What's on in Puerto Ayora (Galapagos), Ecuador through the year

Busy — Christmas and New Year peak, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Rule

  Galapagos park entry fee

  1 Jan – 31 Dec

  The national park fee doubled in August 2024, the first rise since 1998, and it is paid in cash US dollars on arrival at Baltra or San Cristobal. There is a separate transit card before you fly, and no cards are accepted at the desk. Source ↗

Still on: Green turtle nesting (1 Dec – 30 Jun (usually)), Warm season and calm crossings (15 Dec – 31 May), Christmas and New Year peak (15 Dec – 10 Jan)

Busy — Carnival long weekend, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Carnival long weekend

  8 Feb – 6 Mar · usuallyCrowdedBook early

  Mainland Ecuadorians take the four-day Carnival weekend and the flights from Guayaquil and Quito fill with them. It is the one genuinely busy stretch in an otherwise slack February. Source ↗

Still on: Galapagos park entry fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Green turtle nesting (1 Dec – 30 Jun (usually)), Warm season and calm crossings (15 Dec – 31 May)

Busy — Carnival long weekend, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Galapagos park entry fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Carnival long weekend (8 Feb – 6 Mar (usually)), Green turtle nesting (1 Dec – 30 Jun (usually)), Warm season and calm crossings (15 Dec – 31 May)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

• Nature

  Waved albatross on Espanola

  1 Apr – 20 Dec · usuallyBirdlife season

  The entire world population nests on one island, arriving at Punta Suarez in April and gone again by the end of December. Espanola is a full day out by boat, so it is a cruise itinerary rather than a taxi ride.

Still on: Galapagos park entry fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Green turtle nesting (1 Dec – 30 Jun (usually)), Warm season and calm crossings (15 Dec – 31 May)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Galapagos park entry fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Waved albatross on Espanola (1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)), Green turtle nesting (1 Dec – 30 Jun (usually)), Warm season and calm crossings (15 Dec – 31 May)

Busy — Northern summer peak, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Garua season

  1 Jun – 30 NovFog season

  The Humboldt current arrives and the highlands sit under a fine grey mist for months. Cooler, choppier and greyer than the brochures, and also the richest time in the water: cold nutrient-heavy upwelling brings everything in.

• Nature

  Tortoises in the highlands

  1 Jun – 15 Dec · usuallyWildlife season

  Santa Cruz's wild tortoises spend the cool grey months up in the wet pastures, which is when the ranches on the road to Santa Rosa are thick with them. They walk back down to nest in the warm season.

• Nature

  Whale sharks at Darwin and Wolf

  15 Jun – 15 Nov · usuallyDive seasonBook early

  Large females pass the far northern rocks through the cool season. Those two sites are liveaboard-only and nowhere near Santa Cruz, so this is a boat booked a year out rather than a day trip from the harbour.

• Season

  Northern summer peak

  15 Jun – 5 Sep · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  The islands run a visitor cap through the permitted sites, so the pressure shows up as price and availability rather than queues. Cruise berths and the good day boats out of Puerto Ayora sell out months ahead.

Still on: Galapagos park entry fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Waved albatross on Espanola (1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)), Green turtle nesting (1 Dec – 30 Jun (usually))

Busy — Northern summer peak, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Galapagos park entry fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Waved albatross on Espanola (1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)), Garua season (1 Jun – 30 Nov), Tortoises in the highlands (1 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)), Whale sharks at Darwin and Wolf (15 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)), Northern summer peak (15 Jun – 5 Sep (usually))

Busy — Northern summer peak

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Galapagos park entry fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Waved albatross on Espanola (1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)), Garua season (1 Jun – 30 Nov), Tortoises in the highlands (1 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)), Whale sharks at Darwin and Wolf (15 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)), Northern summer peak (15 Jun – 5 Sep (usually))

Busy — Northern summer peak, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Galapagos park entry fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Waved albatross on Espanola (1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)), Garua season (1 Jun – 30 Nov), Tortoises in the highlands (1 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)), Whale sharks at Darwin and Wolf (15 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)), Northern summer peak (15 Jun – 5 Sep (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Galapagos park entry fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Waved albatross on Espanola (1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)), Garua season (1 Jun – 30 Nov), Tortoises in the highlands (1 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)), Whale sharks at Darwin and Wolf (15 Jun – 15 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Galapagos park entry fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Waved albatross on Espanola (1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)), Garua season (1 Jun – 30 Nov), Tortoises in the highlands (1 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)), Whale sharks at Darwin and Wolf (15 Jun – 15 Nov (usually))

Busy — Christmas and New Year peak, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Green turtle nesting

  1 Dec – 30 Jun · usually

  Green turtles haul out on Tortuga Bay and the quieter beaches from December, and the park ropes off the nesting end until the last hatchlings are away around June. Night walking there is out.

• Season

  Warm season and calm crossings

  15 Dec – 31 MaySea warm enough

  Warmer water, flatter seas and short heavy showers that green the islands. This is the half of the year for snorkelling without a wetsuit and for anyone who does not want the inter-island ferry to be an ordeal.

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year peak

  15 Dec – 10 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The second peak of the year, and the shorter one: mainland Ecuadorians and long-haul visitors arrive together and the cruise boats charge their highest rates of the calendar for the fortnight. Source ↗

Still on: Galapagos park entry fee (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Waved albatross on Espanola (1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)), Tortoises in the highlands (1 Jun – 15 Dec (usually))