Galapagos year around a calendar of main events
January
- Beginning of the rainy season.
- Land birds start nesting, generally after the first rain.
- On Española the adult male marine iguanas become brightly colored.
- The green sea turtle arrives to the beaches of Galapagos to lay their eggs.
- Land iguanas begin reproductive cycles on Isabela.
- Water sand air temperatures rise and stay warm until June.
- Ideal time for snorkeling.
February
- On Floreana flamingos start nesting.
- Bahamas pintails start their breeding season.
- Masked boobies on Española are at the end of their nesting season.
- Marine iguanas nest on Sta. Cruz.
- The highest water temperature reaches 25º C (77º F). This temperature remains until April.
- Very few penguins are sighted in Bartholomew.
- The nesting season of the Galapagos dove reaches its peak.
March
- The rainy season reaches the highest precipitation.
- Sporadic tropical rains, intense sun and hot climate. Air temperature can reach up to 30º C (86º F).
- Marine iguanas nest in Fernandina.
- March 21, the beginning of the summer equinox signals the arrival of the waved albatross to Española.
April
- Massive arrival of waved albatross to Española. Their courtship starts.
- Hatching season ends for giant tortoises.
- The eggs of the green sea turtles begin to hatch.
- Land iguanas hatch on Isabela.
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.
- Band-rumped storm petrels begin their first nesting period.
June
- Beginning of the garúa season.
- Giant tortoises on Sta. Cruz migrate from the highlands to the lowlands in search of suitable nesting places.
- Beginning of the nesting season of giant tortoises.
July
- Sea bird communities are very active, especially the blue footed boobies on Española. While, flightless cormorants court and nest on Fernandina.
- It is possible to find oystercatchers nesting on Pto. Egas.
- Lava lizard initiates mating rituals until November.
- Whales are more likely to be observed, specially off the Western coast of Isabela.
August
- The Galapagos hawks court on Española and Santiago.
- Mask boobies and swallowtailed gulls nest on Genovesa.
- The temperature of the ocean descends to 18º C (64º F). 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 Sta. Cruz.
September
- Cold (garúa) season peak.
- The air temperature reaches its lowest (19º C) (66º F).
- Penguins demonstrate remarkable activity on Bartolome until December.
- Sea lions are very active, especially in the western and central areas of the Archipelago.
- Most species of marine birds remain active at their nesting sites.
October
- Lava herons nest until March.
- The Galapagos fur seals begin their marine period.
- Boobies raise their chicks on Española.
- Giant tortoises still lay their eggs.
November
- Sea lion pups are born.
- Sea lions are sexually active on the Eastern part of the Archipelago.
- Breeding season of brown noddies.
- Band-romped storm petrels begin their second nesting period.
December
- Hatching of the 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 turns green.
- The first young albatross fledge.
Note: Due to changes in the strength and the limits of the ocean currents that can affect the weather in Galapagos, some of the events described above may differ.
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