Galápagos in May
May is the hinge between Galápagos’ two seasons. The warm season is winding down, the dry season hasn’t quite arrived, and the wildlife calendar bridges the two: blue-footed boobies start their courtship on North Seymour, waved albatross settle into nesting on Española, and green turtle hatchlings pour out of the sand on the main beaches. Air and water cool off a notch from April, and the month is one of the most balanced in the whole year for wildlife plus comfort.
Weather in May
Air averages 28°C high / 22°C low - a step cooler than April, and noticeably less rainy as the warm season fades. You’ll still catch sunny, warm days, but the light changes: the first garúa (mist) can appear on the highland tops late in the month. Rain gear becomes a “just in case” item rather than decoration.
Sea conditions in May
Calm sea continues, and the water is still warm: around 23°C by operators’ averages, with satellite surface readings at Puerto Ayora averaging 25.5°C. Most visitors snorkel without a wetsuit in May. Visibility remains good from the warm season, though the very clearest water was earlier in the year; as the month runs, conditions begin the slow drift toward dry-season pattern. No swell concerns - May sits in the calm stretch between the north swells of early autumn and the southeast chop that arrives with the trade winds in June and beyond.
Wildlife in May
- Blue-footed booby courtship on North Seymour. The famous sky-pointing dance starts up in May–June, and North Seymour is one of the most accessible big colonies for it. This is the month most people picture when they picture Galápagos.
- Waved albatross lay their eggs. The colony on Española is complete and settled into nesting - birds are on eggs at Punta Suárez, the species’ only nesting site in the world.
- Green turtle hatching continues (April–June). Hatchlings emerge at Gardner Bay on Española, Punta Cormorant on Floreana, and Puerto Egas on Santiago. Early morning beach walks give you the best odds of catching the dash to the water.
- Band-rumped storm petrels first nest. The first nesting of the year for these petrels gets going.
- Flamingo chicks become visible. The Floreana chicks from the February–March nesting season are now standing in the lagoons with their parents.
Who May is good for
- Travelers who want the booby dance without the peak-season crowds. May is regular demand - the last quiet month before high season.
- Wildlife all-rounders. Albatross on eggs, boobies courting, turtles hatching: a rare three-way overlap.
- Warm-water snorkelers. Still comfortable without a wetsuit for most people.
- Photographers. Courtship displays, hatchlings, and a green-but-clearing landscape.
Who should think twice
- Albatross courtship purists. The full, noisy courtship is strongest in April; by May the birds are settling onto eggs. Still wonderful, but quieter.
- Anyone fixed on the warmest water. The sea has begun its slow cooling; if you want bath-water conditions, February–April is better.
- Travelers wanting maximum marine life. The cold, nutrient-rich water that brings whales, penguins, and big pelagic action arrives with the dry season from June. May is a land-wildlife-strong month.
Booking advice
May is the value pick of the first half of the year: regular demand, good availability, and the last stretch before the June–August high season pushes prices up. If you want a specific boat or a specific itinerario, book two to three months out; for last-minute deals, May is one of the better months to find them. Standard entry costs apply on top of any tour: the $20 transit control card before your flight and the $200 park fee on arrival - details in our guide to entry fees. For the wider seasonal picture, see best time to visit Galápagos.
Last verified: September 2026