North Seymour Island (Isla Seymour Norte)

The basics

While walking along the visitor’s pathway on North Seymour Island, you may catch the famous courtship dance of the boobies, along with incredible frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls, and other Galapagos birds. Watch along the coastline for marine iguanas and sea lions as well. Also, be sure to take notice of the spectacular black-and-white lava rocks that surround the coast.

If you’re traveling to the Galapagos to dive, consider adding North Seymour Island to your itinerary. Here, you might spot hammerheads, sea lions, the Pacific green sea turtle, garden eels, and hundreds of beautifully colored tropical fish. Guided tours via yacht from Santa Cruz are available. You can also book a multi-day cruise that includes the island along its route.

Things to know before you go

• Because the island is an important fishing site for marine birds, many ornithologists flock here.

• The island’s upwelling phenomenon (when cooler, nutrient-rich water replaces warmer surface water) helps promote its marine diversity, perfect for snorkeling and diving.

• The island’s terrain is rocky and partly sandy, and is considered difficult to navigate on foot.

How to get there

North Seymour Island is quite close to Baltra, the main Galapagos airport. Though most boat tours leave from Santa Cruz or Isabela Island, there are boats that go directly between the two Seymours. Diving tours and multi-day cruises that follow a central route around the Galapagos typically include North Seymour on their itineraries.

When to get there

If you prefer cooler weather, visit the Galapagos between June and September, when temperatures are a few degrees colder than the rest of the year. That said, the weather on the island doesn’t vary much throughout the year, making anytime a good time to visit. If you hope to see the blue-footed boobies’ courtship or the frigatebird’s red pouch, aim to visit in June.

Genovesa Island

Another bird watchers' paradise, Genovesa Island is home to an impressive amount and variety of birds, such as the red-footed boobies, short-eared lava owls, Galapagos swallows, and Galapagos doves. You’ll also spot blue-footed boobies, storm petrels, swallow-tailed gulls, and Galapagos mockingbirds. Head here in March and April to experience the frigatebird’s mating season.