Dec → Feb
25 to 28°
nights 22 to 24°
- 19 rainy days · 74 mm
- sea 26°
When is the best time to visit the Galápagos Islands?
- Jan27°recommended
- Feb28°recommended
- Mar29°recommended
- Apr28°fair
- May27°fair
- Jun25°recommended
- Jul24°recommended
- Aug23°recommended
- Sep23°fair
- Oct24°not recommended
- Nov24°not recommended
- Dec25°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Galápagos Islands, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 23° | 73 mm | 20 d | 26° | ✓ |
| February | 28° | 24° | 70 mm | 17 d | 28° | ✓ |
| March | 29° | 25° | 99 mm | 15 d | 28° | ✓ |
| April | 28° | 24° | 109 mm | 19 d | 28° | |
| May | 27° | 23° | 88 mm | 22 d | 26° | |
| June | 25° | 22° | 81 mm | 20 d | 25° | ✓ |
| July | 24° | 21° | 78 mm | 20 d | 25° | ✓ |
| August | 23° | 20° | 57 mm | 15 d | 23° | ✓ |
| September | 23° | 20° | 60 mm | 15 d | 23° | |
| October | 24° | 20° | 65 mm | 16 d | 24° | |
| November | 24° | 21° | 57 mm | 14 d | 24° | |
| December | 25° | 22° | 78 mm | 20 d | 25° |
The four seasons in the Galápagos Islands, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Puerto Ayora) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Mar → May
27 to 29°
nights 23 to 25°
- 19 rainy days · 99 mm
- sea 27°
Jun → Aug
23 to 25°
nights 20 to 22°
- 18 rainy days · 72 mm
- sea 24°
Sep → Nov
23 to 24°
nights 20 to 21°
- 15 rainy days · 61 mm
- sea 24°
Book early for January to March and June to August
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in the Galápagos Islands, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
EventsAlbatross courtship on EspañolaApril to DecemberWhale sharks at Darwin and WolfJune to NovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
- Diving & snorkelling: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Galápagos Islands, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- April to DecemberAlbatross courtship on Española
Galápagos albatrosses return to nest on Española Island from April to December, with bill-fencing courtship displays on the cliffs.
- June to NovemberWhale sharks at Darwin and Wolf
Cold currents bring large female whale sharks to the waters off the northern islands, from June to November, on liveaboard dive cruises.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended27°23° at night
- 73 mm · 20 d
- sea 26°
High season, book early
February
Recommended28°24° at night
- 70 mm · 17 d
- sea 28°
High season, book early
March
Recommended29°25° at night
- 99 mm · 15 d
- sea 28°
Busy, without the crush
April
Fair28°24° at night
- 109 mm · 19 d
- sea 28°
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair27°23° at night
- 88 mm · 22 d
- sea 26°
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended25°22° at night
- 81 mm · 20 d
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended24°21° at night
- 78 mm · 20 d
- sea 25°
High season, book early
August
Recommended23°20° at night
- 57 mm · 15 d
- sea 23°
High season, book early
September
Fair23°20° at night
- 60 mm · 15 d
- sea 23°
Low season, lower prices
October
Not recommended24°20° at night
- 65 mm · 16 d
- sea 24°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended24°21° at night
- 57 mm · 14 d
- sea 24°
Low season, lower prices
December
Fair25°22° at night
- 78 mm · 20 d
- sea 25°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 27 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 73 mm over 20 days. The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
February. 28 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 70 mm over 17 days. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
March. 29 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 99 mm over 15 days. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. 28 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 109 mm over 19 days. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. 27 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 88 mm over 22 days. The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 25 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 81 mm over 20 days. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C early in the morning. Frequent but light showers: 78 mm over 20 days. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
August. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C early in the morning. Frequent but light showers: 57 mm over 15 days. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C early in the morning. Frequent but light showers: 60 mm over 15 days. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C early in the morning. A very wet month, 65 mm of rain over 16 days. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C early in the morning. A very wet month, 57 mm of rain over 14 days. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 25 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 78 mm over 20 days. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Galápagos Islands?
January to March and June to August: over these months, recorded highs range from 23 to 29 °C, with 18 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Puerto Ayora).
Which month should you avoid in the Galápagos Islands?
October: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 65 mm over 16 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Puerto Ayora).
What is the hottest month in the Galápagos Islands?
March, with 29 °C on average in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Puerto Ayora).
What is the coldest month in the Galápagos Islands?
August, with 23 °C at best during the day and 20 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Puerto Ayora).
What is the driest month in the Galápagos Islands?
August: 57 mm over 15 days of rain, against 109 mm in April, the wettest month.
When can you swim in the Galápagos Islands?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 23 to 28 °C depending on the month (warmest in February), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Puerto Ayora).
When to go diving or snorkelling in the Galápagos Islands?
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, December: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Puerto Ayora).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Galápagos Islands guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Ecuador: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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Photos: Kamilokardona / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Deimantas Viburys / Pexels · Lloyd Douglas / Pexels