The Galapagos - Month by Month
by Chris on 26th August 2020
Chris is the CEO of The Adventure People and has over 20 years experience in the travel industry.
Here is a monthly guide to wildlife at the Galapagos Islands.Do remember this is only a guide and life is wild! things can change and move but at least this gives you some idea of what is happening and when. Thanks to galapagosislands.com or the information below.
January (Wet Season)
Weather
- Wet season begins
- Moderate to high rainfall
- Land temperature: 80°F/26°C
- Water temperature: 75°F/24°C
Birds
- Land birds, such as finches and warblers, begin to nest
- Mockingbird and finch mating rituals season
- Hawks feast on young marine iguanas on Fernandina Island
Other Animals
- Española marine iguanas are still in their bright colours
- Green sea turtles lay eggs; it may be possible to see some on shore
- Isabela land iguanas begin breeding season
February (Wet Season)
Weather
- Waters begin to cool, despite the wet season
- High rainfall
- Land temperature: 80°F/26°C
- Water temperature: 79°F/26°C
Birds
- Flamingos begin nesting
- Penguins return to the cooler waters of Isabela and Fernandina
- Pintail ducks begin breeding season
- Nazca booby nesting season ends
- Galapagos doves nest
Other Animals
- Santa Cruz marine iguanas begin nesting
March (Wet Season)
Weather
- Wet season in full swing: one of the hottest months in the Galapagos
- High rainfall
- Land temperature: 80°F/26°C
- Water temperature: 79°F/26°C
Birds
- On San Cristobal and Genovesa, frigate birds begin their mating season
- Male Frigates inflate their dazzling red throat sacs
- Waved albatrosses begin returning to Española for the mating season
- Penguins common on Isabela and Fernandina
- Most migratory shorebirds have gone by the end of the month
- Sometimes hawk chicks are visible in nests.
Other Animals
- Fernandina and North Seymour marine iguanas nest
April (Wet Season)
Weather
- Wet season in full swing: one of the hottest months in Galapagos, although water cools drastically
- High rainfall
- Land temperature: 80°F/26°C
- Water temperature: 79°F/26°C
Birds
- Waved albatrosses perform courtship dances on Española
- Blue-footed boobies courtship dances
- Frigatebird mating season in full swing
- Frigatebird pouches visible on Genovesa.
Other Animals
- Giant tortoise hatching season ends
- Sea turtle eggs begin to hatch
- Isabela land iguana eggs hatch
May (Wet Season)
Weather
- Transition from warm to dry season.
- Waters begin to warm up again
- Moderate rainfall
- Land temperature: 78°F/25°C
- Water temperature: 77°F/25°C
Birds
- Waved albatrosses begin laying eggs
- Storm-petrels begin the nesting season.
- Booby mating season continues
- Frigate birds begin laying eggs
Other Animals
- Green sea turtles hatch on Punta Cormorant, Puerto Egas, and Gardner Bay
- Santa Cruz Marine Iguanas hatch
June (Wet Season)
Weather
- End of dry season
- Low rainfall
- Land temperature: 75°F/24°C
- Water temperature: 73°F/23°C
Birds
- Migrating birds visit the Galapagos
- Short-eared owls on Genovesa begin nesting season
- Boobies nest and lay eggs
- A good month to see Frigatebird pouches on North Seymour
Other Animals
- Santa Cruz giant tortoises migrate down from the highlands to the lowlands to begin mating season.
- Humpback whales migrate through the Galapagos
- Good time to see whale sharks off of Darwin and Wolf until November or so
July (Dry Season)
Weather
- Warm Season
- Low rainfall
- Land temperature: 71°F/21°C
- Water temperature: 72°F/22°C
Birds
- Flightless cormorants court and nest on Fernandina
- American oystercatchers nest on Santiago
- Booby and frigate bird eggs begin hatching
- Good time to see migratory birds
Other Animals
- Lava lizards begin mating behavior which includes “push-ups”. Will continue into November
- Whales and dolphins common, especially in the waters between Isabela and Fernandina
August (Dry Season)
Weather
- Dry season, one of the coolest months in the Galapagos
- Low rainfall
- Land temperature: 70°F/22°C
- Water temperature: 70°F/21°C
Birds
- Flamingos begin mating rituals
- Frigatebird and booby eggs continue to hatch on North Seymour
- Migratory shorebirds common
- Nazca booby birds nest
- Galapagos hawks begin courtship
- Galapagos penguins start moving to central Islands
- Swallow-tailed gulls nest on Genovesa
- A good month to see red-footed boobies on Genovesa
Other Animals
- Giant tortoises on Santa Cruz migrate back to the highlands
- Meet the pups: Galapagos sea lions give birth. Abundant pups population.
September (Dry Season)
Weather
- Dry season, one of the coolest months in the Galapagos
- Low rainfall
- Land temperature: 70°F/21°C
- Daily water temperatures around 70°F/21°C
Birds
- Galapagos penguins begin mating on the central islands
- Most seabirds nest. Good time to see them
Other Animals
- Sea lions very active, the breeding season kicks off.
- Males often fight on land and in the water to defend their harems.
October (Dry Season)
Weather
- Dry season
- Low rainfall
- Land temperature: 71°F/22°C
- Water temperatures around 72°F/22°C
Birds
- Blue-footed booby chicks common
- Lava herons start nesting
Other Animals
- Galapagos fur sea lion mating season begins
November (Dry Season)
Weather
- Dry season
- Low rainfall
- Land temperature: 73°F/22°C
- Water temperature: 72°F/24°C
Birds
- Brown noddies are breeding
- Storm-petrels nest for the second time
- Nazca booby chicks are common
Other Animals
- Good time to see sea lion pups inshore nurseries
December (Wet Season)
Weather
- End of dry season
- Low rainfall
- Land temperatures around 75°F/24°C
- Water temperatures around 73°F/23°C
Birds
- Waved albatross chicks are big enough to fly
- Albatrosses leave Españolauntil March
- Boobies are busy fishing, uncommon sightings
Other Animals
- Giant tortoise eggs begin to hatch. This will last until April.
- Green sea turtles often mating in shallow waters
