Galapagos Islands Holidays

The weather in Galapagos Islands is wide and varied

The Galapagos Islands are extraordinary no matter the time of the year. Although there are two distinct seasons, the hot rainier season of Dec-May and the cooler dry season of June-November, the wildlife both on land and underwater is prolific and easy to spot every single month. You may choose to time your visit to coincide with a particular wildlife event, such as the June-October whale watching, the arrival of the waved albatross in April or the February marine iguana mating season when they turn brightly coloured. However, our general advice is to base your dates on whether you prefer hot days when the sun beats down through clear blue skies or whether you’d be more comfortable exploring the islands in cooler temperatures, with breezier days and some cloud protection from the sun. Another consideration is how you wish to explore. If you want a smaller expedition cruise, or wish to ‘island-hop’ travelling by speedboat between the islands, then you might consider December-May when the seas are calm. If you preference is for a less intimate and larger/inherently more stable vessel then the choppier seas of June-November needn’t be much of a concern. Novice snorkelers and divers may favour the warmer waters and better underwater visibility of December-May although the nutrient rich cool waters of June-November, when visibility reduces, bring with them even more underwater activity and larger species. A final consideration may be what the weather is like in other places you are visiting during your holiday, for example in Ecuador’s Andean highlands, the Amazon rainforest or perhaps even in Peru or another country?