Male Frigate bird with a red chest flying in North Seymour Island.

North Seymour Island Tour 2026

On this North Seymour Island tour, get up close and personal with magnificent Galapagos frigatebirds, with their red chests puffed out during the mating season; terrestrial iguanas camouflaged among Opuntia cacti; blue-footed boobies performing their courting dance; sea lions; lava herons, and other birds. An extraordinary adventure with snorkeling, beautiful trails, and unique wildlife.

Information about North Seymour: It is named after British naval officer Lord Hugh Seymour. Located north of Baltra, with an area of 1.9 km², formed by the elevation of subaquatic lava. It is covered by low, leafy vegetation. Its flat, arid terrain is home to the largest colony of frigatebirds on the archipelago.

Trip details:

• Departure time: 08:00 am.
• From: Puerto Ayora - Santa Cruz Island.
• Duration: 6 - 7 hours.
• Yacht capacity: 16 - 20 people.
• Sailing time: 45 minutes.
• Activities: 90% hiking and 10% snorkeling.

What animals can you see in Seymour?
• Magnificent frigatebirds
• Blue-footed boobies
• Terrestrial iguanas
• Lava lizards
• Marine iguanas
• Sea lions
• Black-necked stilt
• Swallow-tailed gull
• Lava herons
• Flamingos (at Las Bachas Beach)
• Colorful fish
• Sea Turtles

Prices:

$230 Economic Boat
$347 Standard Yacht
$369 Superior Yacht
$418 First class Yacht
$495 Luxury Yacht

Thalia Rosero, Travel Advisor Grupo Galapagos

How can I help you?

Hi! I'm Thalia Rosero let’s plan together your next trip to Galapagos islands.

WhatsApp me Now

Route of tour from Santa Cruz Island to North Seymour Island.

People heading towards the Itabaca Channel in the Galápagos.

North Seymour Tour Itinerary

How do you get to North Seymour Island?

This tour starts at 08:00 a.m. We will pick you up at your hotel or accommodation in Santa Cruz. The trip begins with a 40-minute land transfer to the Itabaca Canal, the boarding point for many Galapagos tours. When you arrive at the canal, you'll board a yacht heading to North Seymour Island.

The sail lasts around 45 minutes, a time during which you can enjoy the turquoise waters of the Galapagos sea and spectacular volcanic landscapes.

What activities are carried out?

• Nature photography
• Interpretive walk (90 %)
• Snorkeling (10 %)

Tourists watching a red-breasted frigatebird.

Trail walk

Level of difficulty: Moderate.
Upon arrival at North Seymour, we’ll begin a guided trail walk with a certified nature guide through trails lined with endemic vegetation and offering spectacular views. During the tour (of approximately 1h30min), you will be able to see up close the male magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens), with their iconic inflated red chests, a unique spectacle of the mating season.

A couple of Galapagos frigatebirds on North Seymour Island.

Red-breasted male frigatebird on a tree.

It is common to find blue-footed boobies a few meters away from the trail, unafraid of human visitors. This allows for close, natural photographs of their iconic mating dance, in which they lift their blue legs one by one in a unique ritual. It is possible to capture intimate moments of incubation and egg or chick care, as well as witness social interactions and flights over the surrounding area.

Person photographing blue-footed booby and chick

To finish off this experience, we couldn’t miss the iconic Galapagos terrestrial iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus), easily identifiable by their golden-yellow coat, resting under bushes or eating cacti.

Tourist photographing a Galapagos land iguana

Galapagos land iguana on North Seymour Island.

Galapagos land iguana perched on a rock.

This island is home to one of the largest populations of sea lions, which rest on volcanic rocks while their young cubs play in the calm waters.

Tourist photographing a juvenile sea lion

Lunch and sailing

After a delicious lunch aboard the yacht, there is a short navigation to the next destination.

Depending on the itinerary set by the boat's captain, the adventure continues with a visit to Las Bachas Beach or Mosquera Islet, two fascinating destinations in the north of the archipelago.

Snorkeling

Las Bachas beach

Located north of Santa Cruz Island, this coral beach is ideal for scenic shoreline walks and for landscape and coastal wildlife photography. Here you can snorkel and capture in your lens: Marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs (Grapsus grapsus), and shorebirds such as Eurasian whimbrels and herons that complete a scene full of color. On occasion, pink Flamingos can be spotted in a coastal lagoon.

Marine iguana with reddish tones resting on a rock.

Mosquera Islet
This small islet of white sand and rock formations is a hidden treasure between Seymour and Baltra. Here, the sea contrasts with the sand and black rocks, creating minimalist, clean compositions.

Return
After a short break and exchange of experiences, the return to the Itabaca Canal begins. From there, you will take a shuttle that will finally drop you off at your accommodation in Puerto Ayora.

If you like birds, this Seymour tour is for you!