North Seymour Island

North Seymour Island

North Seymour Island is a small island located close to Baltra Island in the Galapagos archipelago. It was created by the emergence of an underwater lava formation, and is today covered by low, shrubby vegetation. It has an area of only 1.9 km2 and its highest point is 28 meters. The island has no settlement, but there is a 2-kilometer trail for visitors, with guided tours of the interior and the rocky coast. A large population of Blue-Footed Boobies and Swallow-Tailed Gulls live in North Seymour. Offshore, you can see flocks of pelicans and Swallow-Tailed Gulls feeding and, seasonally, Nazca Boobies. The population of Galápagos Land Iguanas is slowly growing in the island. According to a 2014 census by the Galapagos National Park, North Seymour is now home to nearly 2,500 Land Iguanas. The island is also home to one of the largest populations of Sea Lions, and its sandy expanses provide visitors with the perfect opportunity to observe and learn about how Sea Lions behave. There are hundreds of sharks such as the Tiger Shark, Galapagos Shark, Reef Shark and others that swim along the coast of this island. The upwelling phenomenon, generated by the cold currents, increases the marine diversity in this snorkeling and diving area.