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 January• Beginning of the rainy season • Land birds start nesting, generally after the first rain • Española Island, adult marine iguanas become brightly colored • The green sea turtles arrive to beaches for egg laying period • Land iguanas begin reproductive cycles on Isabela Island • Both water and air temperatures rise and stay warm until June • Ideal time for snorkeling |  February• On Floreana Island, greater flamingos start nesting • Bahama pintail ducks (Black-tailed pintail) • Nazca (masked) boobies on Española are at the end of their nesting season • Marine iguanas nest on Santa Cruz Island • The highest water temperature reaches 25ºC (77ºF). This temperature remains constant until April • Very few penguin sightings at Bartolome Island (most have followed the cool waters back to the west or near upwelling areas) • Galapagos dove reaches its peak nesting season |  March• The rainy season reaches its highest precipitation level, this does not mean it rains every day. • Sporadic tropical rains, intense sun and hot climate. Air temperature can reach up to 30ºC. • Marine iguanas nest on Fernandina • March 21st is the beginning of the summer equinox, signals of the waved albatross to Española • The western islands have warm waters , snorkelers can remain long periods of time in the water • Isabela can be an amazing site because penguin active in the water |
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 April• Massive arrival of waved albatrosses to Española, amazing courtship starts. • End of hatching season for the giant tortoises • Green sea turtle eggs begin to hatch • Land iguanas eggs hatch on Isabela • While the rains have ended, the islands are still quite green • Good visibility in the water for snorkelers • Perhaps, together with May, the best month in Galápagos (weather, animals, water, temperature) |  May• North Seymour’s Blue Footed Boobies begin their courtship • Sea turtles are still hatching on Gardner Bay, Punta Cormorant and Puerto Egas • Most of the marine iguana eggs hatch from nests on Snta Cruz • Palo santo trees begin to shed their foliage • Waved albatross on Espanola start laying their eggs • Band-rumped storm petrels begin their first nesting period |  July• Sea bird communities are breeding, especially the Blue Footed Boobies on Española. • If you walk along the shores of Puerto Egas, you could find American oystercatchers nesting • Lava lizards initiate mating rituals until November • Whales and dolphins are more likely to be observed, especially off the western coast of Isabela • Great month to see the 4 stages of Boobies nesting: eggs, chicks, juveniles and sub-adults • Water temperature does not reach more than 21°c |
 August• Galapagos hawks court on Española and Santiago • Nazca (masked Boobies and Swallow-tailed gulls nest on Genovesa Island • The temperature of the ocean drops to 18°c (64°f) • Migrate shore birds start to arrive and stay on the islands until March • Giant tortoises return to the highlands of Santa Cruz • Sea lion pupping season has started, western and central islands are common places for such sightings |  June• Beginning of the garua (misty) season • Giant tortoises on Santa Cruz Island migrate from the highlands to the lowlands in search of suitable nesting places • Currents become a bit stronger, seas pick up in surge and wave action. • Many red pouches by males of magnificent Frigate birds on North Seymour • Southern migrants have started their journey towards the north, Galápagos is a rest stop for such birds. • Some groups of Humpback whales that migrate up reach the Galápagos |  November• Pupping of sea lions continue • Sea lions are sexually active on the eastern part of the archipelago • Breeding season for the brown noddies • Some species of jellyfish can be seen around the islands. • Seas are calm, south east trade winds have decreased strength. • Generally great weather due to transition between seasons • Good visibility for snorkelers • Sea lion pups play aqua-aerobics next to snorkelers. Most pups here are curious enough to nibble at fins of snorkelers |
 December• Giant tortoise eggs begin hatching and lasts until April • Green sea turtles display their mating behavior • The rainy season begins, all of the plants of the dry zone produce leaves. Galapagos becomes “green” • The first young waves albatrosses fledge • Great weather with mostly sunny days. Hardly any wind from the south east. Waters continue to warm up • Water temperature still cool for long snorkeling periods • First red pouches of Frigatebirds seen at Genovesa |  September• Peak of the cold (garua) season • The air temperature reaches its lowest levels (19°c/66°f) • Penguins show remarkable activity on Bartolome. Swimmers and snorkelers can be delighted at Bartolome with penguins active at the surface or torpedo-like while underwater • Sea lions are very active. Females have reached estrus stage and so males are constantly barking and fighting. Western and central islands are the most active ones in terms of sea lion activities. |  October• Lava herons start nesting until March • The Galapagos Fur Seals begin their mating period • Blue Footed Boobies raise chicks all over Española and Isabela • Giant tortoises are still laying eggs • Days are not always sunny, still the misty season • Sunrises in the west can be quite beautiful after the garua covers only certain locations of the western volcanoes |
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