Best time to visit Galapagos

When to travel to the Galapagos Islands?

The Galapagos Islands have a great flora and fauna  with many unique species that has also become a place of scientific research, as well as ecological tourism in Ecuador.

Best time of the year to travel to the Galapagos Islands

When you decide to travel to the Galapagos Islands, something very important to keep in mind is the best time of the year to visit them. If you can travel at any time of the year, you must determine when to visit the islands, these are: the climate and the presence of the different species.

The Galapagos Islands climate

The islands are located in Ecuador, so the temperature can vary between 7 and 28 degrees Celsius during the year. The surface temperature and ocean currents influence the climate, which causes micro climates to be created that in turn influence the different habitats of the islands' flora and fauna.

The islands usually have drastic climatic changes, so each month has different characteristics; January to March is the hottest and rainiest period, being March, the hottest month of the year. During this period the plants abound, so the water temperature is perfect for diving. From July to September the rains do not occur so often, that's why the islands are much drier, but equally cool, the advantage is that the water temperature drops a lot, which makes it a perfect time to observe aquatic life, since many of the animals prefer cold currents.

In this context, we can take into account two seasons: the first season is from December to June, this season is known as the Hot Season. And the second climatic season is from June to November, which is known as Dry Season.

During the hot season, temperatures usually reach 86 ° F (30 ° C), with warm days interrupted by short clouds. The sea is warmer, 68 ° F to 77 ° F (20 ° C to 25 ° C), and relatively calm.

Best times to visit Galapagos

The best time to visit Galapagos is definitely when the transition months occur. This means that it is changing season; but it should be noted that for sure, the month of the year does not matter when you decide to visit the islands, in reality everyone is good to live an incredible experience. We would lie to you if we told you that there are months where the Galapagos climate is bad or that you cannot observe its characteristic flora and fauna on your trip. By having two such drastic climatic seasons, they influence the beginning or end of reproduction for most species, there are even months in which the two phases can be seen at the same time.

There is a transition between the hot season and the driest season (April to June), and then a transition between the dry season and the hot season (November to January). It is six months during the year where the Galapagos climate changes and becomes quite special for all natural events, which happen at the same time. The weather is definitely the main variable to consider when defining the best time of the year to visit the Galapagos Islands. Secondly, it is important to consider wildlife, since it is directly influenced by the different environmental conditions suffered by the Islands.

Galapagos Islands: fauna

During the transition months it is possible to experience some of the most particular events in the activity than the many species, such as:

• North cetaceans migrate south
• South Birds migrate north
• Frigates fill their potholes for the establishment of couples
• Sea lions set their territories
• Blue-footed boobies begin their classic wedding procession
• Albatross return to the Island
• Marine iguanas begin building nests

Thus, the months such as April, May, June, November, December and January, are the months where almost all natural events can occur at the same time. The climate of Galapagos during the month of May is specifically determined by many as the best month of the year in the Islands.

• In April and May the blue-footed boobies begin their reproduction, and it is important to know that only during these months you will be able to observe them in their act of bridal courtship.
• Also in the months of April and May, due to the weather in the Galapagos, the arid zone changes its leafiness noticeably to be drier due to the lack of rainfall.
• Another show is Darwin's own finch pups that you can see during April and May in the same way, since much of the small birds were born in February and March.
• In the two months already mentioned, the albatross return to the islands for a rest and begin their courtship after having made an extensive journey through the Pacific Ocean.

We know what you may be thinking, all this information is not telling you that the rest of the year is not worth visiting the archipelago. In fact, the rest of the year months you can highlight the natural beauty of Galapagos that perhaps in others you cannot.

Galapagos Wildlife

The wildlife on the islands is the main attraction for most tourists, you will always be able to see its fauna and flora regardless of the time you decide to travel to the archipelago. The vast majority of species spend all year in Galapagos and do not migrate. That includes the beautiful Galapagos penguins, giant tortoises, cormorants, marine and land iguanas, Galapagos hawks, sea lions, California sea lions.

However, something that does change according to the season in which they are, are the animals behavior, meaning their mating, feeding, abundance of water, etc. So it is a very good idea before reviewing the calendar of Wildlife activity in Galapagos to know what can be found in each month. Similarly, when there is a small variation regarding the animal types that you can observe in the archipelago different islands. For the very reason, if you plan to see something very specific, that is, a type of animal or bird, the best recommendation is to talk to a Galapagos tour operator.

Galapagos Islands: High season vs. Low season

The high season of tourism in Galapagos coincides with holidays months in several countries of the world. As we know, they are from mid-December (Christmas holidays) until January, and they are also from June to August (summer holidays), which takes place in Europe and the United States.

It is important to keep in mind that during the high season, the availability of services on the islands can become saturated and reach the limit. The Galapagos National Park administration establishes a maximum number of visitors who can travel to the islands; The influx of tourists in the high season can be very large, making hotels and decks of the boats really crowded. Similarly, flights are usually sold out during these times and, of course, the prices of any transport and accommodation are much higher.

The low tourist season on the islands occurs during the months of spring (May to June) and autumn (September and October). In these seasons, tourism decreases considerably and many cruises and hotels reduce their prices to attract more passengers.

The weather in the Galapagos Islands

Rainy season warmer weather and calmest waters make these the best months to travel to the Galapagos Islands, if you are planning to include activities such as diving and snorkeling in your travel experience. However, something not so positive is that there are not as many fish and birds as you can see during the coldest times of the year.

In the coldest season, that is, from June to November, it is influenced by the cold areas of southern South America, as it brings cold weather, but it brings a lot of plankton in the water, something that attracts a lot of fish. This season is too cold to snorkel, but according to expert divers, it is also the best weather to be near and see a wide variety of underwater life.

For its part, the dry and cold season is much more recommended for trekking or exploring the islands, as well as the particular lava flows and other geological formations. In the high part, on the other hand, the drizzle and the fog maintain a constant humidity.