Have questions? We're here.
Curious sea lion during a snorkeling outing

Western Islands I

Example 8 Day Cruise aboard M/C Anali
Talk with an expert
Build your ideal Galapagos trip. Call 1.406.541.2677
Start Planning My Trip
Embark on this unique 8-day journey through the western islands of the Galapagos, incuding visits to San Cristobal, South Plaza, Santa Fe, Floreana, Santa Cruz, and Isabela. Teeming with wildlife, breathtaking landscapes and volcanic wonders, the western islands are an ideal place to spend your vacations. 
Galapagos beachGalapagos penguin on a rockSouth Plaza IslandLand iguana looking out over waterCurious sea lion during a snorkeling outing
Highlights
  • Visit San Cristobal and meet giant tortoises in their natural habitat
  • Take a zodiac ride along the cliffs of Tagus Cove
  • Snorkel with sea lions, rays, penguins, sea turtles and marine iguanas
  • Relax in the beautiful white-sand beach of Las Bachas
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
0

Full Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: San Cristobal Airport | Embark | Lobos Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After arriving at San Cristobal airport, we will be greeted by your naturalist guide to then board the M/C Analí for lunch. Following your 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

Day 2: South Plaza | Santa Fe

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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

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.
PossibleActivities: Hiking – snorkeling – panga ride - kayaking
Difficulty: Easy
Landing Type: Wet
Wildlife: Galapagoshawks, Santa Fe land iguanas,sea lions, green sea turtles, and lava lizards

Day 3: Chinese Hat | Dragon Hill

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.
PossibleActivities: 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

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

Day 4: Charles Darwin Research Station | Highlands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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:Galapagostortoises

The highlands, in contrast to the coastalregion, have lush vegetation and often a cloud forest-like climate due to the humidity. 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. Transfer to the Analí.
Possible Activities: Hiking
Difficulty: Easy
Landing Type: N/A
Wildlife: Galapagos hawks, yellow warblers, and gianttortoises

 

Day 5: Tintoreras Islet | Sierra Negra Volcano | Arnalso Tupiza Breeding Center & Wetlands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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. Afterwards, 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.
PossibleActivities:Hiking – snorkeling – panga ride
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Landing Type:N/A
Wildlife: Sharks,seahorses, and sea turtles

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 observeflamingos, whimbrels, common stilts, and gallinules.
Possible Activities: Hiking
Difficulty:Moderate
Landing Type:N/A
Wildlife: Galapagostortoises, shorebirds, and seabirds

Day 6: Moreno Point | Elizabeth Bay, Isabela

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Isabela is the largest island in the Galapagos. After breakfast, 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 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

In the afternoon, a panga ride takes you 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

Day 7: Tagus Cove, Isabela | Espinoza Point, Fernandina

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After a dry landing near Tagus Cove, 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,Galapagossharks, and hammerhead sharks

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, 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 tropicalfish

Day 8: Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz | Disembark | Baltra Airport

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

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

Ship/Hotel

M/C Anali

Anali Sun deck
Al fresco dining
Sun deck

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
Twin cabin
Select a Date
Cabin
The crew ensures that all cabins are attended to daily, providing fresh towels, drying service, and anything else guests needs to enjoy the cruise.

Child Discount

Children under 7 years old are not accepted on board, except in the case of chartering the cruise. Children under 12 traveling in the same stateroom/suite in triple ccupancy have a 15% discount off the published rate.

Children under 12 may receive discounts on Galapagos flight fares and entrance fees. Contact us for details.
Included
  • 7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 7 Dinners
  • 7 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Bilingual Naturalist Guide 
  • Adventure Life Pre-departure Services and In-Country Assistance (Quito Representative)
  • Shore Excursions, Swimming and Snorkeling 
  • Transfers and Baggage Handling in the Galapagos
  • Snorkeling and kayaking equipment is included in the cruise cost and available for your use on board.
  • Long Wetsuits
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Galapagos Park Entrance Fee: $200 per adult, $100 per child under 12 (fees of $100 per adult and $50 per child valid on arrivals through Aug 1, 2024). Payable upon arrival to the Galapagos, only in cash dollars. Subject to increase by Galapagos Park Service.
  • Internal Flights: Mainland Ecuador - Galapagos - Mainland Ecuador: $475-675
  • Alcoholic and bottled beverages

Map

Inquire

* By providing your phone number, you consent to receive direct phone calls or SMS messages from our Trip Planners to get the process started. We do not share your information with third-parties.
Travel Agents

We Love to Talk Travel

Call 1.800.344.6118
or
Chat Now
This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
Karen Snider
More Reasons

Why Travel With Adventure Life

All News

Recognized By