Galapagos in October
Planning your Galapagos Adventure for October
Galapagos Weather in October
- Average Max. temperature: 77°F (25.0°C)
- Average Min. temperature: 66°F (19.0°C)
- Average temperature: 71°F (22.0°C)
- Sea temperature: 73°F (22.0°C)
- Average Monthly Rainfall: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) in the highlands
Although there’s never a bad time to visit the Galapagos Islands, October is ideal for those looking for cooler temperatures and gorgeous natural landscapes. The lowest annual temperatures fall in August and September, so October is when they start to slowly climb again. This also marks the taper of the “garua” season (or “mist” season). Between June and November, morning mists cover the tops of the highland areas; and as it begins to fade in October, the mist and increasing visibility makes for some truly amazing sunrises over the volcanoes.
There is also still a lot of marine activity thanks to the Antarctic Humboldt current, which brings nutrient rich water from the south through the Islands. It is strongest in the months just before October. This means that tropical fish species are more abundant, and the birds that hunt them are more active.
Photography in the Galapagos
This is a perfect month for avid photographers – overcast skies provide excellent lighting for most pictures. Natural light is best on cloudy days, as it eliminates a lot of excess strong equatorial light. For photographers with DSLRs, this means you don’t have to worry as much about filters and polarizers. For travelers with regular point-and-shoot cameras, the picture quality will be better too.
The Low Season
September and October are considered the low season for visitors, meaning that there are a bunch of great deals to be found during this time. Cruises often offer major discounts and hotels also tend to have some excellent promotions. If you’re looking for the best value for your Galapagos vacation, then October is a great time to plan it.
Galapagos Fauna in October
Lava herons (butorides sundevalli) – start building nests. This gray bird has adapted its dark plumage to blend perfectly in with the dried black lava fields that it calls home. Their diet consists of small fish, crabs, and lizards. In October, they begin building their nests.
Galapagos fur seals (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) – mating. This species of sea lion is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. Because they are close cousins to the California sea lion, their mating rituals are very similar. A dominant bull will defend his harem (the group of females in his territory). This defensive territorial behavior can be exhausting and does not generally last for more than several weeks or months before the male retreats to rest in a bachelor colony.
Blue-footed boobies (sula nebouxii) – start raising chicks; especially on Española Island and Punta Vicente Roca. As the nesting season draws to a close for this unique sea bird, the boobies will now begin to raise their young. They will live about 17 years; and although they are only about 3.25 pounds (1.5 kg), their wingspan can grow as large as 5 feet (1.5m). At this point, the chicks are still very small.
