Small island with a big impact!
With only 1,8 km2 North Seymour seems insignificant, but the first impression is deceptive. Many species of animals typical of the Galapagos live here in a small area, making the island a real insider tip. The clumsy blue-footed boobies dance the wedding dance and the large breeding colony of frigate birds gives hope for impressive red throat sacs. Round, googly eyes of young sea lions and yellow Galapagos land iguanas complete the exotic flair. In the dry season, the intense red of the Sesuvia conjures up a wonderful color contrast. Pure Galapagos feeling.
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Galapagos land iguanas are actually not part of the island's original fauna. However, when the population on the neighboring island of Baltra was on the verge of extinction, seventy of these lizards were brought to North Seymour in 1931 and 1932. There the reptiles reproduced undisturbed. In 1991 Baltra could then be repopulated with the help of these offspring.
Funny blue-footed boobies, cute seals, scaly lizards and frigate birds with flashy, red throat pouches. The Galapagos Island of North Seymour has it all. Great things can be experienced here on a small tour of the island. And there are also many surprises waiting under water.
Fascinated, I freeze in the middle of the movement when suddenly a giant eagle ray floats into my field of vision. Everything around me loses its meaning and for some wonderful moments my world revolves around this big, winged fish. Silently, weightlessly and undeterred, it passes me directly ... A second follows and my luck doubles. Impressive, charismatic and incredibly close.
Fascinated, I freeze in the middle of the movement when suddenly a giant eagle ray floats into my field of vision. Everything around me loses its meaning and for some wonderful moments my world revolves around this big, winged fish. Silently, weightlessly and undeterred, it passes me directly ... A second follows and my luck doubles. Impressive, charismatic and incredibly close.
Ecuador • Galapagos • Galapagos trip • North Seymour Island
AGE ™ visited the island of North Seymour for you:
How can I reach North Seymour?
North Seymour is an uninhabited island. It can only be visited in the company of an official nature guide. This is possible with a cruise as well as on guided excursions. A shuttle bus takes day visitors from Puerto Ayora to the north side of Santa Cruz. There the excursion boat starts at the Itabaca Canal and reaches North Seymour after about an hour.
What can I do on North Seymour?
The main attraction is the approx. 1 km long circular route across the island. The nature guide explains different animal species and gives visitors time to be amazed and take photos. The beaten path leads from the jetty on the cliffs into the interior and over a short stretch of beach back to the boat. Day trips also include snorkeling and often a stop on the small sandy island of Mosquera.
What animal sightings are likely?
Blue-footed boobies and frigate birds nest on North Seymour, which is why they are seen regularly. Sometimes you can see other sea birds, like the fork-tailed gull. In 2014 the Galapagos National Park counted around 2500 land iguanas. So the chances are very good that you will also be near the visitor path. Marine iguanas, on the other hand, can only rarely be observed. A sea lion colony lives on the beach and the snorkeling tour promises beautiful schools of fish and, with a little luck, sea lions, rays, white tip reef sharks and sea turtles.
How can I book a tour to North Seymour?
North Seymour is featured on many cruises because the island is not too far from where ships anchor. If you are traveling to the Galapagos individually, it is easiest to inquire with your accommodation in advance. Some hotels book excursions directly, others give you the contact details of a local agency. Of course, there are also online providers, but booking via direct contact is usually more useful. Outside the high season, last minute places are sometimes available in the port of Santa Cruz.
A wonderful place!
5 reasons to visit North Seymour
Blue footed booby wedding dance
Courtship of the frigate birds
Galapagos land iguanas
large sea lion colony
often including the island of Mosquera
North Seymour Island
Namur | Spanish: Seymour Norte English: North Seymour |
Size | 1,8 km2 |
Age | estimated according to the neighboring island of Baltra: approx. 700.000 years to 1,5 million years (first surface above sea level) |
vegetation | Salt bushes, Galapagos, Sesuvia |
Wildlife | Mammals: Galapagos Sea Lions Reptiles: Baltra land iguana, lava lizards Birds: blue-footed boobies, frigate birds |
Protection status | Uninhabited island Visit only with the official guide of the national park |
Ecuador • Galapagos • Galapagos trip • North Seymour Island
North Seymour is part of the Galapagos National Park. The Galapagos Archipelago is a two-hour flight from mainland Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. The island of North Seymour is located quite centrally in the archipelago, north of the island of Baltra. The small island of Puerto Ayora on the island of Santa Cruz is approached. The boat trip takes about an hour.
Temperatures are between 20 and 30 ° C all year round. December to June is the hot season and July to November is the warm season. The rainy season lasts from January to May, the rest of the year is dry season. During the rainy season, the water temperature is highest at around 26 ° C. In the dry season it drops to 22 ° C.
Ecuador • Galapagos • Galapagos trip • North Seymour Island
Bill White & Bree Burdick, edited by Hooft-Toomey Emilie & Douglas R. Toomey for a project of the Charles Darwin Research Station, topographical data compiled by William Chadwick, Oregon State University (undated), Geomorphology. Age of the Galapagos Islands. [online] Retrieved on July 04.07.2021th, XNUMX, from URL:https://pages.uoregon.edu/drt/Research/Volcanic%20Galapagos/presentation.view@_id=9889959127044&_page=1&_part=3&.html
Biology page (undated), Opuntia echios. [online] Retrieved on June 15.08.2021, XNUMX, from URL: https://www.biologie-seite.de/Biologie/Opuntia_echios
Galapagos Conservancy (oD), The Galapagos Islands. Baltra. [online] Retrieved on June 15.08.2021, XNUMX, from URL:
https://www.galapagos.org/about_galapagos/about-galapagos/the-islands/baltra/
Galapagos Conservancy (oD), The Galapagos Islands. North Seymour. [online] Retrieved on August 15.08.2021, XNUMX, from URL:
https://www.galapagos.org/about_galapagos/about-galapagos/the-islands/north-seymour/