M/C Petrel
Galapagos, Ecuador
At a Glance
Cruise the islands in complete Luxury in the newly-built Petrel
Bilingual Galapagos National Park Naturalist Guide onboard
Kayaks and snorkel gear onboard
Huge sun deck with Jacuzzi for relaxing at the end of the day
All cabins and suites have private balcony for extra privacy
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
There's never a bad time to visit the Galapagos. The peak season lasts from mid-June through early September and from mid-December through mid-January. The national park limits the number of visitors to each island and coordinates each ship's itinerary, so the Galapagos will never feel like Disney World. But if you visit in the summer, you are less likely to feel a sense of solitude and isolation. From December through to May the water and the air are warmer, but this is the rainy season. It drizzles almost daily for a short period of time. Ironically, this is also the sunniest time of year.
June through November, the Humboldt Current makes it way up to the Galapagos from the southern end of South America. The current brings cold water and cold weather, but it also brings water rich in nutrients and plankton, which attracts fish and birds. During this season there always seem to be clouds in the air, but it rarely rains. It's also quite windy, and the seas tend to be rougher.
Insider's View
This boat only accommodates 16 people. The smaller the boat, the more intimate of an experience you have with the wildlife!
Call us on 858 345 1763 to start planning your vacation to M/C Petrel or take a look at our itineraries to Ecuador
Description
Follow in Darwin's footsteps and visit the magnificent Galapagos Islands in style onboard the M/C Petrel, a luxury motorized catamaran, to encounter spectacular wildlife in comfort.
This ample vessel is named after the Petrel, a sea bird that is common to these islands. Like the bird, the boat is elegant, fast and silent, giving guests the best and most comfortable journey whilst at sea. The M/C Petrel offers guests a first class experience with spacious cabins and suites, a large comfortable lounge and a sundeck complete with Jacuzzi for stargazing or watching the sunset with a cocktail.
There is a distinct emphasis on the natural history of the Galapagos islands during your stay onboard, and your crew will comprise a bilingual Galapagos National Park naturalist guide who will make the experience all the more wondrous, explaining the details of the incredible flora and fauna that you will encounter, as well as the fascinating history of the Islands.
The vessel also comes equipped with wetsuits and snorkeling equipment to allow guests to explore the islands independently. There is a chef and sous chef on board to prepare meals for guests daily using fresh ingredients.
Accommodation
The vessel has 7 cabins and 2 suites, all come with ensuite and private balcony for extra privacy.
Facilities
| Galapagos National Park Naturalist Guide | The crew includes one bilingual Galapagos Park naturalist guide. |
| Sun Deck and Jacuzzi | The top deck has sunbeds as well as a Jacuzzi. |
| Dining | Meals onboard the Petrel are either served in the elegant indoor dining room or when weather and sea-conditions allow, on the upper deck where there's an al fresco bar and tables. Most meals are buffet-style. Guests can help themselves to purified water and teas, coffees and hot chocolate. |
| Private Balconies | All cabins have their own private balcony. |
| Available Gear | There is snorkeling equipment and wetsuits available. There are also kayaks which can be used with a guide only. |
Activities
The Galapagos Islands are a must for wildlife lovers who will be enthralled by the curious nature of many of the unique inhabitants such as Blue footed Boobies, Galapagos penguins, giant tortoises and sea-lions. Being in the Galapagos is much like a safari, the crew includes a bilingual Galapagos National Park Naturalist Guide who will explain the fantastic flora and fauna that you will see on the islands. Your day is likely to include a couple of different visits on one particular island which are reached by inflatable rubber zodiacs and most days include snorkeling which is one of the highlights of a trip (wetsuits are provided free of charge onboard the Petrel). Guided kayaking is also available. If you are an active enthusiast, certain islands offer more adventure than others such as longer hikes or cave rapelling, but otherwise the Galapagos is a gentle experience.
Since the length of cruise varies and the visits to the islands are strictly regulated to ensure minimal impact on the wildlife, it is important for us to know if there are any particularly animals that you would like to see because they are not on all of the islands.
Location & directions
Galapagos, Ecuador
The Galapagos archipelago consists of 19 volcanic islands and 40 islets, 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador.
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