NORTH SEYMOUR

Lying just to the north of Baltra, Seymour is a low island consisting of uplifted submarine lava. The dry landing on black basaltic lava can be slippery. After a short climb over the “pillow lavas” the rest of the trail is flat and easy, apart from some boulders on the frigatebird loop. The landing is rich in wildlife: sea-lions, swallow-tailed gulls, lava gulls, tropicbirds, brown noddy terns and pelicans. The trail is a large loop; you can either go clockwise along the shore or head inland to visit the booby colony first.

Heading along the shore, you traverse a wide expanse of sand criss-crossed with marine iguana trails. These reptiles nest here, so be careful where you tread. Some of the islands’s finest waves pound a boulder beach on your left; young sea-lions often body-surf here. Looking west, there are good views of the two Daphne islands, Major and Minor.

Right of the trail are saltbush clumps on which magnificent frigatebirds nest. Males and females nest in the trees; frigates are unusual for Galapagos seabirds in building a nest of twigs. A side trail goes inland to the breeding area. Here it can get a bit rocky, so watch your step. Another branch turns the other way to a flatter area where blue-footed boobies nest. During courtship they spend hours handing nesting materials (twigs and small stones) to each other, but never actually construct a nest. The area where the eggs are laid is marked by a ring of white guano. The palo santo trees here are an endemic species. During the garua season they look dead, but after the rains in February, they turn green almost overnight. Other endemic plants include Opuntia cactus, Croton, Castela, and Sesuvium. On rare occasions large land iguanas are seen under a shady bush. They were originally from Baltra (or South Seymour), but were brought over here by scientists many years ago to see if they would survive.