There is never a ‘wrong’ time to go to the Galapagos as the wildlife is there all year, and each month brings new wonders. Below is a rough guide of what you might expect to find month-by-month.
January
As the rainy season starts the islands become greener, land birds begin to nest, the green sea turtles arrive to lay eggs between now and March, and land iguanas begin to breed on Isabela Island. Both water and air temperatures rise, and stay elevated until June.
February
Greater flamingoes start nesting and Bahama pintail ducks start their breeding season. Marine iguanas nest on Santa Cruz Island and the breeding season of the Galapagos dove reaches its peak. The water temperature reaches a steady 25˚C and remains constant until April. Nazca boobies are at the end of their nesting season.
March
Humidity reaches its highest and the air temperature can reach up to 30˚C. The climate is hot with intense sun and sporadic tropical rains. Marine iguanas nest on Fernandina and late March signals the beginning of the arrival of the waved albatross.
April
The rains should be ending and water visibility is excellent for snorkelling. Waved albatrosses arrive in massive numbers to Española Island, it is the end of hatching season for the giant tortoises, and green turtle eggs and land iguana eggs begin to hatch.
May
Blue-footed boobies begin their extraordinary courtship on North Seymour Island. Marine iguanas start to hatch on Santa Cruz and sea turtles eggs are still hatching. The band-rumped storm petrels begin their first nesting period and the waved albatross start laying their eggs on Española. The sea temperature starts to drop towards the end of the month and Galapagos penguins start to become active around Bartolomé Island.
June
As the drier season begins, the garua (sea mist) returns and currents become slightly stronger. Giant tortoises start moving from the highlands to the lowlands to nest, male great frigate birds on North Seymour start to develop their red pouches and humpback whales can be spotted in open water. Southern migrant birds rest on their way north.
July
Sea birds are actively breeding and flightless cormorants start performing their nesting rituals on Fernandina. Lava lizards initiate mating rituals until November and blue-footed boobies start hatching. Whales and dolphins are more likely to be observed and seas cool to around 21˚C.
August
Galapagos hawks court on Española and Santiago. Nazca and swallow-tailed gulls nest on Genovesa and migrant shore birds arrive on the islands, staying until March. Giant tortoises return to the highlands of Santa Cruz and sea lion pupping starts. The sea is a bit choppy, currents are at their strongest levels and the water temperature drops to around 18˚C.
September
Peak of the garua season and the air temperature reaches its lowest levels at 19˚C. Sea birds remain active at their nesting sites and Galapagos penguins are at the peak of their activity around Bartolomé Island. Female sea lions have reached oestrus stage so harem-gathering males are constantly barking and fighting.
October
Garua mist in most locations, but less prolonged in the western islands and days are not always sunny. Lava herons start nesting until March and Galapagos fur seals begin their mating period. Giant tortoises are still laying eggs and blue-footed booby chicks are being raised all over Española and Isabela.
November
Good transitional weather between seasons, with calm seas, weakening southeast trade winds and slowly rising water temperatures. Pupping of sea lions continues and band-rumped storm petrels begin their second nesting period. Curious 3-4 month old sea lion pups play aqua-aerobics next to snorkellers.
December
Mostly sunny days and waters continue to warm up. Hatching of giant tortoise eggs begins and lasts until April. Green sea turtles start to mate and the first young albatross fledge. Northern migrants and some whales start their journey towards the south, stopping at the Galapagos on their way. First red pouches of great frigate birds can be seen at Genovesa.