Petrel Itinerary

FRIDAY: SAN CRISTOBAL - C.C. David Rodriguez Giant Tortoise Breeding Center
☑ Arrival San Cristobal airport.
☑ Assitance and transfer IN.
☑ Welcome onboard Petrel Catamaran.
➤ C.C. DAVID RODRIGUEZ GIANT TORTOISE BREEDING CENTER: A visit to the David Rodriguez Breeding Center provides information about the origin and evolution of the giant tortoise and explains why the center is so vital in safeguarding the future of these incredible creatures. Walking through the trails of the reserve, you can see baby tortoises being reared in semi-natural conditions – a brilliant demonstration of the commitment the local people have to preserving the wildlife that makes the Galapagos so special.

SATURDAY: Espanola Island, Gardner Bay/Osborn Islet/Gardner Islet - Espanola, Suarez Point
➤ ESPANOLA ISLAND, GARDNER BAY/OSBORN ISLET/GARDNER ISLET: Among the top beaches in the Galapagos, this white sandy beach offers you some time in the sun with friendly and playful seas lions. Three different types of finches can be seen here along with nesting Green Sea Turtles and their eggs (January-March). You might also see the Espinosa mockingbird, which has learned to be friendly around humans due to the mischievous (and prohibited!) behavior of visitors who fed them in opposition to conservation laws.

➤ ESPANOLA, SUAREZ POINT: Most of the island’s endemic community can be seen along the trail. Imagine it like the Grand Central of species. You might even see young albatrosses preparing for their five-year journey at sea as you’re walking by the only Waved albatross breeding site. The older population will only remain at sea for a few months before returning to this island to breed. Other species that can be seen are marine iguanas that stay brightly colored year-round, Galapagos doves, Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds, and Darwin finches.

SUNDAY: Floreana Island, Devil’s Crown/Cormorant Point - Floreana Island, Post Office Bay/Baroness Lookout Point
➤ FLOREANA ISLAND, DEVIL’S CROWN/CORMORANT POINT: Another fun and interesting visitor site, two incredible but geologically different beaches reside here. One of the beaches looks green because of olivine crystals and the other is appropriately called Flour Beach – it’s covered in powdery white sand made of fine pulverized coral. Flamingos can be seen wading through saltwater ponds looking for shrimp, which give them their bright and vibrant colors. It is unquestionably a unique location.

➤ FLOREANA ISLAND, POST OFFICE BAY/BARONESS LOOKOUT POINT: A bay created entirely due to human settlements on the island, Post Office Bay is the site of the first official post office erected by passing whalers in the 1700’s. A tourist attraction has arisen here as many visitors leave addressed messages on post cards in a barrel to be sent by future visitors while picking up post cards left behind by previous visitors to send when they return home – a fun way to deliver the mail!

MONDAY: Santa Cruz, C.C. Charles Darwin Research Station & Highlands
The station conducts many different research projects and provides assistance to other researchers and government institutions and agencies, especially the Galapagos National Park. Many results of this research are later published online, in magazines, and in highly-regarded scientific journals. A major partnership between the research center and the public school system in the Galapagos focuses on continuing to educate the community about all aspects of conservation.

Transfer to Baltra Airport
Thank you for joining us on this amazing journey! Your cruise has officially come to an end. We hope you enjoyed your Galapagos Cruise! We will now transfer you to your scheduled departure from Baltra Airport to mainland Ecuador. Safe travels!

** Itineraries are subject to change without prior notice due to weather conditions, National Park regulations, emergencies on board or any unforeseen situation. **

MONDAY: AIRPORT BALTRA – Santa Cruz Island – Highlands
☑ Arrival Baltra airport.
☑ Assitance and transfer IN.
☑ Welcome onboard Petrel Catamaran.
➤ SANTA CRUZ ISLAND – HIGHLANDS: Although an easy destination to get to, the reward merits a lifetime of expedition. As if an artist’s paintbrush from heaven created the lava tubes, the exploration of this lava field is unique and surreal. It is surrounded by hills, ferns, wildlife, and volcanoes. Here you can see all of the different agricultural zones that are present in the Galapagos in one place. The sheer variety of birds also makes this a bird watcher’s delight. After the visit to the Highlands, you will be transferred to the yacht. You will then be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before the welcome briefing.

TUESDAY: Santiago Island, Sullivan Bay - Bartholomew Island, Pinnacle Rock
➤ SANTIAGO ISLAND, SULLIVAN BAY: With the distinction of being the best place in the archipelago to catch a glimpse of the elusive Galapagos fur seal, Sullivan Bay lies along the coast of Santiago. While there isn’t a plethora of wildlife species to see here, the ancient lava formations are quite a site to see with their tuff cones, pyroclastic cones, and other volcanic landscapes.

➤ BARTHOLOMEW ISLAND, PINNACLE ROCK: Galapagos penguins gather here. Swimming offers beautiful sights of colorful schools of fish and curious sea lions. This beautiful landmass was formed by violent underwater volcanic explosions. Countless layers of basalt compounded it into what you see today. Directly next to Pinnacle Rock, there’s a small beach where Galapagos Green Sea Turtles have been known to nest – definitely a sight to behold.

WEDNESDAY: Genovesa Island, Darwin Bay - Genovesa Island, El Barranco (Prince Phillip’s Steps)
➤ GENOVESA ISLAND, DARWIN BAY: Darwin Bay is the result of a shield volcano where one of the sides of the caldera collapsed after generations of erosion. The red-footed booby finds this bay irresistible, making it the only place where you’re almost guaranteed to see them. Over 200,000 red-footed boobies are estimated to be living in the trees and bushes of Genovesa.

➤ GENOVESA ISLAND, EL BARRANCO (PRINCE PHILLIP’S STEPS): Better known as Prince Phillip’s Steps, a steep and rocky path leads up to a cliff with a marvelous view where a person can truly appreciate the beauty of this island. The early life cycles of many birds, including red-footed boobies, are on full display here. Just a short hike on the island and you’ll be in the heart of the Palo Santo Forest. Make sure you take all the pictures you can!

THRUSDAY: Santiago Island, Egas Port - Santiago Island, Buccaneer Cove/Espumilla Beach
➤ SANTIAGO ISLAND, EGAS PORT: Egas port, better known as James Bay, is home to the fleet-footed Galapagos lava lizards, Galapagos fur seals along the grottos, and tide pools. However, if you truly want to experience this island, don’t miss out on an incredible morning of snorkeling in the azure waters around the port.

➤ SANTIAGO ISLAND, BUCCANEER COVE/ESPUMILLA BEACH: Continuing with amazing snorkeling opportunities, Buccaneer Cove offers amazing underwater formations teeming with various different species of fish that gather here. This area was dubbed Buccaneer Cove due to its role as a refuge for British buccaneers and pirates in the annals of history.

FRIDAY: Santa Cruz Island, Black Turtle Cove
Black Turtle Cove is a lagoon on Santa Cruz Island. It is a maze of mangroves, and pangas are forced to paddle so that their motors do not disturb the wildlife there. You never know what you’ll see in Black Turtle Cove: there might be sharks, sea turtles, herons or even a school of Golden Rays gently gliding through the water. There is no swimming or snorkeling permitted in Black Turtle Cove.

Transfer to Baltra Airport
Thank you for joining us on this amazing journey! Your cruise has officially come to an end. We hope you enjoyed your Galapagos Cruise! We will now transfer you to your scheduled departure from Baltra Airport to mainland Ecuador. Safe travels!

** Itineraries are subject to change without prior notice due to weather conditions, National Park regulations, emergencies on board or any unforeseen situation. **

FRIDAY:ARIPORT BALTRA – NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND
☑ Arrival Baltra airport.
☑ Assitance and transfer IN.
☑ Welcome onboard Petrel Catamaran.
➤ NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND: Named after English nobleman Lord Hugh Seymour, this island was formed by uplifted submarine lava. The island is home to a huge colony of about 2,500 land iguanas and large populations of sea lions, blue-footed boobies, common noddies, and frigatebirds. Along the coast you can see land and marine iguanas as well as the biggest colony of magnificent frigate birds in the archipelago.

SATURDAY: Isabela Island, Vicente Roca Point - Fernandina Island, Espinosa Point
➤ ISABELA ISLAND, VICENTE ROCA POINT: This point gives visitors sweeping views of the island’s many unique geological formations, making it an amazing place to view various bird species such as blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, gulls, storm petrels, and brown noddy terns. Water activities on this island are outstanding, and nearly all of our activities will come by way of either panga rides or snorkeling. The most awe-inspiring moment may come by way of a feeding-frenzy near the westernmost point of the island.

➤ FERNANDINA ISLAND, ESPINOSA POINT: This is the lone visitor site on Fernandina Island, which allows the rest of the island to continue its unspoiled existence. Land iguanas are found on the inner parts of the island near the volcanic calderas, and marine iguanas’ nest along the coast during certain times of the year. This also provides the best opportunity to see the Galapagos hawk. This visitor site involves some hiking, and if the weather is nice there’s a change to go snorkeling.

SUNDAY: Isabela Island, Tagus Cove - Isabela Island, Urbina Bay
➤ ISABELA ISLAND, TAGUS COVE: Dedicated to the old English warship that used to pass by the island during the 1800’s, this visitor site is a relic of the island’s previous tenants. This was a famous spot for many pirates and sailors who left their names and the names of their ships etched in the volcanic rock on one side of the cove. The main hiking path leads to Darwin Lake where many wildlife species can be seen. Along the way, you’ll also encounter unique geological features, ranging from massive volcanic rocks to miniature balls of petrified rain.

➤ ISABELA ISLAND, URBINA BAY: The bay’s uplifts were formed by thousands of years of volcanic and tectonic activity. The increased altitude ended up bringing the corals and reefs to the surface from their once underwater home. Although exposure to air leads to its eventual death, the coral and reefs can be seen without snorkeling. Visitors often see giant tortoises, land iguanas, and more flightless cormorants near this coast.

MONDAY: Isabela Island, Elizabeth Bay - Isabela Island, Moreno Point
➤ ISABELA ISLAND, ELIZABETH BAY: The Elizabeth Bay visitor site is located near the tip of the island. The final destination is home to a saltwater pond and mangroves that surround a small series of islets. Many birds have laid claim to the landscape for lounging, while Sea Turtles use it for feeding and sunbathing.

➤ ISABELA ISLAND, MORENO POINT: Located on the southwestern part of Isabela Island, this is your chance to see the endemic species that call this barren lava flow home. A surreal, otherworldly environment, the deep black geological features will make you do a double-take. You have the option of a land trail or an aquatic tour aboard a panga to better see various sea birds, geological features, or to go snorkeling to enjoy the vibrant underwater life.

TUESDAY: Isabela Island, Sierra Negra Volcano - Isabela Island, Wetlands and Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center
➤ ISABELA ISLAND, SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO: The oldest volcanos on Isabela Island, Volcano Sierra Negro is found near the southern end. A hike will show different types of vegetation and geological zones formed mostly due to the nutrients and remnants left by past eruptions. Depending on seasons and weather conditions, it might even be possible to explore inside one of the calderas where you will find petrified lava.

➤ ISABELA ISLAND, WETLANDS AND ARNALDO TUPIZA BREEDING CENTER: This is a fascinating visitor site where mangroves and a white sand beach can be seen. The wall itself has a sad story – it was built by prisoners who were kept on the island as a cruel way to keep them busy. The wall is about 3 meters wide, 100 meters long, and 5 to 6 meters high. The other side of the island consists of wetlands. These are comprised of lagoons, swamps, and various mangroves that are home to unique bird species – definitely a must see for enthusiastic birdwatchers!

WEDNESDAY: Santa Cruz Island, Charles Darwin Research Station
Home to a permanent population of 12,000 inhabitants, Santa Cruz also boasts the longest paved road in the archipelago. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the archipelago, given its infrastructure and amenities. Conservation activities are evident throughout the island, with a special focus on eliminating all of the invasive plants and animals that wreak havoc on the delicate endemic ecosystem, further reducing the numbers of unique species here. Although there are no active volcanos on Santa Cruz, the towering peaks and scars left behind on the landscape are a constant reminder of its past.

Transfer to Baltra Airport
Thank you for taking part in this incredible journey with us. Your cruise has officially come to an end. We hope you enjoyed your Galapagos Cruise! We will now transfer you to your scheduled departure from Baltra Airport to mainland Ecuador. Safe travels!

** Itineraries are subject to change without prior notice due to weather conditions, National Park regulations, emergencies on board or any unforeseen situation. **

WEDNESDAY: AIRPORT BALTRA – Santa Cruz Island, Highlands
☑ Arrival Baltra airport.
☑ Assitance and transfer IN.
☑ Welcome onboard Petrel Catamaran.
➤ SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, HIGHLANDS: Two caved-in magma chambers of a previous active volcano. The other name for this location, Los Gemelos, means “the twins” in Spanish. Sadly, after years of erosion and shifts in the earth, the once full chambers caved in, leaving two similar craters that can be seen on a short hike that passes by a Scalesia forest.

THURSDAY: South Plaza Island - Santa Fe Island
➤ SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND: Home to an incredible amount of diverse flora and fauna despite its small size, South Plaza is just big enough to fit a landing site for tourists. It’ll come as no surprise, then, that everything you see will never be very far away. However, be careful where you step. It has a large population of Sesuvium plants, like the prickly pear cactus tree, that are an important source of food for the land iguana. This island is also a shining example of successful conservation efforts to restore the island to its former pristine conditions. Just a few years ago, non-native mice were finally eradicated from the island, helping the population of land iguanas grow to a heathy level.

➤ SANTA FE ISLAND: Home to the unique Santa Fe land iguana and the only place to find Opuntia cactus, this island used to have a denser and more diverse population of species. However, expeditions of pirates and buccaneers visiting the islands has led to the extinction of the Giant Tortoises on this particular island. Large numbers of sea lions can be found on the landing beach, and Galapagos hawks occasionally do a flyby. The Island is also called Barrington Island, named after British Admiral Samuel Barrington.

FRIDAY: San Cristobal Island, Lobos Island - San Cristobal, David Rodriguez Breeding Center
➤ SSAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND, LOBOS ISLAND: Large groups of sea lions and marine iguanas rule supreme here. Depending on the season, blue-footed boobies also nest here. Recently, the frigatebird has also been seen here by visitors, although it normally resides elsewhere. This islet, located about an hour away from San Cristobal, is a very calm and pristine site with amazing views, including Kicker Rock off in the distance.

➤ SAN CRISTOBAL, DAVID RODRIGUEZ BREEDING CENTER: A visit to the David Rodriguez Breeding Center provides information about the origin and evolution of the giant tortoise and explains why the center is so vital in safeguarding the future of these incredible creatures. Walking through the trails of the reserve, you can see baby tortoises being reared in semi-natural conditions – a brilliant demonstration of the commitment the local people have to preserving the wildlife that makes the Galapagos so special.

SATURDAY: Espanola Island, Gardner Bay/Osborn Islet/Gardner Islet - Espanola Island, Suarez Point
➤ ESPANOLA ISLAND, GARDNER BAY/OSBORN ISLET/GARDNER ISLET: Among the top beaches in the Galapagos, this white sandy beach offers you some time in the sun with friendly and playful seas lions. Three different types of finches can be seen here along with nesting Green Sea Turtles and their eggs (January-March). You might also see the Espinosa mockingbird, which has learned to be friendly around humans due to the mischievous (and prohibited!) behavior of visitors who fed them in opposition to conservation laws.

➤ ESPANOLA ISLAND, SUAREZ POINT: Most of the island’s endemic community can be seen along the trail. Imagine it like the Grand Central of species. You might even see young albatrosses preparing for their five-year journey at sea as you’re walking by the only Waved albatross breeding site. The older population will only remain at sea for a few months before returning to this island to breed. Other species that can be seen are marine iguanas that stay brightly colored year-round, Galapagos doves, Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds, and Darwin finches.

SUNDAY: Floreana Island, Devil’s Crown/Cormorant Point - Floreana Island, Post Office Bay/Baroness Lookout Point
➤ FLOREANA ISLAND, DEVIL’S CROWN/CORMORANT POINT: Another fun and interesting visitor site, two incredible but geologically different beaches reside here. One of the beaches looks green because of olivine crystals and the other is appropriately called Flour Beach – it’s covered in powdery white sand made of fine pulverized coral. Flamingos can be seen wading through saltwater ponds looking for shrimp, which give them their bright and vibrant colors. It is unquestionably a unique location.

➤ FLOREANA ISLAND, POST OFFICE BAY/BARONESS LOOKOUT POINT: A bay created entirely due to human settlements on the island, Post Office Bay is the site of the first official post office erected by passing whalers in the 1700’s. A tourist attraction has arisen here as many visitors leave addressed messages on post cards in a barrel to be sent by future visitors while picking up post cards left behind by previous visitors to send when they return home – a fun way to deliver the mail!

MONDAY: Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Research Station
Boasting the longest paved road in the archipelago, Santa Cruz Island is home to a population of 12,000 people, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations given its infrastructure and different attractions around the island. Conservation efforts, easily evident around the island, are especially focused on eliminating all non-native plants and animals that wreak havoc on the delicate endemic ecosystem, further reducing the numbers of unique species here. Although volcanic activity is longer active on this island, the towering peaks and scars left on the landscape are a constant reminder of its past.

Transfer to Baltra Airport
We will now transfer you to your scheduled departure flight from Baltra Airport to mainland Ecuador. Safe travels!

** Itineraries are subject to change without prior notice due to weather conditions, National Park regulations, emergencies on board or any unforeseen situation. **