North Seymour

Island

By Karey Fuhs

Since the 1.9 km2 uplifted island of North Seymour is located just north of Baltra, it is a popular first excursion or finale of a cruise tour and a good day trip from Puerto Ayora.

A dry landing leads to a circular trail (about 2.5 km long) through some of the most active sea bird breeding colonies in the archipelago. Following the trail along the beach, you should see blue-footed boobies and pelicans fishing, swallow-tail gulls and frigatebirds flying, and marine iguanas resting on the rocky shore. If you take a rest on the rocks and patiently look out at the sea, you will probably see a sea lion or two surfing the waves. Further along the trail, you will see hordes of male frigatebirds nesting--attracting females with their inflated red sack--and the occasional land iguana.

Regardless of the time of year you visit, you are likely to observe some kind of courtship, mating, nesting, or chick nesting on North Seymour. And since both boobies and frigatebirds often make their nests close to the trail, you may get a very good close-up shot. The snorkeling and diving at North Seymour is also excellent. From the surface, you are bound to see white-tipped reef sharks, triggerfish, surgeonfish, and other colorful fish.

If you are diving in the Canal, you are likely see a host of Galápagos garden eels, moray eels, and the occasional diamond, golden, or manta ray. At Punta, hunt for white-tipped reef sharks and moray eels in caves and crevices.