Galapagos Natural Events - Month by Month Calendar

• JANUARY
  · The rainy season begins and land birds start nesting
  · Adult marine iguanas change from black to bright orange, red and blue on Hood (Espanola) Island
  · The green sea turtles arrive to beaches in GPS for egg laying period
  · Land iguanas begin their mating season on Isabela Island
  · Water and air temperatures rise and stay warm until June
  · This month is an ideal time for snorkelling

• FEBRUARY
  · Greater flamingos start nesting on Floreana Island
  · Bahama pintail ducks (Black-tailed pintail) start their breeding season
  · Nazca (masked) boobies on Hood reach the end of their nesting season
  · Marine iguanas nest on Santa Cruz Island
  · Most penguins have now left Bartolome Island, following the cool waters back to the west
  · The Galapagos dove reaches the peak of its nesting season
  · The highest water temperature reaches 25C (77F). This temperature remains constant until April
  

• MARCH
  · The beginning of the summer equinox on March 21st signals the arrival of the waved albatross to Espanola
  · This is the peak of the rainy season, although it still does not rain every day
  · The sporadic tropical rains combine with intense sun to create a hot and humid climate, with temperatures up to 30C (86F)
  · Marine iguanas nest on Fernandina
  · The waters are now at their warmest, even around the western islands, and snorkelling is excellent. Swim near Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela) to come eye to eye with both penguins and tropical fish, swimming together in one of nature's stranger pairings
  

• APRIL
  · April and May are considered to be the best months in the islands for pleasant weather, warm waters and excellent animal sightings
  · Waved albatrosses arrive in droves to Espanola and begin their fascinating courtship rituals, clacking their beaks together in rapid succession
  · The giant tortoises reach the end of their hatching season
  · Green sea turtles eggs begin to hatch
  · Land iguanas eggs hatch on Isabela
  · The rains have now ended but the islands remain green, with good visibility in the water for snorkelling
  

• MAY
  · The blue-footed boobies begin their comical courtship rituals on North Seymour
  · Sea turtles are still hatching on Gardner Bay, Punta Cormorant, and Puerto Egas
  · Most of marine iguanas' eggs have now hatched from their nests on Santa Cruz
  · Palo Santo trees begin to shed their foliage
  · Waved albatross on Espanola start laying their eggs
  · Band-rumped storm petrels begin their first nesting period
  

• JUNE
  · The cold garua season begins
  · Giant tortoises on Santa Cruz Island migrate from the highlands to the lowlands in search of suitable nesting places
  · The giant tortoises begin their nesting season
  · The South East trade winds return and currents become stronger, with seas becoming rougher
  · The magnificent red pouches of the male frigate birds can now be seen fully distended on North Seymour.
  · Birds start their south to north migration, using the Galapagos as a rest stop. Some species of cetaceans also follow this pattern of migration
  · Groups of Humpback whales that migrate up to equatorial latitudes along the coast of Ecuador, can also be spotted at the Galapagos
  

• JULY
  · Sea bird communities are now at the height of their breeding season, especially the blue footed boobies on Espaøola. Flightless cormorants perform beautiful courtship rituals and nesting activities on Fernandina.
  · If you walk along the shores of Puerto Egas (Santiago Island) you could find American oystercatchers nesting.
  · Lava lizards initiate mating rituals until November
  · Cetaceans (whales & dolphins) are more likely to be observed, especially off the western coast of Isabela
  · Excellent opportunities to see the four stages of nesting in blue footed boobies: eggs, chicks, juveniles and sub adults
  · Water temperature does not reach more than 21C (68F)
  

• AUGUST
  · Galapagos hawks court on Espanola and Santiago
  · Nazca (masked) boobies and swallow-tailed gulls nest on Genovesa Island
  · Migrant shore birds start to arrive, and stay on the islands until March
  · Giant tortoises return to the highlands of Santa Cruz
  · Oceans are quite choppy and currents at their strongest levels, surge can be expected along the shores that face west or south
  · Sea lions begin their birthing ("pupping") season. The Western and Central islands are common places for such sightings
  · The temperature of the ocean drops to 18C (64F), which obviously varies according to the geographic zones among the islands
  

• SEPTEMBER
  · Peak of the cold (garua) season, when the air temperature reaches its lowest levels (19C-66F)
  · Galapagos Penguins show remarkable activity on Bartolome. From May, the penguins delight swimmers and snorkellers with their antics at the surface and their torpedo grace underwater
  · Sea lions are very active. Females are now on heat, and so harem-gathering males are constantly barking and fighting. Shore fighting is heavy. Western and central islands are the most active ones in terms of sea lions' activities
  · Most species of sea birds remain quite active at their nesting sites
  

• OCTOBER
  · Lava herons start nesting and continue until March
  · The Galapagos Fur Sea lions begin their mating period
  · Blue footed boobies raise chicks all over Espanola and Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela)
  · Giant tortoises are still laying eggs
  · Sunny days are now fewer. Garua can be expected in most locations, except the western islands where most days have a misty start which burns off after a few hours of daylight.
  · See spectacular sunrises in the west with the garÏa wreathing the western volcanoes. The summits remain clear, but low-lying fog covers the shoreline
  

• NOVEMBER
  · Sea lions continue pupping and are sexually active on the eastern part of the archipelago
  · Playful sea lion pups perform aqua-aerobics next to snorkellers, especially at Champion Islet. Most pups here are curious enough to nibble at fins of snorkellers. The average age of most pups is 3-4 months
  · Breeding season begins for the brown noddies
  · Some species of jellyfish can be seen around the islands. The genus Physalia is commonly seen floating around Gardner and Tortuga Islets Some can also be seen stranded at the shores of the Flour Beach at Floreana
  · Band-rumped storm petrels begin their second nesting period
  · Seas are calm. South east trade winds have decreased in strength and water temperatures are slowly rising
  · Weather is now improving and there is good visibility for snorkellers
  

• DECEMBER
  · Galapagos becomes "green" with the start of the rainy season
  · Giant tortoise's eggs begin hatching, continuing until April
  · Green sea turtles start their mating rituals
  · The first young waved albatrosses fledge
  · The first red pouches of the Great Frigate birds can be seen at Genovesa.
  · The weather is now excellent, with mostly sunny days, very little wind from the south east and rising water temperatures
  · Western islands remain very dry and the water temperature still feels cool for long snorkelling periods