This small island is home to some of the biggest colonies of seabirds in the Galápagos. It’s a good place to spot iguanas and sea turtles.
Come to North Seymour Island (Isla Seymour Norte), a rugged islet in the heart of the Galápagos Islands archipelago. This uninhabited island covers an area of about 470 acres (190 hectares), which consists of low-lying, arid and bushy vegetation. North Seymour Island is recognized as one of the most important breeding grounds for seabirds throughout the archipelago. It’s also home to the ubiquitous giant sea turtles. Iguanas, in groups known as slaughters, populate the rocky landscape.
Many visitors arrive on guided tours from Santa Cruz Island. North Seymour Island does not allow car traffic. Walk with a ranger along the loop trail in the island’s southwest corner. See huge colonies of blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, pelicans and swallow-tailed gulls. Observe the distinctive mating ritual of the boobies and marvel as the frigatebirds dive elegantly into the water to catch their prey.
Enjoy watching majestic marine wildlife from the shoreline. Come within touching distance of sunbathing sea lions and thousands of colorful iguanas. Find dive sites on the island’s ocean side and in the channel that separates it from Baltra Island. Galápagos sharks, manta rays, schools of tropical fish and white-tipped sharks are among the various aquatic animals that you can view.
Visit the tiny and barren Mosquera Island for more wildlife adventures. Watch giant sea turtles and sea lions at the white-sand beach. You may be able to swim alongside them. Stay alert for lava gulls and Sally Lightfoot crabs, too.
North Seymour Island lies north of Baltra Island, which sits above Santa Cruz Island. Day tours to the island depart regularly from both Santa Cruz Island and Isabela Island. These tours generally include an English-speaking guide, lunch, snacks, light refreshments and rentable snorkeling equipment. Some tours also incorporate a stop for swimming, snorkeling and spotting flamingos at Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz Island.
