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Wildlife bingoWhereTours Updated Nov 6, 2026

Where to see land iguanas in the Galápagos

Big yellow iguanas that live on cactus, spines included. North Seymour has about 2,500 of them along the visitor trail.

  • likelyodds of seeing one
  • All yearbest months
  • 3places to see it
  • VulnerableIUCN status
Galápagos land iguana
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 3.0

Short answer: Take a North Seymour day tour from Santa Cruz: about 2,500 land iguanas live along the trail, so a sighting is very likely. South Plaza is another day tour from Santa Cruz with iguanas, and Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz is tied to a breeding and repatriation programme. They are there in every month.

The Galápagos land iguana is endemic and listed as Vulnerable. Santa Fe has its own separate species. The North Seymour population grew from about 70 iguanas moved there from Baltra in the early 1930s.

When to see land iguanas

  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: All year. Odds of seeing one: likely.

Where to see land iguanas

Day trip

North Seymour (about 2,500 iguanas, introduced from Baltra)

Day tour from Santa Cruz.

North Seymour · from Santa Cruz

Visitor site

Dragon Hill (breeding and repatriation programme)

Visitor site; check whether day tours land here.

Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz island guide

Day trip

South Plaza

Day tour from Santa Cruz.

South Plaza · from Santa Cruz

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.

Which tour goes there

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Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. Many multi-day packages start in Quito, so check what is included. 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 factNorth Seymour's 2,500 land iguanas grew from roughly 70 animals moved there from Baltra in the early 1930s. Cactus makes up about four-fifths of their diet, spines included.
  • Size0.9 to 1.5 m long and up to 13 kg.
  • Scientific nameConolophus subcristatus, found only in the Galápagos

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 land iguanas in the Galápagos?

North Seymour, a day tour from Santa Cruz, with about 2,500 iguanas along the trail. South Plaza and Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz add chances, and Santa Fe has its own iguana species.

What do Galápagos land iguanas eat?

Mostly cactus: it makes up about four-fifths of their diet, spines included.

How big are Galápagos land iguanas?

0.9 to 1.5 m long and up to 13 kg.

Also on the card

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Sources:Galápagos National Park and Governing Council, 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.