Galapagos Seasonality:
Is there a better or worse time to go?

The Galapagos Islands are a great year-round destination for a Galapagos luxury cruise and there really is no "off-season" as opposed to many other wildlife sanctuaries around the world. However, the high season for tourism tends to be from mid-December to January and from June to August, which coincides with the general holidays and vacation months of the northern hemisphere. If you are planning your Galapagos getaway during the "popular" holiday months, we recommend you book your trip at least 6 months prior to your desired travel date and when possible, even sooner.

For anyone interested in visiting the islands, there is really no better or worse time to visit. In part this is because the Galapagos Islands are right on the equator so that air and water temperatures do not vary much. In addition, almost all of the animal species you will see on the Islands arrived because they floated there on logs or beds of plants, or they were blown in. This means that species like the Galapagos penguin, flightless cormorant, marine iguana, land iguana, blue footed booby, Galapagos hawk, fur sea lion, California sea lion and many others spend the entire year in the Galapagos and do not migrate. The Waved Albatross is one of the few migratory exceptions and is best seen in spring and summer.

When to Visit Galapagos
A COMPLETE GUIDE ON GALAPAGOS SEASONS, CLIMATE, & WILDLIFE ACTIVITY

Download our detailed month-by-month guide to discover which animals you can see and what weather to expect.

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Galapagos Weather Month by Month

January in the Galapagos
JANUARY
HIGHLIGHTS | WATCH VIDEO:
  • Best month for snorkeling with penguins
  • Great Underwater visibility
  • Warm sunny days, with lots of hours of clear skies
  • Water temperatures are some of the warmest all year

More highlights


Climate conditions:

  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 30 / 22°C, 86 / 72°F
  • Average Rainfall: 2.5cm, 1.0in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 24.5°C / 76°F


Animals Mating / Breeding:

  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Green 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)

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Special Notes:

February in the Galapagos
FEBRUARY
HIGHLIGHTS | WATCH VIDEO:
  • Best Underwater visibility (along with March)
  • Warm sunny days. Most hours of clear skies of any month
  • Water temperatures are some of the warmest all year
  • Giant tortoises are laying eggs in the wild

More highlights


Climate conditions:

  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 30 / 24°C, 86 / 75°F
  • Average Rainfall: 2.5cm, 1.0in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 25°C / 77°F


Animals Mating / Breeding:

  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Green 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)

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Special Notes:

March in the Galapagos
MARCH
HIGHLIGHTS | WATCH VIDEO:
  • Best Underwater visibility (along with January & February)
  • Water temperature is the highest all year (along with April)
  • Land Iguanas begin mating (male fighting spectacles)
  • Highlands are very green and lush

More highlights


Climate conditions:

  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 31 / 24°C, 88 / 75°F
  • Average Rainfall: 5.1cm, 2.0in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 25°C / 77°F


Animals Mating / Breeding:

  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Green Sea turtles nesting
  • Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas mating
  • 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)

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Special Notes:

  • 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.
  • Additional information about March in the Galapagos.
April in the Galapagos
APRIL
HIGHLIGHTS | WATCH VIDEO:
  • Water temperature is the highest all year (along with March)
  • Flamingos breeding and nesting (bright colors)
  • Highlands are very green and lush
  • Some of the clearest skies all year

More highlights


Climate conditions:

  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 31 / 24°C, 88 / 75°F
  • Average Rainfall: 3.8cm, 1.5in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 25°C / 77°F


Animals Mating / Breeding:

  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Green sea turtles nesting
  • Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas mating
  • 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)

------------

Special Notes:

May in the Galapagos
MAY
HIGHLIGHTS | WATCH VIDEO:
  • Cooler season begins (days are not as hot)
  • Most pleasant weather all year (along with June)
  • Waved Albatross arrive to Galapagos and begin nesting
  • Humboldt Current gets stronger (nutrient rich waters attract marine life)

More highlights


Climate conditions:

  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 28 / 22°C, 82 / 72°F
  • Average Rainfall: 1.9cm, 0.75in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 24.5°C / 76°F


Animals Mating / Breeding:

  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Green Sea turtles nesting
  • Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas mating
  • 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)

------------

Special Notes:

  • 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.
  • Additional information about May in the Galapagos.
June in the Galapagos
JUNE
HIGHLIGHTS | WATCH VIDEO:
  • Most pleasant weather all year (along with May)
  • Flightless Cormorants start nesting (depending on food supply)
  • Stronger Humboldt Current makes marine life active (great for snorkeling)
  • Little rainfall in the highlands

More highlights


Climate conditions:

  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 26 / 21°C, 79 / 70°F
  • Average Rainfall: 0.6cm, 0.25in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 23°C / 73°F


Animals Mating / Breeding:

  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Waved albatross nesting
  • Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas mating
  • Magnificent and Great Frigate birds nesting (year-round on North Seymour Only)
  • Flightless Cormorants, Penguins and Greater Flamingoes breeding and nesting (year-round, depending on food supply)

------------

Special Notes:

  • Beginning of the Garua season (cool dry season - until December)
  • Along with the month of May, 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.
  • Additional information about June in the Galapagos.
July in the Galapagos
JULY
HIGHLIGHTS | WATCH VIDEO:
  • California Sea Lions start breeding (sea lion pups throughout the islands)
  • Stronger Humboldt Current makes marine life active (great for snorkeling)
  • Red Footed Boobies begin nesting
  • Whale and dolphin spotting becomes more common

More highlights


Climate conditions:

  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 26 / 20°C, 79 / 68°F
  • Average Rainfall: 1.3cm, 0.50in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 22°C / 72°F


Animals Mating / Breeding:

  • Blue-footed boobies begin nesting
  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Waved albatross nesting
  • Magnificent and Great Frigate birds nesting (year-round on North Seymour Only)
  • Start of California sea lion breeding season
  • Flightless Cormorants, Penguins and Greater Flamingoes breeding and nesting (year-round, depending on food supply)

------------

Special Notes:

  • The presence of the Humboldt Current begins to strengthen, makingnutrients in the water more abundant and marine life more active.Snorkeling is great during this period.
  • Dolphin and Whale spotting, particularly on our crossing to Fernan dina Island, becomes more common.
  • Along with the month of August, this month has more pronounced winds. However, winds in Galapagos never get too strong, as compared to other destinations like the Caribbean.
  • Additional information about July in the Galapagos.
August in the Galapagos
AUGUST
HIGHLIGHTS | WATCH VIDEO:
  • Blue Footed Boobies mating and nesting (dancing rituals)
  • Stronger Humboldt Current makes marine life active (great for snorkeling)
  • Whale and dolphin spotting is more common throughout the islands
  • California Sea Lions begin breeding

More highlights


Climate conditions:

  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 26 / 19°C, 79 / 66°F
  • Average Rainfall: 0.6cm, 0.25in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 21.5°C / 71°F


Animals Mating / Breeding:

  • Blue-footed boobies nesting
  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Waved albatross nesting
  • Magnificent and Great Frigate birds nesting (year-round on North Seymour Only)
  • California sea lions breeding
  • Fur Sea lions begin breeding
  • Tortoises (in Santa Cruz Island only) lay eggs in the wild)
  • Flightless Cormorants, Penguins and Greater Flamingoes breeding and nesting (year-round, depending on food supply)

------------

Special Notes:

  • The presence of the Humboldt Current begins to strengthen, making nutrients in the water more abundant and marine life more active. Snorkeling is great during this period.
  • Dolphin and Whale spotting, particularly on our crossing to Fernan dina Island, becomes more common.
  • Along with the month of July, this month has more pronounced winds. However, winds in Galapagos never get too strong, as compared to other destinations like the Caribbean.
  • Additional information about August in the Galapagos.
September in the Galapagos
SEPTEMBER
HIGHLIGHTS | WATCH VIDEO:
  • Whale and dolphin watching is at its best (along with October)
  • Frigate birds start mating (beautiful displays)
  • Best Snorkeling all year (along with October)
  • California Sea Lions in full breeding (lots of sea lion pups)

More highlights


Climate conditions:

  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 26 / 19°C, 79 / 66°F
  • Average Rainfall: 2.5cm, 1.3cm, 0.50in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 22°C / 72°F


Animals Mating / Breeding:

  • Blue-footed boobies nesting
  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Waved albatross nesting
  • Magnificent and Great Frigate birds nesting (year-round on North Seymour Only)
  • California sea lions breeding
  • Fur Sea lions breeding
  • Flightless Cormorants, Penguins and Greater Flamingoes breeding and nesting (year-round, depending on food supply)

------------

Special Notes:

  • The presence of the Humboldt Current is strong, making nutrients in the water more abundant and marine life more active. Snorkeling is excellent during this month and swimming with sea-lion pups is very common.
  • Dolphin and Whale spotting, particularly on our crossing to Fernan dina Island, is very common.
  • Winds are still pronounced during this month.
  • Additional information about September in the Galapagos.
October in the Galapagos
OCTOBER
HIGHLIGHTS | WATCH VIDEO:
  • Whale and dolphin watching is at its best (along with Sept)
  • Giant Tortoises are laying eggs in the wild
  • Best Snorkeling all year (along with October)
  • Fur Sea Lions are breeding (lots of fur sea lion pups)

More highlights


Climate conditions:

  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 26 / 20°C, 79 / 68°F
  • Average Rainfall: 0.6cm, 0.25in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 22.5°C / 73°F


Animals Mating / Breeding:

  • Blue-footed boobies nesting
  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Waved albatross nesting
  • Magnificent and Great Frigate birds nesting (year-round on North Seymour Only)
  • California sea lions breeding
  • Fur Sea lions breeding
  • Tortoises (in Santa Cruz Island only) lay eggs in the wild
  • Flightless Cormorants, Penguins and Greater Flamingoes breeding and nesting (year-round, depending on food supply)

------------

Special Notes:

  • The presence of the Humboldt Current continues to be strong, making nutrients in the water more abundant and marine life more active. Snorkeling is great during this period and swimming with sea-lion pups is very common.
  • Dolphin and Whale spotting, particularly on our crossing to Fernan dina Island, is very common.
  • Winds are still pronounced during this month.
  • Additional information about October in the Galapagos.
November in the Galapagos
NOVEMBER
HIGHLIGHTS | WATCH VIDEO:
  • Green sea turtles begin mating
  • Whale and dolphin watching still great
  • Active marine life and great snorkeling
  • Days start to get warmer

More highlights


Climate conditions:

  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 26 / 21°C, 79 / 70°F
  • Average Rainfall: 1.3cm, 0.50in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 23°C / 73°F


Animals Mating / Breeding:

  • Blue-footed boobies nesting
  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Waved albatross nesting
  • Magnificent and Great Frigate birds nesting (year-round on North Seymour Only)
  • Green Sea turtles begin mating
  • California sea lions breeding
  • Fur Sea lions breeding
  • Flightless Cormorants, Penguins and Greater Flamingoes breeding and nesting (year-round, depending on food supply)

------------

Special Notes:

  • The presence of the Humboldt Current is strong, making nutrients in the water more abundant and marine life more active. Snorkeling is very good during this month and amazing marine encounters are very common.
  • Dolphin and Whale spotting is very common in the Bolivar Channel crossing on our way to Fernandina Island.
  • Winds are still present during this month.
  • Additional information about November in the Galapagos.
December in the Galapagos
DECEMBER
HIGHLIGHTS | WATCH VIDEO:
  • Official start of the warm season (days get warmer)
  • Humboldt Current loses strength (waters get warmer)
  • More clear skies
  • Masked Boobies begin nesting

More highlights


Climate conditions:

  • Air Temp (Max / Min): 27 / 22°C, 81 / 72°F
  • Average Rainfall: 1.3cm, 0.50in (in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 22.5°C / 73°F


Animals Mating / Breeding:

  • Blue-footed boobies nesting
  • Red-footed boobies and masked boobies breeding and nesting (year-round)
  • Waved albatross nesting
  • Magnificent and Great Frigate birds nesting (year-round on North Seymour Only)
  • Green sea turtles begin mating
  • Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas begin mating
  • California sea lions breeding
  • Fur Sea lions breeding
  • Flightless Cormorants, Penguins and Greater Flamingoes breeding and nesting (year-round, depending on food supply)

------------

Special Notes:

  • This month marks the start of the warm season in Galapagos and the Humboldt Current loses strength. There are plenty of hours of clear skies.
  • This is the start and the end of the breeding and mating seasons for many animals in Galapagos, making wildlife encounters very attractive.
  • The sun starts to get more intense during this month. We recom mend guests to use sun-block SPF 30 or higher, at least for the first few days.
  • Additional information about December in the Galapagos.

Activities & Advantages by Month

Activities and advantages by month when visiting Galapagos

(swipe to view)

| Galapagos Visitor Seasonality |

Visitor Statistics by On Peak and Off Peak season in the Galapagos

(swipe to view)

| Galapagos Rainfall & Hours of Clear Skies|

Galapagos total precipitation and hours of clear skies in a year

(swipe to view)

| Underwater Visibility In Galapagos|

Year-round underwater visibility in the Galapagos

(swipe to view)

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