Petrel 5 Days - Itinerary B

Upon your arrival to the airport on Santa Cruz Island, you will be transferred to the dock to get onboard Petrel Catamaran. After settling in the catamaran and lunch, you will take a bus to Santa Cruz Highlands, where you can see the different agricultural zones, and the lava soil, product of the volcanic origin of the archipelago. This area is great to spot wild giant tortoises roaming freely. After this visit return to the catamaran for dinner and rest.

Full itinerary map here: http://bit.ly/petrel-5-days-b

After breakfast, the yacht will take you to Sullivan Bay, a place that was used as a salt mine by buccaneers in past centuries, and where you will see the geological formations product of lava flows due to the recent eruptions of the still active volcanoes around this bay. In the afternoon, you will visit Bartholomew Island, where you will take a trail to the highest point of this place and from this spot, you will watch one of the most amazing and recognized landscapes on the entire archipelago. You will also see Pinnacle Rock, and visit the two beaches that are at this island, and enjoy swimming or snorkeling during the rest of the afternoon.

Early in the morning head to Darwin Bay at Genovesa Island. This place used to be a shield volcano, thousands of years ago, and nowadays you can visit one of the sides of its collapsed caldera. This place is also known to be home of a variety of bird species like red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and red-footed boobies. In the afternoon, you will head to El Barranco, also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps, this place consists of a steep rocky path to a cliff, from where you can view the entire Island, and there is also a Palo Santo Forest home to various shorebirds

First activity of the day will be landing at Egas Port, known to be one of the best snorkeling sites in Galapagos, and home to Galapagos Lava lizards and fur sea lions that reside at the grottos and tide pools around this place. In the afternoon, we disembark on the small beach of Espumilla, named after the white foam that forms at its shore. This paradisiacal beach gives us the opportunity to snorkel in turquoise waters surrounded by colorful fishes and swim along with the magnificent green marine turtles. Espumilla is one of the predicted nesting sites for the green marine turtles, so we might be able to spot their nests. Be observant and pay close attention to your guide, you could take a unique memory back home. After his activity, you will head to Buccaneer Cove, that was once a refuge for passing sailors and pirates, and is also a nice place for snorkeling and swimming, while watching species like marine iguanas, sea lions, tropical fish species and sea turtles. End of the day and dinner onboard.

First visit of the last day will be to Carrion Point by a panga ride, and you will be able to see from afar the beautiful turquoise waters, full of life, like sea lions, white- tipped sharks and sea turtles that reside here. After this activity you will be transferred to the airport at Baltra Island to take your flight back to the continent.