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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