galapagos wildlife calendar

You can visit the Galapagos any time of the year and observe the incredible behaviour of the wildlife set against spectacular landscapes. However, if you want to see something particular - the courtship rituals of the blue-footed boobies, for example, or sea lions pups playing in the water - then our Wildlife Calendar can help you choose the best time to go.

January
The rainy season begins. Land birds start nesting after the first rain, and green sea turtles arrive on the shores to lay their eggs. On Isabela Island, the land iguanas begin to breed, while on Española, the adult marine iguanas become brightly coloured. Air and water temperatures start to rise, remaining warm until June, and making this season the ideal time for snorkelling and swimming.

February
Marine iguanas nest on Santa Cruz Island, and greater flamingos start nesting on Floreana. Bahama pintail ducks begin to breed, and it is the peak of the nesting season of the Galapagos dove. The water temperature can reach 25°C, and remains constant until April. Nazca boobies end their nesting season on Española, and Galapagos penguins become rare on Bartolomé Island, as they move with the colder waters to the western islands.

March
The rainy season reaches its peak, with a humid climate, bursts of tropical rain and patches of powerful sunlight. The water is warm even around the western islands, so snorkelling in the privileged company of penguins is very likely. Marine iguanas nest on Fernandina, and the waved albatross begins to arrive on Española from the summer equinox onwards.

April
The eggs of green sea turtles begin to hatch, while the hatching season of the giant tortoises ends. Land iguana eggs start to hatch on Isabela Island, and the waved albatrosses on Española begin their fascinating courtship. There is good visibility in the water for snorkelling, and the rains draw to an end.

May
Palo Santo trees begin to shed their leaves, and sea turtles continue to hatch on Gardner Bay, Punta Cormorant and Puerto Egas. The waved albatrosses on Española start to lay their eggs, while the marine iguana eggs begin to hatch on Santa Cruz. The band-rumped storm petrels begin their first nesting period, and the blue-footed boobies on North Seymour begin their courtship. The Galapagos penguins swim in the waters around Bartolomé Island again.

June
As the trade winds return from the southeast, the dry season begins. The currents become stronger, and sea mist (known as garúa) accumulates in the atmosphere. Giant tortoises journey from the highlands to the lowlands to begin their nesting period. The male frigate birds on North Seymour display their magnificent red pouches. Southern migrants including birds, dolphins and porpoises rest on the islands before continuing north, sometimes including humpback whales.

July
July is a good time to see the four stages of nesting of the blue-footed boobies, from eggs to chicks, to juveniles and sub-adults. The water temperature does not exceed 21°C, and this is the best time to spot whales and dolphins off the west coast of Isabela. Lava lizards begin their mating season, which lasts until November, and American oystercatchers nest on the shores of Santiago Island, at Puerto Egas. Seabirds are very active in breeding during July, particularly the blue-footed boobies on Española. On Fernandina, the flightless cormorants perform their courtship rituals and begin to nest.

August
The water temperature drops to 18°C in some areas, and the currents are at their strongest. The pupping season for sea lions begins, and they are most commonly found on the western and middle islands. Nazca boobies and swallow-tailed gulls nest on Genovesa Island, while the Galapagos hawks perform their courtship on Española and Santiago. Giant tortoises return to the highlands on Santa Cruz, and migrating shore birds arrive and stay until March.

September
The air temperature sinks to 19°C, as the dry season reaches its peak. The penguins at Bartolomé Island are particularly active in September, and most seabirds remain active at their nesting sites. The estral cycle of sea lions begins, so the males are constantly barking and fighting each other. The western and middle islands are the best places to observe the activity of the sea lions.

October
The sea lions begin their mating season, and giant tortoises continue to lay their eggs. The chicks of blue-footed boobies can be seen on Española and Isabela, and lava herons begin to nest from October until March. The days are not always sunny in October, as garúa covers the land in many places. Where it clears, however, there are glimpses of fabulous sunrises.

November
The pupping of the sea lions continues, and they mate on the eastern side of the archipelago. Seal pups play in the waters next to snorkellers, particularly at Champion Islet. The weather is generally very good, as the trade winds decrease and the water temperature begins to rise. The band-rumped storm petrels start their second nesting period, and it is the breeding season of the brown noddy terns. Various species of jellyfish can be seen around the islands; the genus physalia is often seen floating around Gardner and Tortuga islets, or stranded on the shores of Flour Beach on Floreana Island.

December
Northern migrants stop at the Galapagos on their journey south, from birds to some whale and dolphin species. Green sea turtles begin their mating rituals, and the eggs of the giant tortoises start to hatch, which continues until April. On Genovesa Island, the males of the great frigate birds begin to display their red pouches, and the first of the young waved albatrosses fledge.