January: Galapagos weather in January is hot and sunny with occasional showers; this month marks the peak tourist season. Turtles and tortoises lay their eggs, and some birds begin nesting.

February: Hot weather continues, but with more precipitation. Heavy shows are likely, though rain usually alternates with sunny periods, so check the Galapagos Islands weather forecast before choosing which things to do. More birds are nesting, and turtle eggs being to hatch.

March: The warm and humid weather may bring rain, but it also means the seas are calmer and good for snorkeling or diving. Frigate birds start mating, so look for the distinctive red pouches on the male's throat.

Galapagos Islands Map

April: The hot weather continues, but the rains taper off, with short heavy showers giving way to pleasant sunny weather. This is the best time to see the waved albatrosses on Espanola.

May: Galapagos weather continues to be warm, but the seas start to get rougher. Rains lessen, but the intermittent sunny skies are replaced by more consistently cloudy days.

June: The cool, dry season begins, with rougher waters and cooling temperatures. The cold Humboldt current combined with warmer air creates overcast skies and misty fog. Migrating humpback whales and whale sharks appear around the islands through to September.

July: Many birds' eggs start hatching. The Galapagos Islands weather forecast usually predicts windy weather and overcast skies through July and August. Seas become rougher, so watch out if you're prone to seasickness.

August: It’s cool, windy, and dry, and some of the rainy season vegetation dies off, leaving desert vegetation behind. Sea lions have pups, and you can see the chicks of many bird species.

September: The Humboldt current is at its strongest, which means it's time for the penguins to breed—see if you can catch their mating rituals. You can still see humpback whales and whale sharks migrating.

October: Galapagos weather in October still brings overcast skies and cool days, but the seas begin to calm down a bit, improving conditions for water-based activities.

November: Temperatures begin to climb once again, though the weather continues to be dry, with only 7 millimeters of rain falling on average.

December: The holiday season marks the start of the warm season again, with slightly more rain and higher prices. Sea lion pups are fun to play with at this time, and the green turtles are mating.