For Any Questions

January

• Beginning of the rainy season
• Land birds start nesting, generally after the first rain
• On Hood (Española) Island adult marine iguanas become brightly colored (green & red + black)
• The green sea turtles arrive to beaches in GPS for egg laying period
• Land iguanas begin reproductive cycles on Isabela Island
• Both, water and air temperatures rise and stay warm until June
• Ideal time for snorkeling

February

• On Floreana Island greater flamingos start nesting
• Bahama pintail ducks (Black-tailed pintail) start their breeding season
• Nazca (masked) boobies on Hood are at the end of their nesting season
• Marine iguanas nest on Santa Cruz Island
• The highest water temperature reaches 25C (77F). This temperature remains constant until April
• Very few penguins are sighted at Bartolome Island (most have followed the cool waters back to the west or near upwelling areas)
• Nesting season of the Galapagos dove reaches its peak

March

• It seems like the temperature went well beyond 30ºC this year
• The rainy season reaches the highest precipitation (this does not mean it rains everyday)
• Sporadic tropical rains, intense sun and hot climate. Air temperature can reach up to 30C (86F). Humidity is high.
  Marine iguanas nest on Fernandina
• March 21st, the beginning of the summer equinox signals the arrival of the waved albatross to Española.
• Even the western islands have warm waters where snorkeling is excellent. Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela) can be an amazing site. Penguins are still active in the water, next to tropical fish! (How bizarre!)
• Some shores, especially those facing the north side, can receive deep surge (ola de fondo) coming from the northern currents. Wet landings at places like Puerto Egas, Gardner Bay, Bartolome can sometimes be a challenge.
• Snorkelers will remain long periods of time in the water.

April

• Massive arrival of waved albatrosses to Española. Amazing courtship starts.
• End of hatching season of the giant tortoises
• Eggs of green sea turtles begin to hatch
• Eggs of land iguanas hatch on Isabela
• While the rains have ended, the islands are still quite green
• Good visibility in the water for snorkelers
• Perhaps, together with May, the best months in Galapagos (weather, animals, water temperature)
  

May

• North Seymour's blue-footed boobies begin their courtship
• Sea turtles are still hatching on Gardner Bay, Punta Cormorant, and Puerto Egas
• Most of marine iguanas' eggs hatch from nests on Santa Cruz
• Palo santo trees begin to shed their foliage
• Waved albatross on Española start laying their eggs
• Ban-rumped storm petrels begin their first nesting period
  

June

• Beginning of the garúa (a fine mist) season
• Giant tortoises on Santa Cruz Island migrate from the highlands to the lowlands in search of suitable nesting places
• Beginning of the nesting season of giant tortoises
• South east trade winds return. Currents become a bit stronger. Seas pick up in surge and wave action.
• Many red pouches can be seen on the male magnificent frigatebirds at North Seymour as they search for a mate.
• Southern migrants have started their journey towards the north. Galapagos is a rest stop for such birds. Some species of cetaceans also follow this pattern of migration.
• Some groups of Humpback whales that migrate up to equatorial latitudes along the coast of Ecuador, can sometimes be seen around the Galapagos.
  

July

• Sea bird communities are very active (breeding), especially the Blue footed boobies on Española. Flightless cormorants perform beautiful courtship rituals and nesting activities on Fernandina.
• If you walk along the shores of Puerto Egas (Santiago Island) you can find American oyster catchers nesting.
• Lava lizards initiate mating rituals until November
• Cetaceans (whales & dolphins) are more likely to be observed, especially off the western coast of Isabela
• Great month to see the four stages of nesting in Blue footed boobies: eggs, chicks and juveniles.
• Water temperature does not reach more than 21C (68F)

August

• Galapagos hawks court on Española and Santiago
• Nazca (masked) boobies and Swallow-tailed gulls nest on Genovesa Island
• The temperature of the ocean drops to 18C (64F), which obviously varies according to the geographic zones among the islands.
• Migrant shore birds start to arrive, and stay on the islands until March
• Giant tortoises return to the highlands of Santa Cruz
• Oceans are quite choppy, currents at the strongest levels, surge can be expected along the shores that face west or south
• Pupping season (births) of sea lions has started. Western and central islands are common places for such sightings.

September

• Peak of the cold (garúa) season
• The air temperature reaches its lowest levels (19C-66F)
• Galapagos Penguins show remarkable activity on Bartolome. Since May swimmers and snorkelers can be delighted at Bartolome with penguins active at the surface or torpedo-like while underwater.
• Sea lions are very active. Females have reached estrus stage, and so harem-gathering males are constantly barking and fighting. Shore fighting is heavy. Western and central islands are the most active ones in terms of sea lions' activities.
• Most species of sea birds remain quite active at their nesting sites.

October

• Lava herons start nesting until March
• The Galapagos Fur Sea lions begin their mating period
• Blue footed boobies raise chicks all over Española and Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela)
• Giant tortoises are still laying eggs
• Days are not always sunny. Garúa can be expected in most locations, except the western islands where most days have a misty start but after few hours of daylight it burns off.
• Sunrises in the west can be quite beautiful after the garúa covers only certain locations of the western volcanoes. Summits are clear, but low-lying fog covers the shoreline.
  

November

• Pupping of sea lions continue.
• Sea lions are sexually active on the eastern part of the archipelago.
• Breeding season for the brown noddies
• Some species of jellyfish can be seen around the islands. The genus Physalia is commonly seen floating around Gardner and Tortuga Islets. Some can also be seen stranded at the shores of the Flour Beach at Floreana.
• Band-rumped storm petrels begin their second nesting period
• Seas are calm. South east trade winds have decreased strength. Water temperatures are slowly rising.
• Generally great weather due to transition between one season and the next one
• Good visibility for snorkelers
• Sea lion pups (specially at Champion Islet) play aqua-aerobics next to snorkelers. Most pups here are curious enough to nibble at fins of snorkelers. The average age of most pups is 3-4 months.
  

December

• Hatching of giant tortoise's eggs begins and lasts until April
• Green sea turtles display their mating behavior
• The rainy season begins, all of the plants of the dry zone produce leaves. Galapagos becomes "green"
• The first young waved albatrosses fledge
• Great weather

Galapagos flora and fauna is very diverse.

The Galápagos Flora

For Any Questions

Most likely the flora of the islands started:

1. With spores and seeds carried by the winds and "stopped" by the newly formed islands.
2. By seeds stuck to feet and plumage of migratory birds, or passed through their digestive system.
3. Via chunks of vegetation rushed to the sea by overflowing rivers and conducted throughout the ocean by the marine currents.

It happened then, it happens now. Not all seeding can "fuse" with the rocky land. Only those with simple germination necessities can adapt to the barren environment to survive and evolve in forms growing every day.

Going from shores to highlands, it has been agreed to define five zones of vegetation life in Galapagos:

1. Coastal. The sea borders are apt to salt water plants like the Red Mangrove, with its typical aerial roots in Isabela and Santa Cruz; and the Beach Morning Glory abundant in Santiago.

2. Arid. Cacti territories! Among a good variety, the big and famous Opuntia Cactus, (prickly-pear) in many places the only source of food and moisture for reptiles; and the graceful Candelabra Cactus. Among the newer black lavas you find Brachycereus Cactus (or aptly called lava cactus). Another typical of the zone, and common on all large islands, is a Bursera Tree of light bark called Palo Santo (holy wood), after the reddish sap that bleeds from wounds. High number of endemic plant species.

3. Humid. Epiphytes like orchids, mosses, ferns and lichens thrive in this zone's constant moisture and ornate trees and shrubs with color and charm. Typical at this degree of humidity are the Scalesias and Pisonias. Not much is said about the highlands of Galápagos, but in reality this is an amazing cloud forest with unique features.

4. Miconia. Particular to San Cristobal and Santa Cruz, this zone is named after the ever-present Miconias that require high humidity.

5. Pampa. In the populated islands this is farmland or Pampas. The temperature is low and grass is abundant; good to cultivate commercial products and raise cattle.

The amazing world of the birds

THE LARGEST BIRD IN THE ISLANDS

The Waved Albatross is found around the East Pacific. With a wingspan of 11 feet (3.5 m.) an albatross can follow wind currents for days. Their only home in Galapagos is Española (Hood) Island where spectacular courtship-displays amaze any visitor. Albatrosses depart their lovely grounds by early January and return by early April. They follow the cold waters back to the coast of South America. When the southeast trade winds come back, they not only bring cool nutrient-rich waters, but the albatrosses as well. Among the many interesting features of the waved albatross is the feeding mechanism of their young: fish oil! What an adaptation for long-feeding trips in the ocean.

RED-FOOTED BOOBIES

The only ones with prehensile feet. They nest on Palo Santo trees or bushes. A precocious group, red-footed boobies start mating when they still have their juvenile plumage (which may explain the healthy size of the colony.) Most abundant in the "bird island" of Genovesa (Tower). Worth mentioning: red-footed boobies are the most numerous of all, but the least seen of all. Reason: their nesting colonies are found along the peripheral islands of Galápagos.

BLUE-FOOTED BOOBIES

Fearless divers -- from 100 feet (30 m.) or more -- and picturesque dancers with their beaks pointing up to the sky, while stomping the ground with their huge bright blue webbed feet. Favorite nesting islands are: Española, the Daphnes, Isabela and North Seymour. Look for their courtship display: pelican dance and sky pointing. Their loud calls will get your attention: males whistle, while females honk. Look carefully at their eyes: it seems one has a larger pupil than the other one. Which is male, which is female?

Females seem to have larger pupils because more black pigmentation is present around their pupils. Did you guess right?

NAZCA BOOBIES (formerly Masked Boobies)

They are the largest of the three species. Big nesting colonies are found in Genovesa and Española. Usually, they lay and hatch two eggs, but if so, the younger chick is left out, and the older one is raised in better survival conditions. This is known as sibling murder. Check this out: eggs are laid five days apart, and so they hatch five days apart. If you happen to see this, you'll notice an incredible size difference between the two chicks. Scientists wonder why such high investment of energy ends up in the loss of one of the two chicks. Natural selection at work!

THE GALAPAGOS (FLIGHTLESS) CORMORANT

Lives in the westernmost islands, Fernandina and Isabela, where there is plenty of food and nesting habitat for this unusual seabird. In islands with plenty of food and safety, the cormorants had no practical use for their wings and, simply, by means of natural selection, became flightless. In fact, it is the only cormorant in the world that does not fly. You can even count the number of feathers on each wing!

FRIGATEBIRDS

The Frigatebirds, also called Man O'War, are sea birds that are virtually not waterproof! What a contradiction! They are large (almost 6 feet/1.8 m. wingspan), lightweight and have a long, hooked beak to catch fish without getting wet. Frigates have an easier way to get food: stealing from other birds, specially red-footed boobies (this is, naturally, a survival strategy). And when it is time to raise a family, they settle in others' nests, or abscond with some sticks.

Male frigates have shiny green or purple plumage (depending on the species) and a resplendent scarlet pouch, which is displayed in courtship. There are two species of frigates in Galapagos: The Magnificent Frigate Bird and the Great Frigate Bird. Their main nesting colonies are found in Genovesa (Tower) and North Seymour Islands.

THE MOST NORTHERLY OF ALL PENGUINS

The Galápagos Penguins congregate along the rocky lava shores of Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, and Bartolome, islands cooled off by both the Cromwell and Humboldt currents. The Humboldt Current is the one that brought them all the way up to these tropical latitudes. Want to analyze a movie that talks about this? Watch Walt Disney's "The Three Caballeros". Funny. Look carefully for crevices in the rocky lava shorelines for penguins nest inside them. Small lava tubes are favorite places too. Dare to see a torpedo in the water? Jump in with the penguins and watch these graceful, but rocket fast birds, fly through the water like an arrow.

GRACEFUL AND FAST

The Red-billed Tropic Bird is a fanciful vision when it zips by into the horizon, or dives straight at a breakneck speed into the waves. Like albatrosses, this is a pelagic feeder. Pelagic comes from the Greek word pelagos, meaning oceanic-going. These birds easily travel 40-50 miles away from their nesting colony for feeding purposes. Dressed in pure white plumage, a long graceful tail and a bright red bill, the tropicbird is one of the unforgettable memories of Galapagos. Look for spectacular and loud air shows at Española, and Genovesa Islands.

PINK AT SEA

The Greater Flamingo arrived from the Caribbean and is the most impressive and colorful of all the lagoon and shore birds. It is also one of the endangered of the species in the islands. Introduced carnivores, like cats and dogs, can easily feed on the chicks.

Flamingos love privacy: They do not tolerate disturbances when breeding; their nests consist of mounds of mud. Flamingos feed on crustaceans and plants, and live in Floreana, Isabela, Rabida, Santa Cruz, and Santiago. Did you know adults flamingos feed their young with something known as "pink milk"? Did you figure it out how flamingos are kept pink in cap