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Wildlife bingoWhereTours Updated Nov 6, 2026

Where to see blue-footed boobies in the Galápagos

About half of all breeding pairs nest in the Galápagos, and North Seymour has a large colony right beside the trail.

  • commonodds of seeing one
  • Apr–Octbest months
  • 3places to see it
  • Least ConcernIUCN status
Blue-footed booby showing its blue feet
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

Short answer: Book a North Seymour day tour from Santa Cruz: the large colony there means you almost always see them. Cabo Rosa and Los Túneles, a day boat from Puerto Villamil on Isabela, is the other easy option. Some pairs nest in most months. April to October is the best window, with courtship dances from May and chicks on Española and Isabela in October.

Blue-footed boobies live along the eastern Pacific coast, and about half of all breeding pairs nest in the Galápagos. They breed whenever food allows, so nesting birds and chicks turn up outside the peak months too.

When to see blue-footed boobies

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Best months: Apr–Oct. Odds of seeing one: common.

  • MayBlue-footed boobies start courtship dances

Where to see blue-footed boobies

Day trip

North Seymour (large colony)

Day tour from Santa Cruz.

North Seymour · from Santa Cruz

Day trip

Cabo Rosa / Los Túneles

Day boat from Puerto Villamil.

Isabela · Isabela island guide

Cruise

Española and Isabela (chicks in October)

Cruise or tour.

Española / Isabela · Isabela island guide

EQUATOR · 0° Volcán Wolf≈ 1,670 mVolcán Wolf: highest point about 1,670 m in the GMRT elevation gridCerro Azul≈ 1,650 mCerro Azul: highest point about 1,650 m in the GMRT elevation gridSierra Negra≈ 1,110 mSierra Negra: highest point about 1,110 m in the GMRT elevation gridAlcedo≈ 1,130 mAlcedo: highest point about 1,130 m in the GMRT elevation gridVolcán Darwin≈ 1,370 mVolcán Darwin: highest point about 1,370 m in the GMRT elevation gridLa Cumbre≈ 1,440 mLa Cumbre (Fernandina): highest point about 1,440 m in the GMRT elevation gridSanta Cruz highlands≈ 820 mSanta Cruz highlands: highest point about 820 m in the GMRT elevation gridSan Cristóbal highlands≈ 680 mSan Cristóbal highlands: highest point about 680 m in the GMRT elevation gridSantiago≈ 890 mSantiago: highest point about 890 m in the GMRT elevation gridPinta≈ 610 mPinta: highest point about 610 m in the GMRT elevation grid ISABELAFERNANDINASANTIAGOSANTA CRUZSAN CRISTÓBALFLOREANAESPAÑOLAPINTAMARCHENAGENOVESASANTA FEPINZÓNBALTRA North SeymourBartoloméSanta FeSouth PlazaPinzónKicker RockLos TúnelesTintorerasTortuga BaySierra NegraPunta SuárezEl ChatoLas GrietasDarwin Station Puerto AyoraPuerto Baquerizo MorenoPuerto VillamilPuerto Velasco Ibarra ✈GPSBaltra (GPS)✈SCYSan Cristóbal (SCY)✈IBBIsabela (IBB) Giant tortoisesPenguinsPenguinsBlue-footed boobiesFlamingosFlamingosSea lions in townMarine iguanasFlightless cormorantsWaved albatross (Apr–Dec)Red-footed boobiesTurtles & sharks (snorkel)White-tip sharks ↖ Darwin & Wolf: dive boats only 050 km N
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · tiles OpenFreeMap · depth GMRT · photos Wikimedia Commons, credited in each cardNot for navigation.

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Which tour goes there

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Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure

Every tour on all islands, filtered by animal: day-tour finder.

Did you know?

  • Fun factThe blue comes from collagen in the skin plus carotenoid pigments from fresh fish. It fades within 48 hours without food, so bright feet mark a well-fed bird.
  • SizeAbout 81 cm long and 1.5 kg on average; females up to 90 cm; wingspan up to 1.5 m.
  • Scientific nameSula nebouxii

On every visit: keep 2 metres from wildlife, cameras included, and visit park sites with a certified naturalist guide. The full list: visitor rules.

Questions people ask

Where is the best place to see blue-footed boobies?

North Seymour, a day tour from Santa Cruz, has a large colony. Los Túneles (Cabo Rosa) is the best bet from Puerto Villamil on Isabela, and Española and Isabela have chicks in October.

When do blue-footed boobies dance?

Courtship dances start around May on North Seymour. Because they breed whenever food allows, you can find displays and chicks in other months too.

Why are a booby's feet blue?

The colour comes from collagen in the skin plus carotenoid pigments from fresh fish. It fades within 48 hours without food, so bright feet show a well-fed bird.

Also on the card

Print the wildlife bingo card · Best month for your trip · Plan your days

Sources:Galápagos National Park and Governing Council, Charles Darwin Foundation, Galápagos Conservation Trust, Galápagos Conservancy. More numbers:facts and figures.

Updated 2026-11-06. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.