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North Seymour - North Seymour Visitor Sites
Visitor Sites

NORTH SEYMOUR

It is a fascinating place to see blue-footed boobies nesting and frigatebirds colonies.

This is perhaps one of the busiest tourists destinations on the Archipelago, right next to Baltra Island (where the airport is located) and not far from Santa Cruz.  North Seymour is a fascinating place with open nesting grounds of blue-footed Boobies and the archipelago’s largest colonies of Great and magnificent Frigate birds. You will also encounter sea lions, swallow-tailed Gulls and on a lucky day, you might even come across a Galapagos Snake.

North Seymour is a tectonic uplift. In terms of its geology, it is the result of the earth’s crust uplifting from below sea level, and this has created a potpourri of geologic formations. This phenomenon causes the island cliffs to drop dramatically into the ocean. Crustaceans, reptiles and plant species can be found here, many of which inhabit the intertidal zone (or foreshore).

The ground is at and strewn with Palo Santo or holy stick trees (a type of sandalwood noteworthy for its strong aroma) and gray saltbush, among white-splashed rocks. While walking, make sure you don’t step on any blue-footed booby nests. They won’t move, but you can. Respect their space and always follow the trail.

Galapagos Frigate and travelers at the North Seymour Island

  • Disembarking: Dry.
  • Type of Terrain: Rocky & Sandy.
  • Difficulty: Medium.
  • Activities: 25 min glass-bottom boat / 45 min deep snorkeling / 1 hour 45 min hike.
  • Highlights: Blue-footed Boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas; Swallow- tailed Gulls perch on cliff edges; Great Blue Herons, Lava Herons, two species of frigate birds, and endemic snakes can also be spotted. You’ll find endemic land iguanas 3.9 ft (1.20 m) in length. Despite the tremendous surf pounding the outer shores, sea lions haul their slick bodies onto the beach and can be found together with marine iguanas. The vegetation is sparse and typical of arid zones.

Wildlife by visitor site

Fragatebird icon
GALAPAGOS FRIGATE
Blue Footed icon
BLUE FOOTED BOOBY
Pelican icon

GALAPAGOS PELICAN

Land Iguana icon

LAND IGUANA

Marine iguana icon
MARINE IGUANA
Sea Lion icon
SEA LION

Gallery

Galapagos Frigate and a traveler looking face to face
North Seymour in Galapagos Islands with tourist looking a seagull and others seabirds
Hiking at the North Seymour island
A Galapagos guide, travelers and a sea lion listening the explanation about the North Seymour Island
A land iguana at the North Seymouyr Island
A blue footed booby flying at the North Seymour Island
North Seymour in Galapagos Islands view of the blue footed boobie dance
North Seymour in Galapagos Islands with tourist playing with a frigate
North Seymour in Galapagos Islands view of the frigates dance
North Seymour in Galapagos Islands view of the frigates dance
North Seymour in Galapagos Islands view of the frigates dance
North Seymour in Galapagos Islands view of the blue footed boobie dance
North Seymour in Galapagos Islands with tourist taking a picture and frigates
North Seymour in Galapagos Islands view of the blue footed boobie and tourist
North Seymour in Galapagos Islands view of the M/V Galapagos Legend

Suggested items

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CAMERA
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GLASSES
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SHORTS
Cap
CAP
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SHOES
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WETSUIT
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SNORKELING

Location Map

Location Map