turtles.

Return to the boat for briefing and dinner.

The tour has two options. The first option starts from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and involves a visit to the El Junco Lagoon. For hundreds of years, rain water 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 can visit the Cerro Colorado tortoise breeding centre. There is a pleasant
walk along a path that gets us close to the tortoises, that can vary from the smallest
to the oldest of giants.

After lunch, we visit The Interpretation Centre to help us learn about both the geological and human history of the islands, conservation issues, and natural history. It is well worth a visit to form an understanding of the islands and their fragile eco-systems.

Next, we walk up nearby Frigate Bird Hill (Tijeretas Hill), some 20-40 minutes. From the top we are going to be treated to a spectacular view of the white beaches and a panoramic view of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The hill is often visited by Frigate birds that nest there in certain seasons of the year.

From the hill we descend into a small cove known as Punta Carola, where we may observe a colony of sea lions.

Return to the boat for briefing and dinner.

Sea lions will usually give a noisy greeting to us as we make a dry landing on a jetty at Punta Suarez and head to the beach. Curious Hood Mockingbirds may peck at our shoelaces.

From April to December, the Waved Albatross, found only on Española, perform their wild mating ritual.Colonies of Blue-footed Boobies show off for potential mates, Nazca Boobies care for their young while at night the stunning Swallow-tailed Gull – the only nocturnal gulls in the world that fish at night – take to the air.

There’s more – Darwin’s Finches, Galapagos Doves and Galapagos Hawks, plus a unique species of marine iguana with traces of red and green colourings. A real highlight is the blowhole. Here, the seawater is pushed through a fissure in the cliff under great pressure.

Depending on the waves and tide levels, the blowhole can force water up to 25m/82ft into the air.

Return to the yacht for lunch.Wet landing on a wonderful, long, white beach made of coral sand at Gardner Bay (Española). For this visit you won’t even need shoes, it’s so soft underfoot, and there is no trail to follow so you can take a long walk and explore a bit. Playa Gardner is a very good place to observe finches and mockingbirds in the saltbush vegetation, and there is some great swimming and snorkelling from the beach, where curious sea lions are never far off. Some will even launch with you from the beach and into the water.

Islote Garnder and Islote Osborn are snorkelling sites where visitors will see an abundance of tropical fish, reef sharks, and turtles.

Return to the yacht for a briefing and dinner.

At Punta Cormorant we find the probably best Flamingo lagoon in the Galapagos. It is located between two tuff lava cones that give the area a particular atmosphere. Floreana has two very different and distinct beaches: “The Green Beach” (with a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand) and the “Flour Sand Beach” which is made up of coral.

Devil’s Crown is located just off Punta Cormorant and offers some of the best snorkelling in the Galapagos. This is actually an almost completely submerged volcano, and erosion has transformed the cone into a series of jagged peaks, that resemble a black crown.Once in the water, expect to see a brilliant array of colourful fish and corals.

Important: There is often a current at Devil’s Crown.

After lunch, we continue to the Post office Bay & Baroness Lookout. Historically, this site is the old location of a wooden barrel that was placed in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship. It has been used since then by sailors and tourists as a post office. The idea is that each passing person carries the letters or postcards directed to his/her destination by hand.

We will continue to the north of the island to then ascend to an elevated slope to enjoy a view from the Baroness lookout. It is said that Baroness Eloisa Von Wagner loved this place and spent several hours watching the landscape, which covers the coastline from the Enderby islet to Post Office Bay, as well as Cerro Pajas, the pool of flamingos and wide forest of Palo Santo.

Back aboard for our farewell dinner!

After breakfast, we head to  the Galápagos National Park Fausto Llerena visitor centre. It’s here that tortoise breeding takes place. Learn about the work that is being done to protect
these emblematic animals.

Alas, it’s time to say goodbye. Your guide accompanies you to the airport and you fly back to the continent, or stay on for more Galapagos exploration.

New catamaran, very large with big cabins, lovely suites and plenty of communal space.

Very stable in the water, and a really top class cruise.

These magical islands comprise of 50 volcanic islands of varying shapes and sizes, which lie 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador.

Here, unlike anywhere else on Earth, you can enjoy a thousand close encounters with a weird and wonderful variety of ‘friendly locals’, including giant tortoises, fur seals, sea iguanas, frigate birds and blue-footed boobies.

Read our Galapagos Islands Guide and more about diving.

In 1535, Tomás de Berlanga, Bishop of Panama, floated into this archipelago and named it Galapagos after the giant tortoises he encountered. Pirates used the islands for refuge and to bury their stolen treasure after that.

The islands’ most celebrated visitor was Charles Darwin, who arrived aboard the HMS Beagle in 1835. The rare life forms he encountered helped him formulate his theory of evolution, which he published in The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.

It wasn’t until 1959 when it became part of Ecuador’s national park system that this fragile ecosystem with its rare and endemic species came under protection.

In 1979 the Galapagos archipelago was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

When to visit Galapagos Islands: weather and wildlife

There is no real ‘best’ time to visit Galapagos on holiday as there is always wonderful wildlife and weather to enjoy. Read our blog for more.

Most animals – tortoises, sharks, sea lions and boobies – are found year round and many of the species here are non-migratory.

The Galapagos Islands are located right on the equator so air and water temperatures do not vary by much.

Having said that, there are two recognised seasons, and each months brings natural marvels for the visitor to enjoy.

Below is our quick guide to the weather and wildlife you can find on the Galapagos Islands.

General weather information

The warm season (Jan-Jun)

• Calm, clear warm waters, great for snorkelling, often without a wetsuit.
• Great weather, with February and March being the hottest and sunniest months with blue skies and sunshine.
• Occasional heavy bursts of rain in the afternoons.

Sea temperatures:  22-25°C / 72-77°F

Land temperatures:  21-32°C / 72-90°F

The dry ‘garua’ season (Jun-Dec)

• It’s a great time for marine life in the cooler seas. Snorkellers may want a wetsuit.
• August and September the coolest when you may need a jacket in the evenings and the sea can be choppy.
• There can be mist on the islands in the mornings (garua) which usually burns off by midday leaving overcast skies or a sunny afternoon.

Sea temperatures:  15-22°C / 60-72°F

Land temperatures:  18-24°C / 65-75°F

Air and sea temperatures in Galapagos, month-by-month

Read about a day aboard a Galapagos cruise ship in Tom’s blog.

After breakfast aboard your vessels, you go ashore or for a snorkel with your naturalist guide in a small boat, called a “panga”.

Well marked paths lead you to fascinating wildlife discoveries, including sea lions, iguanas and Galapagos penguins.

Snorkeling is encouraged, with opportunities most days to explore an incredible underwater world and enjoy close encounters with a host of colourful fish, sea lions and sea turtles.

You return to your vessel for lunch, followed perhaps by a short siesta while sailing to the next visitor’s site. The rest of the afternoon is spent on shore or snorkelling, before returning to your boat to enjoy a spectacular sunset.

After dinner, your naturalist guide will usually offer a briefing on the next day’s activities.

Since each island has its own unique landscape and diverse animal, bird and plant species, every day is a new adventure.

If you are worried about seasickness, read our blog about Galapagos and avoiding seasickness.

Itineraries

Read our guide to Galapagos itineraries.

Galapagos boats may change itineraries without notice if necessary.

This could be due to Galapagos National Park regulations, weather conditions, route availability or to allow the cruise to reach its desired visiting point.

Boat may also change itinerary to prevent the migration and protect the flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands, domestic flight alterations and acts of providence.

Passengers embarking

Please note that there may be changes of passengers on some days throughout the cruise, which may result in waiting times for remaining passengers.

Equally, if passengers are arriving and leaving on different flights there may be waiting times either on board or at the airport.

Food

Please remember the isolated location of the Galapagos – any food on board is flown in from the mainland.

This may mean limited meals choices on board, and while special dietary requirements (vegetarian/vegan/etc) are catered for, there will likely be a limited selection.