Galapagos Calendar

July

• Water temperature drops to 21C (68F) and below as sea conditions become more disturbed.
• Lava lizards initiate mating rituals that last until November.
• Whales and dolphins are often seen, especially off the western coast of Isabela.
• Flightless cormorants perform beautiful courtship rituals on Fernandina.
• Great month for observing blue-footed boobies as eggs, chicks, juveniles and sub-adults.
• American oystercatchers can be found nesting on the shores of Santiago.

August

• Water temperatures drop to around 18C (64F) as sea conditions become markedly choppy.
• Ocean currents are at their strongest and surges can be expected along western and southern facing shores.
• Giant tortoises return to the highlands of Santa Cruz.
• Newly-born sea lion pups are common sightings in the western and central islands.
• Migrant shore birds start to arrive and stay until March.
• Galapagos hawks court on Espanola and Santiago.
• Nazca (masked) boobies and swallow-tailed gulls nest on Genovesa.

September

• Peak of the garua season and the ‘coldest’ month in the Galapagos with temperatures down to below 20C and sea mist a frequent occurrence.
• Female sea lions have reached oestrus stage, so harem-gathering males are constantly barking and fighting.
• Galapagos penguins are remarkably active around Bartolome and are a delight to snorkel with as they torpedo through the water.
• Many sea bird species remain active at their nesting sites.

October

• Still cool and misty, although the sun generally breaks through by mid-morning.
• Sunrise in the western islands can be particularly beautiful with volcanoes rising clear above the shoreline mist.
• Giant tortoises are still laying eggs.
• Fur sea lions begin to mate.
• Lava herons start their nesting period which lasts through to March.
• Blue-footed boobies raise chicks all over Espanola and Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela).

November

• Transitory period from one season to the next with good weather, decreasing winds, calm seas and slowly rising water temperatures - so excellent conditions for snorkelling.
• End of the sea lion pupping season.
• Sea lion pups (especially at Champion Islet, Floreana) perform aqua-aerobics next to snorkellers and are often curious enough to nibble at their fins.
• Physalia jellyfish can often be seen in Gardner Bay (Espanola) and Caleta Tortuga (Santa Cruz).
• Band-rumped storm petrels begin their second nesting period.
• Breeding season for the brown noddy.

December

• The beginning of the ‘wet’ season - dry zone plants produce leaves and the islands become ‘green’, but overall the weather is excellent with pleasant temperatures and calm seas.
• Giant tortoise eggs begin to hatch and continue to do so until April.
• Green sea turtles display mating behaviour.
• The first batch of waved albatross chicks fledge.