January
Climate: Wet and humid; Temperatures between 22 and 30.
Land birds begin nesting and green sea turtles return to the Galapagos to begin egg-laying. On Española and Isabela, land and marine iguanas enter into the courtship period of their reproductive cycle.
A great month for... iguana courtship displays!
February
Climate: Height of the rainy season; Temperatures between 24 and 31.
Greater flamingos begin nesting on Floreana, and marine iguanas nest on Santa Cruz. Young Nazca boobies on Española begin to fly!
A great month for... diving!
March
Climate: Wet and humid; Temperatures between 24 and 32.
Perfect time for snorkelling as the water temperature reaches its peak - see penguins swimming with tropical fish off Isabela! Marine iguanas nest on Fernandina and the waved albatross comes back to Española.
A great month for... snorkelling!
April
Rainy season comes to an end; Temperatures between 24 and 31.
Giant tortoises, green sea turtles and land iguanas all begin to hatch! Courtship season begins for waved albatrosses on Española.
Together with May, probably the best month to visit the Galapagos!
May
Fine and clear; Temperatures between 23 and 30.
Green sea turtles and land iguanas are still hatching, and the blue-footed boobies begin their famous courtship period. Good visibility for snorkellers.
Together with April, probably the best month to visit the Galapagos!
June
Misty 'garua' season begins; Temperatures between 22 and 28.
Giant tortoises on Santa Cruz migrate to the lowlands in search of good nesting-places. Frigatebirds on North Seymour begin their courtship period, with the males' hugely-inflated red chests. Humpback whales can be sighted around the islands.
A good month for... magnificent frigatebirds!
July
Garua season continues; Temperatures between 21 and 27.
Nesting season for Blue-footed boobies, American oystercatchers and flightless cormorants; mating season for lava lizards. Also a good month for whale and dolphin-spotting.
A good month for... whales and dolphins!
August
Garua season continues; Temperatures between 19 and 27.
Pupping season for sea-lions in the western and central islands. Giant tortoises head back up to the highlands after laying their eggs and migrant birds start to arrive in the islands- they'll be here until March!
A good month for... baby sea-lions!
September
Peak of the garua season; Temperatures between 19 and 27.
Bartolomé is the place to be as the large penguin colony are incredibly active at this time of year. Or head further west to see bull sea-lions fighting to maintain their harems for the coming breeding season.
A good month for... baby sea-lions!
October
Haze of the garua begins to go in the west; Temperatures between 19 and 27.
Blue-footed booby chicks on Española and Isabela. Galapagos Fur Seals begin their mating periods, and there are some beautiful sunrises in the western islands as the sun fights its way through the haze.
A good month for... boobies!
November
Largely fine and clear; Temperatures between 20 and 27.
Good weather, good snorkelling conditions, and a great time to head out and swim with the baby sea-lions, who by now will be 3 months old.
A good month for... swimming with sea-lions!
December
Perfect! Temperatures between 21 and 28.
Baby giant tortoises start to hatch, as do baby waved albatrosses. The great weather in December means that it's a great month for relaxing and enjoying all the delights the islands have to offer.
A good month for... sunshine!