![CALENDAR 01 Jan - Iguana.jpg (9188 bytes)](Galapagos%20photos/CALENDAR_01_Jan_-_Iguana.jpg)
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JANUARY
- Beginning of the rainy season
- Land birds start nesting, generally after the first rain
- On Hood (Española) Island adult marine iguanas become
brightly colored (green & red + black)
- The green sea turtles arrive to beaches in GPS 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
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![CALENDAR 02 Feb - flamingo.jpg (9259 bytes)](Galapagos%20photos/CALENDAR_02_Feb_-_flamingo.jpg) |
FEBRUARY
- On Floreana Island greater flamingos start nesting
- Bahama pintail ducks (Black-tailed pintail) start their
breeding season
- Nazca (masked) boobies on Hood are at the end of their
nesting season
- Marine iguanas nest on Santa Cruz Island
- The highest water temperature reaches 25C (77F). This
temperature remains constant until April
- Very few penguins are sighted at Bartolome Island (most have
followed the cool waters back to the west or near upwelling areas)
- Nesting season of the Galapagos dove reaches its peak
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![CALENDAR 03 MAR walking.jpg (14442 bytes)](Galapagos%20photos/CALENDAR_03_MAR_walking.jpg) |
MARCH
- The rainy season reaches the highest precipitation (this
does not mean it rains everyday)
- Sporadic tropical rains, intense sun and hot climate. Air
temperature can reach up to 31ºC (88ºF). Humidity is high.
- Marine iguanas nest on Fernandina
- March 21st, the beginning of the summer equinox signals the
arrival of the waved albatross to Española.
- Even the western islands have warm waters where snorkeling
is excellent. Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela) can be an amazing site. Penguins still active
in the water, next to tropical fish! (How bizarre!)
- Some shores, specially those facing the north side, can
receive deep surge (ola de fondo) coming from the northern currents. Wet landings at
places like Puerto Egas, Gardner Bay, Bartolome can sometimes be a challenge.
- Snorkelers will remain long periods of time in the water.
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![CALENDAR 04 APR - fish.jpg (12319 bytes)](Galapagos%20photos/CALENDAR_04_APR_-_fish.jpg) |
APRIL
- Massive arrival of waved albatrosses to Española. Amazing
courtship starts.
- End of hatching season of the giant tortoises
- Eggs of green sea turtles begin to hatch
- Eggs of land iguanas hatch on Isabela
- While the rains have ended, the islands quite continue green
- Good visibility in the water for snorkelers
- Perhaps, together with May, the best months in Galapagos
(weather, animals, water temperature)
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![CALENDAR 05 MAY - blue feet.jpg (19164 bytes)](Galapagos%20photos/CALENDAR_05_MAY_-_blue_feet.jpg) |
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 marine iguanas' eggs hatch from nests on Santa Cruz
- Palo santo trees begin to shed their foliage
- Waved albatross on Española start laying their eggs
- Ban-rumped storm petrels begin their first nesting period
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![CALENDAR 06 JUN - turtles.jpg (9843 bytes)](Galapagos%20photos/CALENDAR_06_JUN_-_turtles.jpg) |
JUNE
- Beginning of the garúa season
- Giant tortoises on Santa Cruz Island migrate from the
highlands to the lowlands in search of suitable nesting places
- Beginning of the nesting season of giant tortoises
- South east trade winds return. Currents become a bit
stronger.
- Seas pick up in surge and wave action.
- Many red pouches by males of Magnificent Frigatebirds on
North Seymour.
- Southern migrants have started their journey towards the
north.
- Galapagos is a rest stop for such birds. Some species of
cetaceans also follow this pattern of migration.
- Some groups of Humpback whales that migrate up to equatorial
latitudes along the coast of Ecuador, can reach the Galapagos too.
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![CALENDAR 07 JUL 0 lizard.jpg (8628 bytes)](Galapagos%20photos/CALENDAR_07_JUL_0_lizard.jpg) |
JULY
- Sea bird communities are very active (breeding), specially
the Blue footed boobies on Española. Flightless cormorants perform beautiful courtship
rituals and nesting activities on Fernandina.
- If you walk along the shores of Puerto Egas (Santiago
Island) you could find American oystercatchers nesting.
- Lava lizards initiate mating rituals until November
- Cetaceans (whales & dolphins) are more likely to be
observed, specially off the western coast of Isabela
- Great month to see the four stages of nesting in Blue footed
boobies: eggs, chicks, juveniles and subadults.
- Water temperature does not reach more than 21C (68F)
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![CALENDAR 08AUG - boobies.jpg (11430 bytes)](Galapagos%20photos/CALENDAR_08AUG_-_boobies.jpg) |
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 18C (64F), which
obviously varies according to the geographic zones among the islands.
- Migrant shore birds start to arrive, and stay on the islands
until March
- Giant tortoises return to the highlands of Santa Cruz
- Oceans are quite choppy, currents at the strongest levels,
surge can be expected along the shores that face west or south
- Pupping season (births) of sea lions has started. Western
and central islands are common places for such sightings
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![CALENDAR 09 SEP - penguinos.jpg (10484 bytes)](Galapagos%20photos/CALENDAR_09_SEP_-_penguinos.jpg) |
SEPTEMBER
- Peak of the cold (garúa) season
- The air temperature reaches its lowest levels (19C-66F)
- Galapagos Penguins show remarkable activity on Bartolome.
Since May 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 harem-gathering males are constantly barking and fighting.
- Shore fighting is heavy. Western and central islands are the
most active ones in terms of sea lions' activities.
- Most species of sea birds remain quite active at their
nesting sites.
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![CALENDAR 10 OCT - tortoise.jpg (20062 bytes)](Galapagos%20photos/CALENDAR_10_OCT_-_tortoise.jpg) |
OCTOBER
- Lava herons start nesting until March
- The Galapagos Fur Sea lions begin their mating period
- Blue footed boobies raise chicks all over Española and
Punta
- Vicente Roca (Isabela)
- Giant tortoises are still laying eggs
- Days are not always sunny. Garúa can be expected in most
locations, except the western islands where most days have a misty start but after few
hours of daylight it burns off.
- Sunrises in the west can be quite beautiful after the garúa
covers only certain locations of the western volcanoes. Summits are clear, but low-lying
fog covers the shoreline.
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![](Galapagos%20photos/GPS%20Ga1.jpg) |
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.
The genus Physalia is commonly seen floating around Gardner and Tortuga Islets. Some can
also be seen stranded at the shores of the Flour Beach at Floreana.
- Band-rumped storm petrels begin their second nesting period
Seas are calm. South east trade winds have decreased strength. Water temperatures are
slowly rising.
- Generally great weather due to transition between one season
and the next one
- Good visibility for snorkelers
- Sea lion pups (specially at Champion Islet) play
aqua-aerobics next to snorkelers. Most pups here are curious enough to nibble at fins of
snorkelers. The average age of most pups is 3-4 months.
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![CALENDAR 12 DEC - Albatross.jpg (12248 bytes)](Galapagos%20photos/CALENDAR_12_DEC_-_Albatross.jpg) |
DECEMBER
- Hatching of giant tortoise's eggs begins 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 waved albatrosses fledge
- Great weather
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