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Kayaking in the Galapagos

Genovesa & Central Islands

Example 5 Day Cruise aboard Petrel
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Explore Genovesa & the Central Islands of the Galapagos archipelago on the Petrel. On this 5-day cruise, explore sea-side trails, spot unique wildlife and bird life, admire volcanic formations, and snorkel with sea lions while on your Galapagos tour.
From the top of Prince Phillip's stepsMockingbirds feeding on the placenta of a sea lionHike in BartolomeTide pools in the GalapagosKayaking in the Galapagos
Highlights
  • Snorkel near Pinnacle Rock and look for penguins
  • Explore the colorful volcanic formations in Bartholomew
  • Walk along Darwin Bay's white-sand coral beach
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.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Baltra Island | Embark | Santa Cruz Highlands

  • Ship
  • 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Assistance will be provided upon your arrival by a Petrel representative after passing through immigration and baggage claim. When ready, 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 and lunch.

Today Santa Cruz is one of the most popular tourist sites. With a population of about 12,000 Galapagos natives, it has the longest paved road in the entire archipelago. One of the biggest conservation efforts is to eliminate all non-native plants and animals that are destroying native and endemic species on the island. There is no longer any volcanic activity but that does not mean there is no evidence. Santa Cruz means holy cross, but its English name comes from the British vessel – Indefatigable.

The Highlands of Santa Cruz is a very interesting site due to the rich wildlife, hills, ferns, volcanoes, and lava tubes present. Exploring the lava tubes is a surreal and unique experience. Here you can see all the different agricultural zones that are present in the Galapagos in one place. The variety of birds makes this a bird watcher's delight. Be prepared to admire the famous giant tortoises in the wild. It is impressive to see these endemic animals that give the name to the archipelago, Galapagos. Birdwatching is also one of the activities in the highlands since this area is home to finches and other Galapagos birds. Finally, you
walk into lava caves to see the enormous lava flows that formed the islands before continuing back to the M/C Petrel.
Possible Activities: Hike
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Landing: Dry
Highlights: All Galapagos life zones, vermilion flycatcher, Darwin finch, yellow warblers, Galapagos rails, paint-billed crakes, short-eared owls, and wild Giant Tortoises.

Day 2: Sullivan Bay, Santiago | Pinnacle Rock, Bartholomew

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Santiago Island is the second Island visited by Charles Darwin and was originally named after England’s King James the second. The island was a good source of salt, water, and food for whalers and buccaneers passing. There was a salt mine inland that was used to salt fish and tortoise meat. Land iguanas used to populate the island but are now extinct. From Darwin’s own notes, he wrote that land iguanas were thriving quite well since there was no place to even pitch a tent. Santiago Island today is now one of the most visited islands.
Sullivan Bay is a satellite island of Santiago. This is one of the best places to see the Galapagos fur seal. There is not much wildlife to see here, but the old lava formations are quite a site to see with tuff cones, pyroclastic cones, and other volcanic landscapes.
Possible Activities: Hike, dinghy ride, and snorkel
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Landing: Dry Landing
Highlights: Various volcanic landscapes and formations.

Bartholomew is another satellite island that derives from Santiago Island. It is home to the famous Pinnacle Rock and is named after James Sullivan, a friend of Charles Darwin who was also aboard the HMS Beagle. Of all the islands, this is the most photographed and is also featured in the 2003 movie “Master and Commander”. Pinnacle rock is a volcano cone formed by magma expelled by an underwater volcano. The sea cooled the hot lava and as it exploded from contact, the pieces formed together this huge rock of many, many layers of basalt. The huge rock also has a beach where a small population of green sea turtles will nest. Galapagos penguins gather here and swimming can offer beautiful sights of colorful schools of fish and curious sea lions.
Possible Activities: Hike, snorkel, and dinghy ride
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Highlights: Galapagos penguins, Pinnacle rock, swimming, and awesome photography opportunities. Snorkel – Sea lions, rays, sea turtles, sharks, much different fish.

Day 3: Darwin Bay | El Barranco (Prince Phillip’s Steps), Genovesa

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Genovesa is a horse-shoe-shaped island that was formed by the eruption of a shield volcano with large slopes formed by gradual lava flows. It is known as “Bird Island” due to the wide variety of birds that can be seen. The only reptile on the entire island is the marine iguana and it is one of the very few places red-footed boobies gather in one large mass.
Darwin Bay is the result of the shield volcano where one of the sides of the caldera collapsed after years of erosion. It is one of the places in the Galapagos where red-footed boobies can be guaranteed to be seen. Over 200,000 red-footed boobies are estimated to be living in the trees and bushes of Genovesa.
Possible Activities: Hike, kayak, dinghy ride, and snorkel
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Highlights: Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, mangroves. Snorkeling – various sharks, colorful fish, sea turtles, sea lions, and occasional rays.

Better known as Prince Phillip’s Steps, a steep and rocky path leads up to a cliff with a marvelous view. There is also a Palo Santo Forest that is home to nesting red-footed boobies and other birds.
Possible Activities: Hike, kayak, dinghy ride, and snorkel
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Landing: Dry Landing Highlights: Spectacular view, red-footed boobies, wedge-romped storm petrels, Galapagos doves, short-eared owls, Palo Santo Forest. Snorkel – fish, sea turtles, rays, sharks, and sea lions

Day 4: Egas Port | Espumilla Beach | Buccaneer Cove, Santiago Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Egas port is also known as James Bay. It is home to quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards, and Galapagos fur seals along the grottos and tide pools and is a great snorkeling site.
Possible Activities: Hike and snorkel
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Highlights: Fur seals, sea lions, tidal pools and grottos, Galapagos hawk, saltwater lagoon with flamingoes. Snorkeling – sea turtles, rays, sharks, and amazing underwater geological formations.

Buccaneer Cove: This cove is better known for excellent snorkeling opportunities and was once known as a refuge for British buccaneers or pirates. The underwater formations are amazing and many different species of fish gather here.
Possible Activities: Hike, kayak, dinghy ride, and snorkel
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Highlights: Historical pirate/buccaneer shelter site. Snorkeling – sea turtles, rays, sharks, and amazing underwater geological formations.

OR You will visit Espumilla Beach where marine iguanas lounge and the Sally-Lightfoot crabs attract the hunting herons and perform the dance of predator and prey right before your eyes. Snorkeling is highly recommended as you could find yourself face to face with an octopus, moray eel, shark, or a variety of other species of tropical fish.
Possible Activities: Hike, kayak, dinghy ride, and snorkel
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet Landing Highlights: Snorkeling, sea birds, historical sites, and rock formations.

Day 5: Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz | Disembark | Baltra Airport

  • 1 Breakfast
After breakfast, enjoy the visit to Black Turtle Cove, which is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz. It is a living illustration of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat. Three mangrove species crowd the area from the shore out into the lagoon, which reaches almost a mile inland. As you drift through quiet waters in the zodiac, you are likely to see spotted eagle rays and diamond-shaped mustard rays, which swim in a diamond formation. White-tipped reef sharks slip beneath the boat and Pacific green sea turtles come to the surface for air and to mate. Waterfowl, including pelicans, herons, and egrets, all feed in the cove. This is a peaceful place that will make you feel calm.
Possible Activities: Dinghy ride
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing: No Landing
Highlights: Various species of fish, white-tipped reef sharks, rays, and sea turtles.

Your cruise has officially come to an end. Hope you enjoyed your Galapagos Cruise! They will now transfer you to your scheduled departure from Baltra Airport to mainland Ecuador. Safe travels!

Ship/Hotel

Petrel

Petrel
Al fresco area
Living area

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$4,949
Stateroom cabin
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Stateroom
30 m2 / 323 ft2, Air Conditioner / Private Balcony, Convertible Twin or King Accommodation.
Suite cabin
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Suite
43 m2 / 463 ft2, Air Conditioner / Private Balcony, King or Triple Accommodation

Notes

Motor Catamaran PETREL
  • Capacity for 16 guests.
  • Cruise Concierge onboard.
  • 11 Crew Members.
  • 4, 5, 6, & 8 Day Journeys.
  • Expedition equipment.
  • Activities equipment.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Rates are subject to change regardless of circumstances. (Airfare, Control Visitor card, Galapagos Entrance Fee)
Keep in mind that for individual bookings, children must be at least 7 years old to participate in the tour
Please provide your wetsuite size in advance prior to trip

Child Discount

25% Discount applies when traveling with two adults. Children must be under 12 years old by the time they cruise. Child discounts are conditional and may not apply on certain departures. Please contact us for more information.

Children under 12 may receive discounts on Galapagos flight fares and entrance fees. Contact us for details.
Included
  • 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners
  • 4 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Snorkeling equipment, wetsuits, kayaks, and paddleboards are all included in the cruise cost and are available for your use onboard.
  • 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
  • Soft drinks and juices
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.
  • Alcoholic Drinks
  • Internal Flights: Mainland Ecuador - Galapagos - Mainland Ecuador: $475-675

Map

When to Go

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.

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