Puerto Villamil
The navigation to Isabela Island will begin at Puerto Ayora at around 1 a.m. To the port of Puerto Villamil. The guide will wake you up at 6:30 AM and prepare breakfast for you at 7:30 AM.
Las Tintoreras
We begin our first visit to Las Tintoreras in the morning. It is easy to get to this spot, as visitors can land at high tide or low tide. This beautiful site is located south of Puerto Villamil. You can see sea lions, turtles, and marine iguanas in the calm waters. There are also rays and other species of Oceanside fauna. It is connected to a shallow, clear bay that closes at low tide.
This is a favorite spot for fish and sharks. The trail from this point to the next is mostly "Ah Ah" type Lava. There are two beaches: a blackstone beach and one with white sand. We will be greeted by sea lions, who are peacefully sleeping on the first beach. There are also marine iguanas nesting in this area. There are also Nolana galapageia, an endemic species that is rare in Ecuador and is found in areas not typical of the continental coast zones.
Chile and Peru are the only exceptions
The second beach is completely surrounded by white mangrove (Laguncularia Racemosa) and button mangrove (Conocarpuserecta). You will see marine iguanas under mangroves and on the rocks throughout the trail.
Las Tintoreras is a rare place where iguanas can breed successfully. This is due to the lack of non-native animals which could harm the newly born reptiles. Many parts of Las Tintoreras can be used to nest marine iguanas. When nesting season is underway, be careful when exploring the area. Tintoreras, or reef sharks here, have nocturnal feeding habits. Some individuals will remain in the crevices and marine ponds throughout the day for rest. This is why you cannot swim in the area. For lunch, we'll return to the yacht.
Sierra Negra Volcano
After visiting Tintoreras you will embark to Puerto Villamil and head up to the Sierra Negra Volcano, a large shield-type volcanic located at the south eastern end Isabela Island. It rises to 1124m. It is located between the volcanoes Cerro Azul and Alcedo to its north. It is also the most active volcano in Galapagos, with its most recent eruption occurring in October 2005.
The volcano tour starts in Puerto Villamil. After a 30-minute car ride, we arrive at the start of our 1 hour-long walk to the massive caldera's rim. This stunning view is made possible by the fact that the caldera is 7.2 x 9.3kms in size and is the second largest crater in the entire world, after the Ngorongoro in Tanzania. The recent lava flow can be seen from several points along the rim.
2005 volcanic eruption. Another 2 hours of hiking from the Sierra Negra crater's rim, you will reach Volcan Chico, an area where you can observe fumes and explore this Martian-like environment. You can also see the distant volcanoes on Isabela Island from here. This last visit is recommended only for tourists in good physical condition. It depends on the group.
Wetlands
After lunch we'll visit The Wetlands, where we can view a wide range of endemic birds. After this visit, we will spend some time in Puerto Villamil. We will then board the yacht for a well-deserved meal and rest.