Short answer: come February to April for the warmest water (25.7°C in March), calm seas and green islands, or June to November for cooler water (21.5°C in August), more active sea life, boobies courting and albatrosses on Española. September is the quietest month for visitors; March–April and July–August are the busiest.
Pick your month
January in the Galápagos
Warm seasonSea: Mostly calmNormal
- 28.6°Caverage high (Puerto Ayora)
- 22.8°Caverage low
- 24.5°Csea temperature
- 22 mmtypical rain (median), 5.4 rain days
What the animals are doing
- Waved albatross chicks fledge, colony emptiesPunta Suárez, Española
- Nazca and red-footed booby nesting startsGenovesa, Española (cruise sites)
- Green sea turtle nesting seasonQuinta Playa (Isabela, main site); Las Bachas (Santa Cruz); small beach at Bartolomé
- Marine iguana breeding season; males colour upCoasts of all main islands; Española males most colourful
- Sea lion pupping season (pups present year-round)All islands; Playa Baquerizo / La Lobería (San Cristóbal), North Seymour, Mosquera
- Flamingo egg layingLagoons: Villamil and Punta Moreno (Isabela), Las Bachas and Garrapatero (Santa Cruz), Punta Cormorán (Floreana)
February in the Galápagos
Warm seasonSea: CalmNormal
- 30.4°Caverage high (Puerto Ayora)
- 23.1°Caverage low
- 25.4°Csea temperature
- 49 mmtypical rain (median), 6.9 rain days
What the animals are doing
- Green sea turtle nesting seasonQuinta Playa (Isabela, main site); Las Bachas (Santa Cruz); small beach at Bartolomé
- Marine iguana breeding season; males colour upCoasts of all main islands; Española males most colourful
- Frigatebird courtship: magnificent (Feb), great (June, Genovesa)North Seymour, Cerro Tijeretas (San Cristóbal); Genovesa (cruise)
March in the Galápagos
Warm seasonSea: CalmBusy (foreign-visitor peak)
- 31°Caverage high (Puerto Ayora)
- 23°Caverage low
- 25.7°Csea temperature
- 40 mmtypical rain (median), 5.2 rain days
What the animals are doing
- Waved albatross return to EspañolaPunta Suárez, Española
- Green sea turtle nesting seasonQuinta Playa (Isabela, main site); Las Bachas (Santa Cruz); small beach at Bartolomé
- Marine iguana breeding season; males colour upCoasts of all main islands; Española males most colourful
- Giant tortoise seasonal markersSanta Cruz highlands; breeding centres
April in the Galápagos
Warm seasonSea: CalmBusy (foreign-visitor peak)
- 29.9°Caverage high (Puerto Ayora)
- 22.9°Caverage low
- 25.5°Csea temperature
- 8 mmtypical rain (median), 5.1 rain days
What the animals are doing
- Waved albatross return to EspañolaPunta Suárez, Española
- Waved albatross courtship dance and egg layingPunta Suárez, Española
- Green sea turtle nesting seasonQuinta Playa (Isabela, main site); Las Bachas (Santa Cruz); small beach at Bartolomé
- Green turtle eggs start hatchingBeaches across Galápagos
- Giant tortoise seasonal markersSanta Cruz highlands; breeding centres
- Flightless cormorant breeding seasonFernandina, northern and western Isabela
May in the Galápagos
Warm seasonSea: ChangingNormal
- 28.3°Caverage high (Puerto Ayora)
- 22.9°Caverage low
- 24.7°Csea temperature
- 4 mmtypical rain (median), 4 rain days
What the animals are doing
- Waved albatross courtship dance and egg layingPunta Suárez, Española
- Blue-footed boobies start courtship dancesNorth Seymour (day tour from Santa Cruz)
- Green sea turtle nesting seasonQuinta Playa (Isabela, main site); Las Bachas (Santa Cruz); small beach at Bartolomé
- Galápagos penguins: active fishing (May), courtship peak (September)Bartolomé; Isabela and Fernandina west coast
- Flightless cormorant breeding seasonFernandina, northern and western Isabela
June in the Galápagos
Cool seasonSea: ChoppyNormal
- 26.7°Caverage high (Puerto Ayora)
- 21.8°Caverage low
- 23.5°Csea temperature
- 10 mmtypical rain (median), 3.4 rain days
What the animals are doing
- Waved albatross courtship dance and egg layingPunta Suárez, Española
- Green sea turtle nesting seasonQuinta Playa (Isabela, main site); Las Bachas (Santa Cruz); small beach at Bartolomé
- Giant tortoise seasonal markersSanta Cruz highlands; breeding centres
- Hammerhead sharks most abundant in the cool seasonDarwin and Wolf (liveaboard only); Kicker Rock sometimes (secondary)
- Humpback and blue whales in the Marine ReserveOpen water; Santa Fé sighting 2005
- Frigatebird courtship: magnificent (Feb), great (June, Genovesa)North Seymour, Cerro Tijeretas (San Cristóbal); Genovesa (cruise)
- Flightless cormorant breeding seasonFernandina, northern and western Isabela
- Cool-season upwelling: marine life most active, best snorkellingWestern and central islands
July in the Galápagos
Cool seasonSea: ChoppyBusy (domestic peak)
- 25.4°Caverage high (Puerto Ayora)
- 20.7°Caverage low
- 22.3°Csea temperature
- 13 mmtypical rain (median), 4.3 rain days
What the animals are doing
- Whale sharks at Darwin Island (adult, mostly pregnant females)Darwin Island (liveaboard dive/snorkel only)
- Hammerhead sharks most abundant in the cool seasonDarwin and Wolf (liveaboard only); Kicker Rock sometimes (secondary)
- Humpback and blue whales in the Marine ReserveOpen water; Santa Fé sighting 2005
- Flightless cormorant breeding seasonFernandina, northern and western Isabela
- Cool-season upwelling: marine life most active, best snorkellingWestern and central islands
August in the Galápagos
Cool seasonSea: ChoppyBusy (domestic peak)
- 24.4°Caverage high (Puerto Ayora)
- 19.7°Caverage low
- 21.5°Csea temperature
- 13 mmtypical rain (median), 4.1 rain days
What the animals are doing
- Nazca boobies and swallow-tailed gulls begin nestingGenovesa (cruise)
- Sea lion pupping season (pups present year-round)All islands; Playa Baquerizo / La Lobería (San Cristóbal), North Seymour, Mosquera
- Galápagos fur seal breeding seasonSantiago (Puerto Egas), Genovesa, western Isabela, Fernandina
- Whale sharks at Darwin Island (adult, mostly pregnant females)Darwin Island (liveaboard dive/snorkel only)
- Hammerhead sharks most abundant in the cool seasonDarwin and Wolf (liveaboard only); Kicker Rock sometimes (secondary)
- Humpback and blue whales in the Marine ReserveOpen water; Santa Fé sighting 2005
- Flamingo egg layingLagoons: Villamil and Punta Moreno (Isabela), Las Bachas and Garrapatero (Santa Cruz), Punta Cormorán (Floreana)
- Flightless cormorant breeding seasonFernandina, northern and western Isabela
- Cool-season upwelling: marine life most active, best snorkellingWestern and central islands
September in the Galápagos
Cool seasonSea: ChoppyQuietest month
- 24.3°Caverage high (Puerto Ayora)
- 19.6°Caverage low
- 21.5°Csea temperature
- 11 mmtypical rain (median), 3.1 rain days
What the animals are doing
- Sea lion pupping season (pups present year-round)All islands; Playa Baquerizo / La Lobería (San Cristóbal), North Seymour, Mosquera
- Galápagos fur seal breeding seasonSantiago (Puerto Egas), Genovesa, western Isabela, Fernandina
- Galápagos penguins: active fishing (May), courtship peak (September)Bartolomé; Isabela and Fernandina west coast
- Whale sharks at Darwin Island (adult, mostly pregnant females)Darwin Island (liveaboard dive/snorkel only)
- Hammerhead sharks most abundant in the cool seasonDarwin and Wolf (liveaboard only); Kicker Rock sometimes (secondary)
- Humpback and blue whales in the Marine ReserveOpen water; Santa Fé sighting 2005
- Flamingo egg layingLagoons: Villamil and Punta Moreno (Isabela), Las Bachas and Garrapatero (Santa Cruz), Punta Cormorán (Floreana)
- Flightless cormorant breeding seasonFernandina, northern and western Isabela
- Cool-season upwelling: marine life most active, best snorkellingWestern and central islands
October in the Galápagos
Cool seasonSea: Choppy, easingNormal
- 24.8°Caverage high (Puerto Ayora)
- 19.8°Caverage low
- 21.7°Csea temperature
- 9 mmtypical rain (median), 3.2 rain days
What the animals are doing
- Sea lion pupping season (pups present year-round)All islands; Playa Baquerizo / La Lobería (San Cristóbal), North Seymour, Mosquera
- Galápagos fur seal breeding seasonSantiago (Puerto Egas), Genovesa, western Isabela, Fernandina
- Whale sharks at Darwin Island (adult, mostly pregnant females)Darwin Island (liveaboard dive/snorkel only)
- Hammerhead sharks most abundant in the cool seasonDarwin and Wolf (liveaboard only); Kicker Rock sometimes (secondary)
- Humpback and blue whales in the Marine ReserveOpen water; Santa Fé sighting 2005
- Flamingo egg layingLagoons: Villamil and Punta Moreno (Isabela), Las Bachas and Garrapatero (Santa Cruz), Punta Cormorán (Floreana)
- Flightless cormorant breeding seasonFernandina, northern and western Isabela
- Cool-season upwelling: marine life most active, best snorkellingWestern and central islands
November in the Galápagos
Cool seasonSea: Choppy, easingNormal
- 25.5°Caverage high (Puerto Ayora)
- 20.4°Caverage low
- 22.3°Csea temperature
- 9 mmtypical rain (median), 3.5 rain days
What the animals are doing
- Sea lion pupping season (pups present year-round)All islands; Playa Baquerizo / La Lobería (San Cristóbal), North Seymour, Mosquera
- Galápagos fur seal breeding seasonSantiago (Puerto Egas), Genovesa, western Isabela, Fernandina
- Whale sharks at Darwin Island (adult, mostly pregnant females)Darwin Island (liveaboard dive/snorkel only)
- Hammerhead sharks most abundant in the cool seasonDarwin and Wolf (liveaboard only); Kicker Rock sometimes (secondary)
- Humpback and blue whales in the Marine ReserveOpen water; Santa Fé sighting 2005
- Flamingo egg layingLagoons: Villamil and Punta Moreno (Isabela), Las Bachas and Garrapatero (Santa Cruz), Punta Cormorán (Floreana)
December in the Galápagos
Warm seasonSea: ChangingNormal
- 26.8°Caverage high (Puerto Ayora)
- 21.6°Caverage low
- 23.2°Csea temperature
- 12 mmtypical rain (median), 5.2 rain days
What the animals are doing
- Waved albatross chicks fledge, colony emptiesPunta Suárez, Española
- Green sea turtle nesting seasonQuinta Playa (Isabela, main site); Las Bachas (Santa Cruz); small beach at Bartolomé
- Marine iguana breeding season; males colour upCoasts of all main islands; Española males most colourful
- Giant tortoise seasonal markersSanta Cruz highlands; breeding centres
- Sea lion pupping season (pups present year-round)All islands; Playa Baquerizo / La Lobería (San Cristóbal), North Seymour, Mosquera
- Whale sharks at Darwin Island (adult, mostly pregnant females)Darwin Island (liveaboard dive/snorkel only)
- Hammerhead sharks most abundant in the cool seasonDarwin and Wolf (liveaboard only); Kicker Rock sometimes (secondary)
- Flamingo egg layingLagoons: Villamil and Punta Moreno (Isabela), Las Bachas and Garrapatero (Santa Cruz), Punta Cormorán (Floreana)
Temperature, sea and rain through the year
━ average high · ┅ average low · ━ sea temperature · bars: average rain (mean; April wettest, driven by El Niño years). Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora station, 1991–2020.
| Month | High / low | Sea | Rain (median) | Sea state | Visitors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.6 / 22.8°C | 24.5°C | 22 mm | Mostly calm | Normal |
| February | 30.4 / 23.1°C | 25.4°C | 49 mm | Calm | Normal |
| March | 31 / 23°C | 25.7°C | 40 mm | Calm | Busy (foreign-visitor peak) |
| April | 29.9 / 22.9°C | 25.5°C | 8 mm | Calm | Busy (foreign-visitor peak) |
| May | 28.3 / 22.9°C | 24.7°C | 4 mm | Changing | Normal |
| June | 26.7 / 21.8°C | 23.5°C | 10 mm | Choppy | Normal |
| July | 25.4 / 20.7°C | 22.3°C | 13 mm | Choppy | Busy (domestic peak) |
| August | 24.4 / 19.7°C | 21.5°C | 13 mm | Choppy | Busy (domestic peak) |
| September | 24.3 / 19.6°C | 21.5°C | 11 mm | Choppy | Quietest month |
| October | 24.8 / 19.8°C | 21.7°C | 9 mm | Choppy, easing | Normal |
| November | 25.5 / 20.4°C | 22.3°C | 9 mm | Choppy, easing | Normal |
| December | 26.8 / 21.6°C | 23.2°C | 12 mm | Changing | Normal |
The two seasons
Warm season (roughly December to May): hotter days, short tropical showers, the warmest and clearest water, calmer seas. Sea turtles nest and marine iguanas turn red and green. Good for snorkelling without a thick wetsuit.
Cool season (roughly June to November): cold, nutrient-rich water wells up around the islands. Skies are often grey, the southeasterly winds pick up and the sea is choppier, so boat trips and ferries are rougher. In exchange the sea is at its most alive, hammerheads gather in the far north, whale sharks pass Darwin Island (July to December) and blue-footed boobies dance.
Scientists draw the line slightly differently: the Charles Darwin Foundation puts the hot season at about January to May, others at December to May. December is a month of change.
Seasickness? If you get sick easily, prefer February to May and check the seasickness meter.
Book for the season
Snorkel trip · Isabela
Los Túneles: Snorkel with Sharks, Seahorses & Sea Turtles
From about $221 per person
Check availabilityon GetYourGuide 
Half day · Isabela
Tintoreras Islet: Penguins & Blue-Footed Boobies
From about $121 per person
Check availabilityon GetYourGuide 
Snorkel trip · San Cristóbal
Kicker Rock & Beach Full-Day Tour
From about $261 per person
Check availabilityon GetYourGuide 
Boat day trip · Santa Cruz
North Seymour: Day Tour with Wildlife Walk & Snorkeling
From about $484 per person
Check availabilityon GetYourGuide Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure
What a trip in your month costs: trip cost calculator.
Sources: Charles Darwin Foundation, NOAA, peer-reviewed research, Galápagos National Park and Governing Council, Galápagos Conservation Trust, Galápagos Conservancy. Every figure with its document: facts and figures.
Updated 2026-11-06. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.