The Galapagos Islands Climate
Galapagos Weather and Climate
The Galapagos Islands are on the equator and the climate does not vary dramatically over the year. The climate of the Islands can best be described as subtropical. There is, however, some variation driven mainly by the ocean currents.
December to May can be best described as the warm season. This period brings a unique mixture of warmth, rain, and sun. This season is driven by the El Niño Current, which brings a warm current, thus making both the water and the land warmer; this season is also known for afternoon showers.
The average temperatures for the season:
| December to May Average Temperatures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 80ºF to 90ºF | (27ºC to 32ºC) |
| Water temperature | 70ºF to 80ºF | (21ºC to 26ºC) |
June to November can be best described as the cool season. This season also makes a unique mixture in the climate, usually; cloudy, cool, and dry. The Humboldt Current is responsible for this; it brings a cooler current to the Islands, thus making both the water and the land cooler.
The average temperatures for the cool season:
| June to November Average | ||
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 70ºF to 80ºF | (21ºC to 27ºC) |
| Water temperature | 65ºF to 75ºF | (18ºC to 24ºC) |
Here’s full details of weather, sea temperatures, and the wildlife you’ll see each month:
Month-by-Month Temps:
| Month by Month Average Temperatures – CELSIUS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| average max | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| average min | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Time Zone
Galapagos is 6 hours behind GMT (equivalent to USA Central Standard Time in the winter, and Mountain Time in the summer). The Galapagos Islands abide by this time which is different from the rest of Ecuador that is mainland; therefore the Galapagos Islands are one hour behind the rest of the country.