by Christine Zibas

Created on: March 06, 2010

The question most often posed regarding a travel destination is “When is the best time to visit?” For most destinations, this has a definitive answer, or perhaps the answer is conditioned on one’s preference for (or avoidance of) the busy season. With the Galapagos Islands, however, the answer is that anytime is a great time for viewing the wildlife there.

The Galapagos Islands lie amidst a complex system of sea currents, and there are two distinct visitor seasons, one from June to October, which is cool, is the result of the Humboldt Current, and the other is January to April, the hot season, when temperatures rise, as do the water temperatures. The animals, birds, and aquatic creatures all adjust to these alternating sets of conditions, making the perfect time to visit the Galapagos more about an individual’s preference for cool or steamy weather.

During the cool season, when the Galapagos are under the throes of the Humboldt Current, skies tend to be overcast, with pleasant temperatures. The water temps may require visitors to don wet suits. These cool waters and temperatures in a tropical land result in islands that have desert ecosystems with some areas of forestland with giant prickly-pear cactus and silvery incense trees.

The cool water brings abundant nutrients for the marine animals of the Galapagos, who feed in these waters. This is the time for courting and mating, with the surrounding waters filled with abundant food for them. Among the animals that are particularly busy in these rituals are blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, sea lions, and waved albatross.

Beginning around January, water and land temperatures rise significantly, and the atmosphere in the Galapagos can get downright steamy, par for its tropical location. With blue skies and temperatures in the 90s, the islands turn into a lush tropical paradise, more akin to the average beach vacation. This is the nesting season for the green sea turtle, with more activity by land animals and birds, such as Darwin finches, land iguanas, and giant Galapagos tortoises.

This is the perfect time for swimming in the area (without the need for wet suits or protective gear). Swimming with penguins, sea lions, and turtles (along with your underwater camera) is a special treat. Best of all, due to its Equator-like location, sunlight is abundant for nearly 12 hours a day.

This unique mix of ocean currents and volcanic activity has made this “a living museum and showcase of evolution.” Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Galapagos Islands are a great place to visit all year round.

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