Short answer: On a land-based trip the only realistic chance is a boat day tour from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to Punta Pitt on San Cristóbal, the one site where all three booby species nest together. The big colonies are on Genovesa, which only cruises visit. The birds are there all year, and nesting starts in January.
Red-footed boobies live across the tropics and are listed as Least Concern. Genovesa holds over 200,000 seabirds, and about 5% of its red-footed boobies are white rather than brown.
When to see red-footed boobies
Best months: All year. Odds of seeing one: lucky.
- JanNazca and red-footed booby nesting starts
Where to see red-footed boobies
Punta Pitt (only site with all three booby species nesting)
Boat day tour from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
San Cristóbal · San Cristóbal island guide
Genovesa (over 200,000 birds)
Cruise only.
Genovesa
See Red-footed boobies on the 3D map →
Which tour goes there
No day tour in our listings goes where red-footed boobies live; the sites above are cruise stops or need a local boat. Compare every tour by island and animal in the day-tour finder, or weigh a cruise in land or cruise?.
Did you know?
- Fun factAbout 5% of the red-footed boobies on Genovesa are white rather than brown.
- SizeAbout 70 cm long with a wingspan of up to 152 cm: the smallest booby.
- Scientific nameSula sula
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 can you see red-footed boobies in the Galápagos?
In large numbers on Genovesa, on cruise itineraries. From land, take a boat day tour from San Cristóbal to Punta Pitt, where all three booby species nest.
Can you see red-footed boobies without a cruise?
Yes, at Punta Pitt on a boat day tour from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It is the only realistic chance on a land-based trip.
How big is a red-footed booby?
About 70 cm long with a wingspan of up to 152 cm; it is the smallest booby.
Also on the card
Print the wildlife bingo card · Best month for your trip · Plan your days
Sources:Galápagos National Park and Governing Council, Galápagos Conservancy, Galápagos Conservation Trust. More numbers:facts and figures.
Updated 2026-11-06. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.