Best time to visit Galápagos in short
The islands can be visited all year. What changes is the sea and the wildlife you are likely to meet. A warm phase from January to May brings warmer water and at times a calmer sea. A cooler phase from June to December brings the albatross colony on Española back to land. Penguins and frigatebirds are present all year.
So the right month depends on your aim. The calendar below is a general guide and makes no promise about a single tour. For the weather numbers behind the phases, see the Galápagos weather page, and compare Galápagos tours once you know your month.
Month-by-month calendar
Climate as a guide, wildlife by season.
| Month | Climate and sea | Wildlife note |
|---|---|---|
| January | Warm phase | Penguins and frigatebirds present; albatrosses mostly at sea |
| February | Warm phase | Penguins and frigatebirds present; albatrosses mostly at sea |
| March | Warm phase | Penguins and frigatebirds present; the exact albatross arrival date varies |
| April | Warm phase | Española: albatross nesting possible, with eggs laid from April to June |
| May | Warm phase, variable at the turn | Española: egg laying possible in the same window |
| June | Start of the cooler phase | Española: late egg-laying window, no fixed day |
| July | Cooler phase | Albatross colony on Española; penguins and frigatebirds all year |
| August | Cooler phase | Albatross colony; no sighting is promised on a single tour |
| September | Cooler phase | Albatross colony; penguin breeding conditions vary |
| October | Cooler phase | Albatrosses possible; strong surf can limit access to some sites |
| November | Cooler phase | Albatrosses on land; penguins and frigatebirds present |
| December | Transition | End of the albatross land phase; young birds leave by the start of the year |
For most visitors, April and May combine the end of the warm phase with the start of the albatross nesting window on Española. If you only travel in the cooler phase, the albatross colony is the main reason to include San Cristóbal.
Our pick: a full snorkelling day
Our take: the Pinzón day works in any season with the long wetsuit included.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Galápagos tours for your month
Day trips, snorkeling, diving and cruises across the islands, with live prices and availability.
Which month for which goal
Four common aims and the months that fit them.
Warm water for snorkeling
The warm phase runs from December to May, with the sea at 20 to 26 °C. From June to November it is 18 to 23 °C. Ask your operator what wetsuit comes with the tour.
Snorkeling guide →Albatrosses on Española
The main nesting area is Española, and the birds are mostly on land from April to December. Early in the year they are mostly at sea. The Española day trip from San Cristóbal costs about $259 as of 2026 and takes 8 to 9 hours. Landings depend on sea state.
Penguins and frigatebirds
Both are present all year. Penguins live mainly around Isabela and Fernandina and can also be found near Bartolomé, Santiago and Floreana. Frigatebirds are seen on North Seymour, Floreana, San Cristóbal and Genovesa. Presence is not a promise of a sighting on a given tour.
Animals guide →Less rain
On average, August to November are the driest months at 6 to 7 mm. February and March are the wettest at more than 90 mm. Heavy swell can still close sites in any month.
What the calendar does not say
Keep your plans flexible.
No fixed breeding dates
Breeding months for boobies, iguanas and sea lions differ by island, and no single month works for all of them. Pick the animals you care about most and build the trip around one of them.
No sighting guarantees
Presence in a month is not a promise for a given day. Boat schedules, weather and sea state decide each landing, and the guide decides what is safe.
December is a bridge
December sits between the warm and the cooler phase. Treat it as a transition month and expect either.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pick your month, then your route.
Best time to visit Galápagos: frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Galápagos?
No single month is best for everyone. Warm water favors December to May, and the albatross colony on Española favors April to December. Pick the one that matters more to you.
When can I see albatrosses?
They are mostly on land on Española from April to December and mostly at sea early in the year. Egg laying falls between April and June.
Can I see penguins all year?
They are present all year, mainly around Isabela and Fernandina. A sighting is not guaranteed on a specific tour.
When is the sea warmest?
Sea temperatures run 20 to 26 °C from December to May and 18 to 23 °C from June to November. Site, depth and year change this.
Is there a low season with less rain?
Rain is lowest from August to November on average, but swell can close sites in any month.
Is this the official Galápagos website?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the national park or any tour operator.