Mosquera Islet
Mosquera is a tiny islet located between Baltra and N. Seymour Islands. It is basically a long, narrow beach with a large population of sea lions. Due to its proximity to the Baltra Airport, Mosquera is a favored Visitor Site for many of the yachts on the first or last day of the tour. Needless to say, this is a wet landing site; swimming and snorkeling are part of the activities.
You will note that Mosquera is flat, seemingly not related to the other volcanically-formed islands. Actually, as with several of the islands in the Galapagos, this area has been geologically uplifted. An uplift is a land mass formed by lava flowing through a subsurface geological fissure, gradually lifting the mass through and above the ocean surface. In the Galapagos, the uplifted islands have been over a million years in the making; marine fossils are still evident in many of these locations.
Land Visitor Sites
Mosquera Islet visitor site:
Wet Landing
This tiny sandy Island has no trail, but visitors land on the sandy beach to see the sea lion colony. Swimming and snorkeling with the playfull sea lions is a popular activity.
Along the rocks and in the tide pool area Sally Light-Foot Crabs (Red Lava Crabs) scamper back and forth, skipping across small pools of water in search of food. They follow the tide eating the algae and detritus left behind. These crabs bright red on top and blue on the bottom are stunning against the black lava.
