Mosquera Islet Sea Lion Beach
Barely a speck on the map between Baltra and North Seymour, Mosquera Islet is a crescent of blinding white coral sand that most travellers drift past without stopping. Those who do land find one of the most relaxed sea lion colonies in the archipelago — curious juveniles that will swim circles around you in the shallows.
Swimming with the locals
Mosquera's beach is covered in coral sand and occupied almost entirely by Galápagos sea lions, who treat human visitors as mildly entertaining furniture. The juvenile sea lions in particular are irresistibly playful, darting between snorkellers and blowing bubbles in your mask.
The waters around the islet are clear and shallow close to shore, deepening quickly into channels where divers and snorkellers regularly spot sharks, rays and barracudas. Lava gulls, herons and the occasional blue-footed booby also patrol the shoreline.
A geological curiosity
Unlike the volcanic islands around it, Mosquera is a product of coral and sediment accumulation rather than lava — a low, flat sandbar that sits almost at sea level. Its fragility is part of its magic: the islet looks different every season as sand shifts and sea lions rearrange themselves.
Access is only possible by panga from a day-tour boat, so the islet never gets crowded. Visits are typically short — 30 to 45 minutes — but the density of wildlife per square metre makes it feel like a full afternoon.
Mosquera Islet Sea Lion Beach on video
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