Travel guide · Wildlife
Galápagos wildlife calendar
A month-by-month table of Galápagos wildlife - what nests, what hatches, what migrates, water and air temperatures, and sea conditions, all in one calendar.
Galápagos has two seasons and a dozen sub-plots. The warm season (roughly December to May) brings calm seas, warm water and the land-and-beach breeding cycle; the dry, garúa season (June to November) brings the Humboldt current, cold nutrient-rich water, and the great marine gatherings - whales, penguins courting, sea lion pups. The table below condenses the year; each month links to its own detailed guide.
The year at a glance
| Month | Air °C (max/min) | Water °C | Sea | What you’ll see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29 / 22 | 23 | Calm; brief afternoon showers | Green turtles nesting (Jan-Mar); marine iguanas in breeding color on Española; land iguanas mating on Isabela; land birds nesting after first rains; giant tortoise eggs hatching |
| February | 30 / 23 | 24 | Calm; warmest stretch begins | Flamingos start nesting on Floreana; marine iguanas nesting on Santa Cruz; Nazca booby season winding down on Española; penguins moving west |
| March | 31 / 23 | 24 | Calm; possible northern swells | Wettest month; waved albatross arrive on Española (late March); frigatebirds with red pouches (San Cristóbal, Genovesa); marine iguanas nesting (Fernandina, Seymour) |
| April | 30 / 22 | 24 | Calm; good underwater visibility | Albatross courtship in full swing on Española; green turtle hatching (Apr-Jun); land iguana hatchlings on Isabela |
| May | 28 / 22 | 23 | Calm | Blue-footed booby courtship starts (N. Seymour); albatross laying eggs; green turtle hatchlings emerging (Gardner Bay, Punta Cormorant, Puerto Egas) |
| June | 26 / 21 | 23 | Swell and currents build; trade winds arrive | Garúa season begins; giant tortoises descend to nest (eggs Jun-Nov); humpback whales arrive (Jun-Sep); whale sharks show at Darwin/Wolf late month; short-eared owls courting on Genovesa |
| July | 24 / 20 | 22 | Sea starts roughening | Flightless cormorants courting and nesting (Fernandina); blue-footed boobies at four nesting stages (Española); whales along Isabela’s west coast; oystercatchers nesting (Santiago) |
| August | 23 / 19 | 19-20 | Choppy; strongest currents, swell on west/south coasts | Sea lion pups born (Aug-Nov, west and central islands); hawks courting; Nazca boobies and swallow-tailed gulls nesting (Genovesa); migratory shorebirds arriving (through March) |
| September | 24 / 19 | 20 | Roughest month of the year; Humboldt at its peak | Coolest, greyest month; penguins courting (Bartolomé, Sep-Dec); sea lions very active - harem fights; whale sharks still at Darwin/Wolf; quietest month for visitor numbers |
| October | 25 / 20 | 21-21.5 | Still choppy (Aug-Oct is the roughest stretch), water slowly warming | Fur seals begin mating; lava herons nesting (Oct-Mar); blue-footed booby chicks raised (Española, Isabela); giant tortoises still laying |
| November | 26 / 21 | 22 | Calming down; snorkel visibility improving | Green turtle courtship peaks (Nov-Jan); brown noddies raising chicks; second petrel nesting round; playful sea lion pups in the water (Champion) |
| December | 27 / 22 | 23 | Calm | Green turtles courting and mating; first giant tortoise hatching of the season (Dec-Apr); young albatross fledge and leave Española |
Temperatures are operator averages for the sea; satellite surface readings at Puerto Ayora run 2-4 °C warmer than what you feel at snorkel depth. For the full data story, see our best time to visit guide, and each month has its own page: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December.
How to read the two seasons
The warm season, December to May, brings calm seas, the warmest and clearest water, and the beach cycle: turtles nesting, land birds nesting, boobies dancing. The dry season, June to November, brings the Humboldt: colder water, nutrient blooms, and with them the big marine show - whales and dolphins in the Bolívar Channel, whale sharks at Darwin and Wolf, penguins courting, sea lions pupping. The crossover months, May-June and November-December, split the difference nicely.
Three planning shortcuts
- Best all-round snorkeling water: warm season, December to May, when water sits around 23-25 °C and visibility is at its best.
- Best big-animal season: June to November, when the Humboldt feeds everything from penguins to whale sharks - but bring a wetsuit, August and September water runs 19-20 °C.
- Roughest crossings: July to October, peaking August-September. If you are seasickness-prone, read our seasickness guide and lean toward the calm months.
Nature does not run on schedule, and every calendar - including this one - is a set of tendencies rather than appointments. Guides adjust daily; the animals have not read the table.
For the species themselves, start with our complete birds guide, the sharks guide, the rays and the dolphins and whales pages.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month for wildlife in Galápagos?
It depends on the animal: April for albatross courtship, May to August for boobies dancing, June to September for whales, August to November for sea lion pups, September for penguins courting, January to March for turtles nesting. There is no month without a headline.
Is the wildlife calendar reliable?
As tendencies, yes; as appointments, no. Breeding follows food and weather, which shift year to year, and El Niño years scramble the sea. Guides adjust daily.
Which season has more marine life?
The dry season, June to November, when the Humboldt current brings cold, nutrient-rich water: whales, whale sharks, penguins and the best diving, at the cost of colder water and rougher seas.
Sources
- Sea birds of Galápagos, Galápagos Conservancy
- Galápagos weather and seasons, International Galápagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA)
- Biodiversity of Galápagos, Galápagos Conservancy
Last verified: October 2026