GENERAL INFORMATION OF GALAPAGOS
The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean, about 620 miles west of the Ecuadorian coastline and along the equator. The islands are of volcanic origin and sit at the junction of the Nazca and Cocos tectonic plates. 13 major islands, 16 islets and 47 rocks, with a total population of 10,000 inhabitants form this unique archipelago where rare ecosystems of unusual flora and fauna co-exist.
GENERAL FACTS
Galapagos offers a spectacular array of animal and plant species, many found nowhere else in the world. Penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions, golden rays, mantas and turtles are just of a fraction of the marine creatures found in Seymour, Santiago, Santa Cruz, Darwin and Wolf Islands. There are also dolphins, pilot whales and sharks. These rocky islands are a magnet for silky, Galapagos, white-tip and hammerhead Sharks by the hundreds. Whale sharks are also frequently encountered, as giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies and flamingos.
Climate
Galapagos is hot & humid with frequent afternoon showers. The climate of the Galapagos Islands is influenced by the location along the equator, the cold Humboldt ocean current flowing up from Antarctica, the annual El Niño climatic phenomenon and the mountains of the larger islands which trap moisture from the prevailing ocean winds. However, the islands are very dry due to hard, impermeable basalt and the equatorial heat.
Water Temperatures: December through May Average 75 F Warmest and most ideal for diving February to April. June - November: Temperature Range from low 60's to high 70's. Cooler & drier in Ecuador and the Galapagos almost everywhere. Best time to travel on Ecuador mainland.
In the Galapagos, strong southeasterly winds usually present between July & October. Rougher seas present in September & October. Some fog and mist.
Water Temperatures: June through November Averages 70 F Coldest in August and September
Recommendations
Clothing: We recommend casual, comfortable clothing. You must bring two pairs of sneakers for comfortable walking, shorts, light t-shirts and long-sleeve shirts, a light jacket or windbreaker for the evening. A hat, sunglasses, and sun block lotion.
Luggage: A limit of 20 kg. per person is allowed. Any additional pieces may be left at your hotel in Quito or Guayaquil.
Galapagos Islands Culture - Scientific Tourism and Travel in the Galapagos Islands
Ecuadorian and foreign scientists are at work constantly in Puerto Ayora, on the Islands of Santa Cruz, doing research and developing projects for the preservation of reptile, bird, and plant species. The Charles Darwin Research Station, created in 1959, carries out educational projects while helping to serve the Galapagos National Park. The station's primary programs focus on the conservation of natural resources, at the same time implementing other initiatives to help with the management of flora and fauna in the area, including programs to help manage the extraction of natural resources.
Other programs run by the station are related to environmental education, marine resources, and marine agriculture, mainly through control and vigilance. The center's objective is to maintain the delicate habitat of the area while permitting tourists to experience the unique and endemic species of this protected Reserve that, in the 19th century, served as home to pirates and buccaneers in search of food, water, and shelter.
Protected Areas
The Galapagos Islands are home to many islands on which tourists can appreciate and explore the pristine state of the complex, constantly evolving ecosystem that has made the Galapagos so famous. On the island of Floreana, for example, you can visit Post Office Bay, The Black Beach, Flamingos Lagoon, Cormorant Point, or The Pirates' Caves. There are also areas to scuba dive, such as La Corona del Diablo. On Genovesa, the frigate birds, furry seals, marine iguanas, tropical birds, red-footed boobies, and masked boobies all stand out. On Fernandina, there are sea lions, iguanas, pelicans, penguins, and cormorants. On Española, you can appreciate the dance of the Blue-footed Booby or the courting of the Albatross.
Other points of interest in the Galapagos Islands are El Géiser, El Soplador, and Cucubes, all of which are home to a variety of exotic and rare birdlife. Santiago is well known for having some of the best and most accessible scuba diving in the Galapagos Islands and also because it offers the chance to walk between lava flow formations all the way to the volcanic conic peak of Bartolome, where furry seals and sea lions dwell. On North Seymour, there are colonies of frigate birds, sea lions, and blue-footed boobies. The Plazas Islands are an important habitat of sea lions, iguanas, cactus, and seagulls. Santa Fe is a bay surrounded by forests of giant cactus, sea lions, sparrow hawks, and iguanas. Isabela is home to a nursery of turtles and constant volcanic activity. In 1998, after twenty years of activity, Volcano Cerro Azul suddenly erupted.
The Galapagos Islands are home to a Marine Reserve which has been declared a Natural Heritage Site. There are 62 destinations to visit in the islands.
Sports and Adventure Tourism
In certain areas of the Galapagos Marine Reserve, it is possible to partake in both deep or shallow diving and to have close-up contact with the impressive aquatic species of the sea: coral reefs, whales, whale sharks, hammer head sharks, sting rays, manta rays, sword fish, turtles, and many others. In the depths of the sea, there are strong ocean currents and the impressive extrusions of lava that shouldn't be missed by divers while they are enjoying the exotic marine wildlife. Other marine habitats are formed of rocky bottoms, vertical walls, and mangroves.
The area is sometimes affected by natural phenomena, such as cold water currents and the effects of El Niño.
The Galapagos Marine Reserve encompasses an area of over 133,000 square km. Diving in the Archipelago is one of the greatest adventures possible. The area is considered one of the seven most important regions in the world for divers. Islands such as Santiago, Bartolome, and Floreana (Devil's Crown) offer excellent diving. One of the most interesting tours passes through the lava formations of the island of Santiago.
The richness of our sea life is mainly due to cold water coming up from the deep, in this way bringing nutrients to the light zone. The diversity of the species is mainly due to the position of Galapagos on the crossroads of the main East Pacific Equatorial Currents, where tropical and semi-tempered waters meet, allowing animals from all over the Pacific and some parts of the Indo-Pacific to arrive here.
ISLANDS DESCRIPTION
BALTRA
24km2 area y 100 meters over the sea level. Relatively plane, with dry vegetation and terrestrial iguanas' home. United States Military base in 1942 was returned to Ecuador in 1958 and after being rebuilt, is still a military air base of the Ecuadorian Government. It supports the tourist transportation to the Archipelago. No place is allowed to visit inside the island, with the exception of the airport installations.
BARTOLOME
West of Santiago Island. Its surface is 1.2 Km2, and its height is 114 meters over the sea level. It is very young. It has a very special colored due to the different lava types and ages it has. Of course, it is a lot more interesting being there than admiring it from the top. This last is because it is next to hundreds of craters found both in the Bartolome Island and in the Santiago Island. A narrow canal separates them.
Bartolome barely has vegetation, and the existing one is the fresh lava pioneer; but there are endemic species from the Galapagos Islands too. It is an excellent place to take pictures of natural sculptures made by the sea and wind erosion. It is a safe place to look at penguins and fishes while you swim under water with your snorkeling equipment; you can get fun at the beach and take sun. In another place of the Bartolome Island, you can see without getting into the water-, sharks, mantas, sea turtles and other animals. Bartolome has two visit places: By dry landing, which has access to the highest part of the island; or by wet landing, with access to the southwest and northwest part.
GENOVESA - Tower
This outlying island is situated at the northeast part of the archipelago. Many cruises may not include it because of the long distance (at least an 8-hour trip each way). But if you have time and are a bird enthusiast, this island definitely is a must. It is the best place on the whole archipelago to observe a colony of red-footed booby. It is also home to sea lions as well as fur seals.
As you cross the equator on your way there, many cruises include "equator-baptisms" for passengers who have never crossed that line at sea before. Darwin Bay, on the south coast, is almost landlocked and surrounded by high cliffs. The water is filled with microscopic marine life and for that reason resembles green pea soup. Both visitor sites are located in this bay.
Prince Philip's Steps (El Barranco) is an extraordinary, steep path that leads through a seabird colony full of life, up to cliffs that are 25m high. At the top the trail continues inland, passing more seabird colonies in a thin palo santo forest. Leaving the forest you can overview a rocky plain. You get a view of masked and red-footed boobies, great frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds and hundreds of storm petrels at the edge of the cliff. The storm petrels here are different from any others in the world because they fly around during daytime. To avoid predators they only return to their nest holes at night.
Darwin Bay Beach is a coral beach where a 750m trail takes you through more seabird colonies. There is also the possibility to take a panga that is often accompanied by sea lions. You get to see the cliffs from the seaward side, which are home to a large red-footed booby colony. The red-footed booby is the smallest kind of booby and the only one to actually build a nest up in trees or on the cliffs to protect it from predators.
Genovesa also offers great snorkeling opportunities even though the water is quite murky. Close to the beach and the cliffs the vision is better. Because of its richness with food, the bay is often full of marine iguanas and hammerheads.
ISABELA - Alamberle
Isabela is the biggest island of the archipelago and occupies about 60% of all the land area of Galapagos. It was formed by the volcanoes Cerro Azul, Sierra Negra (Santa Tomás), Alcedo, Darwin, Wolf and Ecuador that conflated to one island. All except Volcán Ecuador, which is older, are still active today. Even though Isabela has several visiting sites, it is not very frequented by tourists. Most of the landing sites are on the west coast and only larger boats make this long journey or if you take a longer cruise (a week or more).
The small port Puerto Villamil (about 3000 inhabitants) is the main settlement on the island. There is also a small airport. This town is a good base if you plan to stay longer on Isabela. It is the best place to hire a boat (that is necessary if you want to get to know the island as it cannot be crossed on country way). The area offers beautiful beaches and it takes a 20-minutes march to get to Laguna de Villamil. This is the favorite place of birdwatchers on all islands. Flamingos can be seen here as well as about twenty different kinds of wading birds.
If you like mountains you can also climb the Volcán Sierra Negra (1490m) from Puerto Villamil. A van takes you up to the village Santo Tomás (20km) and from there you can walk or ride up on horseback to the rim of the volcano (9km). On the top you have a magnificent view over the 10km-wide caldera. There is a trail that takes you to some active fumaroles. This area is home to short-eared owls, finches, flycatchers and Galapagos hawks.
Some of the most visited points of the island are: Punta Moreno, Bahia Elizabeth, Urbina Bay, and Tagus Cove.
FERNANDINA - Narborough
The youngest of the Galapagos Islands, Fernandina is approximately 700,00 years old. It's location to the west and on the far side of Isabela makes it one of the least visited islands.
It still is one of the most active (volcanically) since eruptions still may occur every few years. Which changes the landscape and life on the island. In 1968 the caldera collapsed dropping 1000 feet in a 2-week period. Eruptions in 1995 occurred from a smaller volcano located on the southwest corner of the island.
This constant state of volcanic change gives Fernandina its unique feeling. Lacking the native plants and animals of the other islands visitors obtain the feeling of being at the end of the earth.
Fernandina is home to a large colony of marine iguanas, Galapagos Penguins and Flightless Cormorants.
Punta Espinosa is located on the northeast part of Fernandina the visit begins with a dry landing. If the tide is right it is possible to use a dock, otherwise the landing is made on to volcanic rock and it can be slippery. The trail to the shore can be filled with interesting obstacles including Marine Iguanas and Mangrove branches. As the youngest of the islands, Fernandina allows visitors to view the recent volcanic activity.
PLAZA SUR ISLAND
It is a very small island of 0.13km2 as surface and 23 meters over the sea level. East of Santa Cruz Island. It is formed by a sea ground elevation. A big sea wolfs colony, terrestrial iguanas, sea iguanas, lava lizards, separated tail seagulls, lava seagulls, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, sea swallow, tropical birds, etc. Little vegetation, but indispensable for terrestrial iguanas and others survival. This island is very fragile and we protect it strictly, like it happens with the other islands.
SANTIAGO - James -
Also known as James and San Salvador the central location and numerous landing sites make Santiago a part of almost every Galapagos itinerary. A favorite island for pirates and whalers, Santiago has a long human history as well as some outstanding opportunities for wildlife viewing. Highlights of a visit include the Fur Seal grotto, Pink Flamingo lagoon as well as the chance to see Galapagos Hawks and Vermilion Fly Catchers.
Once rich in vegetation, feral goats were released on the island in the 1880's. The goats thrived in the lush environment eating everything in sight and their numbers grew to over 100,000. Their presence has severely impacted the island's flora and fauna. The National Park Service working toward eradication, have improved the situation. Still, it is not unusual for visitors to see goats or signs of their presence.
During the 1920's and again in the 1960's human impact again took its toll on Santiago. Near Puerto Egas salt mining operations were attempted. Great effort was put into extracting salt from the crater though little profit was made and the venture was abandoned. Equipment and building were left behind some still remaining on the island today.
RABIDA - Jervis
Located south of Santiago, Rabida is one of the most volcanically varied islands in the chain. Geologically consisting of eroded hills and lava emitted from spatter cones that have resulted in island's striking colors. A visit begins with a wet landing on the deep maroon colored northern beach.
Marine Iguanas and Sea Lions are often seen resting in the shade of the caves nearby. Behind the beach is the salt brush home where the Brown Pelicans make their nests. Rabida may be the only opportunity visitors have to see Pelicans nesting up close. On the cliffs above the Pelicans Blue-Footed and Masked Boobies can be seen.
Following the path visitors arrive at a small saltwater lagoon where Pink Flamingos, Bahama Pintail Ducks and Common Stilts are frequently seen feeding. Rabida offers the best lagoons in the islands for viewing Flamingos. These large Pink or Reddish birds live in shallow saltwater lagoons. Feeding 7-12 hours a day primarily on the pink shrimp larva and water boatman that give them their color.
FLOREANA - Charles
Located approximately 4 to 5 hours west of Española and equal distance south of Santa Cruz, this island has long been a favorite site of visitors including pirates, whalers and early settlers.
One of the oldest islands Floreana illustrates the aging process of a volcanic island. Unlike the younger western islands, Floreana's volcano has been long extinct and is in the advanced stages of erosion. The erosion process gave the island the nutrients and soils need to sustain plant life. The combination of this rich soil and a good water supply have given the highlands of Floreana a diversified landscaping of native and introduced flora.
Floreana is best known for its colorful history of buccaneers, whalers, convicts, and colonists.
In 1793 British whalers established the Post Office Barrel to send letters to and from England. This tradition has continued over the years, and even today visitors may drop off and pick up letters, without stamps, to be carried to far destinations. Punta Cormorant offers two highly contrasting beaches. The landing beach is of volcanic origin and is composed of olivine crystals, giving it a greenish tinge. At the end of the short trail is a carbonate beach of extremely fine white sand. Formed by the erosion of coral skeletons, it is a nesting site for green sea turtles.
SEYMOUR - North Seymour
1.9km2 of surface and 10 meters over the sea level. Plane surface, trees and bushes based vegetation.
A narrow 1000 meters canal separates the island from Baltra. Saint sticks and salty scrublands are predominant in Seymour. Frigates nest over these plants. Blue-footed boobies get profits of the island conditions, since there are big spaces among their bushes so that they can reproduce there. The seagulls have their nest at the seashores, over small well-protected ravines. Marine iguanas have a special feeding behavior. Their diet is not limited to sea algas, like with the other iguana varieties of the island; but they are feed from the sea batis a plant that tolerates the high salt concentration and lives at the seashore. Furrier wolfs live at the island seashore.
SANTA CRUZ
Second biggest island of the archipelago. 986km2 as surface and 864 meters over the sea level. Center of the set of islands, and one of the five most populated ones. Most part of population is in Puerto Ayora Canton and in Bella Vista Parish. Puerto Ayora is ceding of the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Scientific Station. Here you find the biggest population of the province and this is a tourist dispersion place too. This is the most visited port.
Efforts of institutions, ECCHD, and SPNG can be seen on the different danger of extinction species protection programs. That is how you have: Turtles and terrestrial iguanas' risers and interpretation programs at the Van Sralen tourist reception place-. From eight to thirteen Darwin chaffinches species, terrestrial pigeons, owls, fojas, witch birds, cuckoos or water birds are found in the island, distributed in vegetation zones, in the coastal part as on the high part of the island.
SAN CRISTOBAL 
San Cristobal or Chatham the easternmost island of Galapagos is also one of the oldest. Eroded volcanic peaks in the northern part of the island and rich vegetation in the southern portion characterize the island. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the principal town is the provincial capital and the second largest settlement area in the islands.
Home to one of the Galapagos Islands' two airports many visitors will begin and end their tour here. With a relatively good infrastructure including hotels, restaurants, buses, taxis and visitor information it is one of the easiest islands for people interested in exploring the islands on their own.
An easy walk from town Frigate bird Hill offers a fantastic vista. San Cristobal highlands are sprinkled with farms, the island's first settlement El Progresso and El Junco, the only freshwater lake in Galapagos.
Red-Footed, Blue-Footed and Masked Boobies make their home on the eastern side of the island at Punta Pitt. A two-hour hike down shore from Punta Pitt wild tortoises can be seen at La Galapaguera.
Cruise to spectacular Kicker Rock, or Leon Dormido, the jagged remains of an old tuff cone whose flanks are covered with seabirds.
ESPAÑOLA - Hood
Approximately a 10-12 hour trip from Santa Cruz, Española is the oldest and the southernmost island in the chain. The trip across open waters can be quite rough especially during August and September.
Espanola's remote location helped make it a unique jewel with a large number of endemic creatures. Secluded from the other islands, wildlife on Española adapted to the island's environment and natural resources. Marine Iguana's on Española are the only ones that change color during breeding season. Normally Marine Iguanas are black in color, a camouflage, making it difficult for predators to differentiate between the Iguanas and the black lava rocks where they live. On Española adult Marine Iguanas are brightly colored with a reddish tint except during mating season when their color changes to more of a greenish shade.
The Hood Mockingbird is also endemic to the island. These brazen birds have no fear of man and frequently land on visitor's heads and shoulders searching for food. The Hood Mockingbird is slightly larger than other Mockingbirds found in the Galapagos; its beak is longer and has a more curved shape. The Hood Mockingbird is the only carnivorous one of the species feeding on a variety of insects, turtle hatchlings and sea lion placentas.
Wildlife is the highlight of Española and the star of the show is the Waved Albatross. The island's steep cliffs serve as the perfect runways for these large birds, which take off for their ocean feeding grounds near the mainland of Ecuador and Peru abandoning the island between January and March. Known as endemic to the island, Española is the Waved Albatross's only nesting place.
Gardner Bay is a favorite destination for swimming and snorkeling as well as offering a great beach. Punta Suarez is one of the highlights of the Galapagos Islands. The variety and quantity of wildlife assures a memorable visit. Visitors find migrant, resident, and endemic wildlife including brightly colored Marine Iguanas, Española Lava Lizards, Hood Mockingbirds, Swallow Tailed Gulls, Blue Footed and Masked Boobies, Galapagos Hawks, a selection of Finch, and the Waved Albatross.
SANTA FE - Barrington
South of the archipelago and between Santa Cruz and San Cristobal. 24km2 of surface and 259 meters over the sea level. There is just one safe port at the northeast part of the island. This is the only visit place, with a beautiful bay protected by natural formations against the wave strength by a rocky front. It has two small beaches plagued of sea lions. Good part of the bay is good to snorkel, since white fin sharks, gold and leopard mantas, sea turtles and different types and sizes of fishes are found.
Already landing at either of the beaches, there are two circuits: One going to the high part of the island, coming back to the same place, and another following the seashore to get in the island and go back to the beach. In the first case, from the highest part, one can observe one of the most beautiful sights of the bay. In the same way, you will see a good amount of cactus, feeding source of the terrestrial iguanas (a Santa Fe Island exclusive type). Second case, we found the same type of iguanas inside a big and wide trunk cactus forest. Marine iguanas with belonging to the place characteristics, lava lizards, terrestrial pigeons, a special type of no poisoning snake, chaffinches, fly-trappers, hawks, etc are found here, too.
MONTHLY INFORMATION THE GALAPAGOS BEHAVIOR
January
• Beginning of the rainy season
• Land birds start nesting, generally after the first rain
• On Hood (Española) Island adult marine iguanas become brightly colored (green/red/black)
• The green sea turtles arrive to beaches in GPS for egg laying period
• Land iguanas begin reproductive cycles on Isabela Island
• Both, water and air temperatures rise and stay warm until June
• Ideal time for snorkeling
February
• On Floreana Island greater flamingos start nesting
• Bahama pintail ducks (Black-tailed pintail) start their breeding season
• Nazca (masked) boobies on Hood are at the end of their nesting season
• Marine iguanas nest on Santa Cruz Island
• The highest water temperature reaches 25C (77F). This temperature remains constant until April
• Very few penguins are sighted at Bartolome Island (most have followed the cool waters back to the west or near upwelling areas)
• Nesting season of the Galapagos dove reaches its peak
March
• The rainy season reaches the highest precipitation (this does not mean it rains everyday)
• Sporadic tropical rains, intense sun and hot climate. Air temperature can reach up to 30C (86F). Humidity is high.
• Marine iguanas nest on Fernandina
• March 21st, the beginning of the summer equinox signals the arrival of the waved albatross to Española.
• Even the western islands have warm waters where snorkeling is excellent. Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela) can be an amazing site. Penguins still active in the water, next to tropical fish! (How bizarre!)
• Some shores, especially those facing the north side, can receive deep surge (ola de fondo) coming from the northern currents. Wet landings at places like Puerto Egas, Gardner Bay, Bartolome can sometimes be a challenge.
• Snorkelers will remain long periods of time in the water.
April
• Massive arrival of waved albatrosses to Española. Amazing courtship starts.
• End of hatching season of the giant tortoises
• Eggs of green sea turtles begin to hatch
• Eggs of land iguanas hatch on Isabela
• While the rains have ended, the islands quite continue green
• Good visibility in the water for snorkelers
• Perhaps, together with May, the best months in Galapagos (weather, animals, water temperature)
May
• North Seymour's blue-footed boobies begin their courtship
• Sea turtles are still hatching on Gardner Bay, Punta Cormorant, and Puerto Egas
• Most of marine iguanas' eggs hatch from nests on Santa Cruz
• Palo santo trees begin to shed their foliage
• Waved albatross on Española start laying their eggs
• Ban-rumped storm petrels begin their first nesting period
June
• Beginning of the garÚa season
• Giant tortoises on Santa Cruz Island migrate from the highlands to the lowlands in search of suitable nesting places
• Beginning of the nesting season of giant tortoises
• South east trade winds return. Currents become a bit stronger. Seas pick up in surge and wave action.
• Many red pouches by males of Magnificent Frigatebirds on North Seymour.
• Southern migrants have started their journey towards the north. Galapagos is a rest stop f for such birds. Some species of cetaceans also follow this pattern of migration.
• Some groups of Humpback whales that migrate up to equatorial latitudes along the coast of Ecuador, can reach the Galapagos too.
July
• Sea bird communities are very active (breeding), specially the Blue footed boobies on Española. Flightless cormorants perform beautiful courtship rituals and nesting activities on Fernandina.
• If you walk along the shores of Puerto Egas (Santiago Island) you could find American oystercatchers nesting.
• Lava lizards initiate mating rituals until November
• Cetaceans (whales & dolphins) are more likely to be observed, specially off the western coast of Isabela
• Great month to see the four stages of nesting in Blue footed boobies: eggs, chicks, juveniles and subadults.
• Water temperature does not reach more than 21C (68F)
August
• Galapagos hawks court on Española and Santiago
• Nazca (masked) boobies and Swallow-tailed gulls nest on Genovesa Island
• The temperature of the ocean drops to 18C (64F), which obviously varies according to the geographic zones among the islands.
• Migrant shore birds start to arrive, and stay on the islands until March
• Giant tortoises return to the highlands of Santa Cruz
• Oceans are quite choppy, currents at the strongest levels, surge can be expected along the shores that face west or south
• Pupping season (births) of sea lions has started. Western and central islands are common places for such sightings.
September
• Peak of the cold (garÚa) season
• The air temperature reaches its lowest levels (19C-66F)
• Galapagos Penguins show remarkable activity on Bartolome. Since May swimmers and snorkelers can be delighted at Bartolome with penguins active at the surface or torpedo-like while underwater.
• Sea lions are very active. Females have reached estrus stage, and so harem-gathering males are constantly barking and fighting. Shore fighting is heavy. Western and central islands are the most active ones in terms of sea lions' activities.
• Most species of sea birds remain quite active at their nesting sites.
October
• Lava herons start nesting until March
• The Galapagos Fur Sea lions begin their mating period
• Blue footed boobies raise chicks all over Española and Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela) .
• Giant tortoises are still laying eggs
• Days are not always sunny. GarÚa can be expected in most locations, except the western islands where most days have a misty start but after few hours of daylight it burns off.
• Sunrises in the west can be quite beautiful after the garÚa covers only certain locations of the western volcanoes. Summits are clear, but low-lying fog covers the shoreline.
November
• Pupping of sea lions continue.
• Sea lions are sexually active on the eastern part of the archipelago.
• Breeding season for the brown noddies
• Some species of jellyfish can be seen around the islands. The genus Physalia is commonly seen floating around Gardner and Tortuga Islets. Some can also be seen stranded at the shores of the Flour Beach at Floreana.
• Band-rumped storm petrels begin their second nesting period
• Seas are calm. South east trade winds have decreased strength. Water temperatures are slowly rising.
• Generally great weather due to transition between one season and the next one
• Good visibility for snorkelers
• Sea lion pups (specially at Champion Islet) play aqua-aerobics next to snorkelers. Most pups here are curious enough to nibble at fins of snorkelers. The average age of most pups is 3-4 months.
December
• Hatching of giant tortoise's eggs begins and lasts until April
• Green sea turtles display their mating behavior
• The rainy season begins, all of the plants of the dry zone produce leaves. Galapagos becomes "green"
• The first young waved albatrosses fledge
• Great weather
