There is no such best time to visit Galapagos, it is all about your interests. Every time is the best time to visit Galapagos due to its sensational, breathtaking beauty. There are two seasons and both are the best time to visit Galapagos according to what you want to entertain yourself with, wet and warm season and the other is cool and dry season.
The warm and wet season occurs during the months from December to June while the cool and dry season occurs during the months from July to November. Now that you are aware of the seasons and in which months they occur, let’s get into what time is the best time to visit Galapagos for you regarding your preference. This will help you plan what time suits your interest the most and you can plan your trip accordingly. Let’s see what each of the seasons has to offer.
The best time to visit Galapagos – Seasonal Guide
December to June- Warm and Wet Season
This season has been known as the best time to visit Galapagos even though Galapagos is recorded to have quite pleasant weather throughout the year. This season gives you a wet and pleasant feeling due to the daily rainfall, these are light showers and not the heavy ones that give you an opportunity to enjoy your best time in this season. Despite the light showers, you get to experience sunshine that keeps the day warm and sunny. The temperature lies around 80-degree Fahrenheit both on the land and underwater. This warm Island and calm sea currents make this season the best time to visit Galapagos.
The weather is not the only factor that makes it the best time to visit Galapagos but also what beauty this season brings with it. The wildlife is what makes this time a perfect time is the view of the beauty that lies in Galapagos. What makes this season famous is the wildlife here. In this season Hordes of Green Sea turtles lay eggs, this is the breeding and nesting season where you can spot baby sea lions on the shore. As May comes in action, you will be entertained by Blue-footed Boobies courtship dance in North Seymour and also flightless cormorants start nesting. The shores are crowded by the beautiful sight of Galapagos wildlife. This season also brings the blossoming spring waves that radiants Island in the eye-soothing colors of nature and calm the sea that is a relieving and fresh moment especially for those who deal with seasickness. Moreover, it makes it the perfect time for snorkeling. If you find this the best time to visit Galapagos and looking forward to planning a trip for this season, you might want to book your flights and reserve the accommodation quite early as this is the most crowded season and you do not want to miss this opportunity.
July to November- Cool and Dry Season
This season’s temperature is lower ranging from 60-degree Fahrenheit to 80-degree Fahrenheit and you will see less of the sunshine, the weather is quite cool and dry. The sky is clear and blue and no winds occur during this time of the year that makes it a perfect time for landscaping. The sea temperature decreases due to the continuous flow of Humbolt current flows that makes the rich organic nutrients available on the shore to attract huge crowds of wildlife animals. This is the best time for animals to feed on the wealth of food available for them due to plenty of small fishes in the sea. A lot of wildlife animals choose to breed this season that makes the shore a memorable wildlife view for tourists. You will spot many wildlife photographers in this season as an opportunity to capture the best wildlife shots. If you are one of the wildlife lovers or photographers then there is no chance that you are missing a trip to Galapagos this season, it is definitely the best time to visit Galapagos for you.
What makes this season the best time to visit Galapagos is the wildlife, you will experience the hatching of the Frigate and Booby bird eggs and the nesting of flightless cormorants on Fernandina Island. In September Galapagos penguins and sea lions are very active to breed, this can be a wonderful experience you can only have in this season. In this season tourists are most attracted to the Blue-footed boobies mating dances.
Due to the wildlife being active in this season, it is the best time to visit Galapagos as this is the perfect time for scuba diving and snorkeling where you can see the beautiful fishes and colorful marine wildlife. This season is also a crowded one and tourists start booking and reserving flights and accommodation as early as mid of June to September so if you think this is the best time to visit Galapagos for you, you should also hurry and get your reservations to finalize.
Tip: Bring umbrellas with you due to the prevalent heavy rainfalls in this season and also the seasickness medicines as the seas are rough during June and November. The temperature starts rising in October with the upcoming December that brings in the hatching season for giant tortoises.
How to decide on the best time to visit Galapagos?
As mentioned above, there is no best time to visit Galapagos, it totally depends on you what you think is the best to choose depending on your interests and what season and weather will suit you the best. You can right pros and cons listing down what suits you and know what can be a perfect fit for you to visit Galapagos considering the activities you like. It will make it easier for you to make the best choice and your vacations at Galapagos will be memorable.
Whichever season and month you decide on, do not forget to book your flight months before as the government has limited permits of tourists on Islands and you do not want to miss the best part of visiting Galapagos. Also, reserve your accommodations in advance to save your spot to prevent any risks.
I hope you found this article “When is the best time to visit Galapagos?-Travelers Guide” helpful and share with the ones you are planning your Galapagos trip with.
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