Galapagos Islands: Month by Month

Also known as the “Enchanted Islands”, the Galapagos Islands is a paradise where animals have no fear of man; it is a magical realm where creatures seem to be enchanted. They have fantastic, unique and fascinating forms with behaviors impossible to find anywhere else in the world.

Due to the uniqueness of the archipelago UNESCO declared the Galapagos Islands a World Natural Heritage.

Biodiversity thrived in a territory of volcanic material that emerged from the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean millions of years ago. Cormorants forgot to fly, iguanas learned to swim, Turtles became gigantic, and sharks mild. This is a place where sea lions show off their swimming skills and blue-footed boobies perform their elegant two-step mating dance right in front of you. The archipelago is located in the Pacific Ocean 600 miles, or 965 km, off the Ecuadorian mainland. Its wonders include impressive geological formations, old and new outcrops, various types of cones and tunnels formed by underground streams and currents.

White, red and black sand beaches with extraordinary landscapes highlight the diversity of life itself. This is where Charles Darwin was inspired to draw up his theory on evolution and the origin of species and here is what visitors can expect throughout the year:

CLIMATE CONDITIONS:
  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 30/22C, 86/72F
  • Average Rainfall: 2.5cm, 1.0in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 24.5C / 76F
  • Best underwater visibility (along with Feb & March)
  • The sun is very intense during this month. We Recommend sun-block SPF 30 or higher.
ANIMALS MATING / BREEDING:
  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Sea turtles nesting
  • Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas mating
  • Magnificent and Great Frigate birds nesting (year-round on North Seymour Only)
  • Tortoises laying eggs (in the wild)
  • Flightless Cormorants, Penguins and Greater Flamingoes breeding and nesting (year-round, depending on food supply)
CLIMATE CONDITIONS:
  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 30 / 24C, 86 / 75F
  • Average Rainfall: 2.5cm, 1.0in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 25C / 77F
  • Best underwater visibility (along with Jan & March)
  • Water temperature is the highest all year (until April)
  • The sun is very intense during this month. We Recommend sun-block SPF 30 or higher.
ANIMALS MATING / BREEDING:
  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Green Sea turtles nesting
  • Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas nesting
  • Magnificent and Great Frigate birds nesting (year-round on North Seymour Only)
  • Tortoises laying eggs (in the wild)
  • Flightless Cormorants, Penguins and Greater Flamingoes breeding and nesting (year-round, depending on food supply)
CLIMATE CONDITIONS:
  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 31 / 24C, 88 / 75F
  • Average Rainfall: 5.1cm, 2.0in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 25C / 77F
  • Best underwater visibility (along with Jan & Feb)
  • Rainy season reaches its peak in the highlands
  • Water temperature is the highest all year (until April)
  • The sun is very intense during this month. We Recommend sun-block SPF 30 or higher.

ANIMALS MATING / BREEDING:

  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Green Sea turtles nesting
  • Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas nesting
  • Magnificent and Great Frigate birds nesting (year-round on North Seymour Only)
  • Great Frigate birds mating and nesting on Genovesa (Tower) Island
  • Tortoises laying eggs (in the wild)
  • Flightless Cormorants, Penguins and Greater Flamingoes breeding and nesting (year-round, depending on food supply)
CLIMATE CONDITIONS:
  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 31 / 24C, 88 / 75F
  • Average Rainfall: 3.8cm, 1.5in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 25C / 77F
  • Rainy season reaches its peak in the highlands
  • Water temperature is the highest all year
  • The sun is very intense during this month. We Recommend sun-block SPF 30 or higher.
ANIMALS MATING / BREEDING:
  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Green sea turtles nesting
  • Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas nesting
  • Magnificent and Great Frigate birds nesting (year-round on North Seymour Only)
  • Waved albatross begin mating and nesting
  • Great Frigate birds mating and nesting on Genovesa (Tower) Island
  • Tortoises laying eggs (in the wild)
  • Flightless Cormorants, Penguins and Greater Flamingoes breeding and nesting (year-round, depending on food supply)
CLIMATE CONDITIONS:
  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 28 / 22C, 82 / 72F
  • Hours of clear skies: 5.2
  • Average Rainfall: 1.9cm, 0.75in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 24.5C / 76F
  • Beginning of the Garua season (cool dry season – until December)
  • Along with the month of June, this month offers the most pleasant weather. The intense hot climate of the earlier months begins to cool off, but there are still plenty of hours of clear skies.
ANIMALS MATING / BREEDING:
  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Green Sea turtles nesting season is ending
  • Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas nesting
  • Waved albatross nesting
  • Magnificent and Great Frigate birds nesting (year-round on North Seymour Only)
  • Great Frigate birds mating and nesting on Genovesa (Tower) Island
  • Tortoises laying eggs (in the wild)
  • Flightless Cormorants, Penguins and Greater Flamingoes breeding and nesting (year-round, depending on food supply)

 

For more information about the Galapagos Islands, don’t forget to visit: