Weather in the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands enjoy fantastic weather all year round, experiencing a tropical and semi-arid climate with the year broken up into two seasons - a warm, rainy season from January to May and a cooler, dry season from July to November. Temperatures throughout the year rarely rise or lower to extreme levels with averages around 86°F (30°C) and little to no rainfall.

This means that there's generally no 'best' time to visit the breathtaking archipelago as each month brings warm temperatures and plenty of activities to do and animals to see.

The warm, rainy season

Spanning the months from January to May, the rainy season sees frequent rain shows and warm, sunny days. The rainy season is also known to produce thunderstorms and ensuing downpours, however, it usually doesn't rain for long and is relatively uncommon. This season is the perfect time to go swimming and enjoy other water-based activities as the ocean temperature rises to a warm 70°F+ (21°C+) and becomes beautifully clear and full of tropical marine life.

Temperatures can reach the high 80°Fs (30°C+) and even into the 90°Fs (32°C+) so make sure to put on plenty of sunscreen and wear appropriate clothing to protect yourself from the high UV index. With the high temperatures comes high humidity levels as clouds gather around the higher islands. Expect humidity levels of around 85% so always bring a reusable bottle of water with you to keep yourself properly hydrated when you know you're going to be spending long periods of time in the sun.

The dry season

Despite being recognised as the dry season, the months between July and November actually experience a lot of moisture. The garua season (as the dry season is also known) means that a foggy overcast makes its way across most of the island bringing with it a high level of moisture. Temperatures are a lot cooler with averages staying around the mid 70°Fs (20°Cs) giving you a slight reprieve from the sun's piercing rays and high humidity levels. The downside is that water temperatures can reach down to the low 60°Fs (16°C) and many people find it too cold to swim but you can wear wet suits if you still want to partake in water activities such as snorkelling.

Average temperatures in the Galapagos Islands

MONTH	AVERAGE HIGH	AVERAGE LOW
March to May	30°C/86°F	23°C/73°F
June to August	24°C/76°F	21°C/69°F
September to November	25°C/77°F	20°C/68°F
December to February	28°C/83°F	22°C/72°F