This full-day excursion to Los Petreles Reserve takes you into the lush highlands of San Cristóbal Island, a unique ecosystem bordering the Galápagos National Park. Managed by Fundación Jocotoco, this protected area plays a vital role in the conservation of the Galápagos Petrel, one of the most endangered seabirds in the archipelago.
The reserve is characterized by dense Miconia forests, endemic tree ferns, and freshwater sources, offering outstanding scenery and excellent opportunities to learn about conservation efforts while enjoying a peaceful natural setting away from the coast.
Los Petreles Reserve is a key breeding site for the Galápagos Petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia), an endemic seabird facing serious threats both on land and at sea, including habitat loss, introduced predators, incidental bycatch, and pollution. This visit offers travelers a meaningful opportunity to support active conservation projects while gaining a deeper understanding of Galápagos biodiversity.
This tour operates year-round.
Garúa season (cool): 12–18°C, misty and windy conditions
Warm season: 19–33°C, sunnier with occasional rain
Los Petreles Reserve And Its Hidden Treasures
This trip will take you through great scenery in the upper part of San Cristobal Island. Los Petreles Reserve. The road will border the national protected area of the National Park and Fundación Jocotoco’s Los Petreles Reserve therefore the wildlife is great, and the scenery is quite amazing. The altitudinal range covered is over 300 to 540 masl. We spend the entire morning in the area, in this ecosystem covered by a forest of Miconia (Miconia robinsoniana), Galapagos tree ferns (Cythea weatherbyana), reed (Pteridium aquilinum arachnoideum) among others.
The climate can vary by season, Garua (cold) reaches temperatures of 12° to 18°C, and winds from the south collide directly with the reserve. And in the rainy season (heat) where the temperature range goes from 19° to 33°C, the sun predominates and sometimes there is rain.
Los Petreles Reserve is located in the highlands of San Cristobal Island. It is located 18km from the port, it is adjacent to the Galapagos National Park (Laguna: El Junco) to the northwest, it is 110 hectares. This strategic site is a key breeding area of the Galapagos Petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia) and also protects among the largest freshwater sources on the island.
The Galapagos Petrel is an endemic seabird and is considered Critically Endangered. This specie is part of the Procellariiformes group, the most threatened seabird order. The threats are found both on land and at sea including habitat loss, predators at their breeding sites, incidental bycatch in fisheries, and pollution.
Once the group arrives at the reserve, will have a welcome briefing by one of our forest rangers. Then, you will visit the Interpretation Center.
The group will make a walk through the trail to explore the area and visit colony number about Petrel biology and ecology, its threats, and the impacts that have made this bird to be critically endangered.
After the visit, you will serve a box lunch while enjoying the surroundings. Return to San Cristobal in the afternoon. End of services.
