Safari to Isla Seymour Norte

invasive rodents were eradicated by armed drones

Set just north of Isla Baltra, Isla Seymour Norte is a small low-lying island which, given its proximity to the main airport, is surprisingly pleasant and interesting to visit.

Area : 1.9 sq km / 0.7 sq mi
Location : 3 km north of Seymour Airport

The island was formed by the uplift of submarine lava and only reaches a maximum altitude of 28m (92’). It is covered by low shrub vegetation, including Galapagos lava cactus plants.

The island was named after English nobleman, Lord Hugh Seymour.

During 2019 the authorities used drones to eradicate invasive black and brown rats from the island, which was the first time such an approach had been used on vertebrates in the wild. The hope is that this innovation will pave the way for cheaper invasive species eradications in the future on small and mid-sized islands.

Landing site SY1 : Seymour Norte
Activities : walking, bird-watching
Highlights : iguanas, blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds

Seymour Norte is home to large populations of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and frigatebirds.

The island is also home to an important population of around 400 Galapagos land iguanas, which were translocated here from Baltra Island in the 1930s. This turned out to be a fortunate event, since the iguanas on the latter island were later exterminated during the Second World War, when a huge US airbase was built there. Some animals have since been taken back to Baltra and also to the much larger Isla Santiago, forming the basis of successful breeding colonies.

There is a trail of around 2 km (1.2 miles), which crosses the interior, where there is a small stand of silver-grey palo santo trees.

Here the blue-footed boobies have their nests and can be seen conducting their mating rituals, offering each other gifts, whistling and honking, stretching their necks towards the sky, spreading their wings and dancing
The island has the largest population of magnificent frigatebirds and great frigatebirds, which are typically perched on low bushes near to the boobies, while watching over their own large chicks. These huge acrobatic birds can have a 2.3m (90”) wingspan and the males have enormous scarlet throat sacks that they can inflate into giant red balloons.

The boobies and frigatebirds have an interesting relationship. Boobies are excellent hunters and fish in flocks. The frigatebirds, by comparison, are pirates. They dive-bomb the boobies to force them to drop their prey, swooping down to pick up the food before it hits the water.

It is important not to leave the trail to take a closer look at these birds or the iguanas, as you may cause them to abandon their nests.

The path also explores the rocky foreshore, where swallowtail gulls and tropicbirds sit perched on ledges. Marine iguanas and sea lions can also usually be encountered at close quarters.

Offshore there are often flocks of pelicans, swallow-tailed gulls and (seasonally) Nazca boobies.

Landing site SY2 : Islote Mosquera
Activities : beaches, swimming, snorkelling, diving
Highlights : sea lions, sharks

The tiny Islote Mosquera lies in the channel between Isla Seymour Norte and Isla Baltra.

It has a wonderful white sand beach, which is usually home to one of the largest colonies of Galapagos sea lions. These animals can usually be approached to within a few paces, but care should be taken not to scare or aggravate them, as they can become very aggressive.

There have been occasional sightings of orcas (killer whales) coming up onto the beaches to prey on sea lion pups (the same way as they more famously do on the Peninsula Valdes in Argentina).

Swimming off the main beach is possible, but you should avoid doing so when dominant male sea lions are around.

Visitors should also take great care to avoid trading on the sparse and delicate vegetation, nor to disturb the lava gulls, which may abandon their nests.

The landing usually involves getting your feet wet and can be quite tricky on a low tide or when there’s a heavy swell, especially Dec-Mar.

There are also some interesting dive sites in the area.

If you specifically want to include Isla Seymour Norte in your trip, then do let us know and we will make sure that you get onto the best and most appropriate vessel.

The island is usually included in the following live-aboard cruise itineraries.

The island can also be visited on day trips from the hotels on Isla Santa Cruz.

sometimes included in boat itineraries as a first or last stop