Best time to visit Galápagos Islands
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Similar climatesMonteverde79% · Singapore75% · Boquete71%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Galápagos Islands (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Galápagos Islands's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23–26 | 28 | 23 | 381 | 16.6 | 80% | 17 | 264 | 11 | Peak | 3 |
| Feb | 24–27 | 31 | 21 | 316 | 15.0 | 76% | 16 | 238 | 12 | Quiet | 3 |
| Mar | 24–28 | 32 | 18 | 239 | 13.3 | 74% | 15 | 267 | 12 | Quiet | 3 |
| Apr | 24–27 | 31 | 22 | 289 | 13.1 | 78% | 16 | 257 | 12 | Quiet | 3 |
| May | 23–26 | 28 | 24 | 363 | 15.1 | 79% | 18 | 263 | 11 | Quiet | 3 |
| Jun | 22–24 | 26 | 24 | 373 | 15.5 | 81% | 20 | 245 | 10 | Quiet | 4 |
| Jul | 21–23 | 25 | 27 | 412 | 15.3 | 83% | 20 | 227 | 9 | Busy | 4 |
| Aug | 20–23 | 23 | 20 | 323 | 16.1 | 80% | 21 | 229 | 10 | Quiet | 4 |
| Sep | 20–22 | 23 | 22 | 378 | 17.2 | 82% | 20 | 197 | 10 | Quiet | 4 |
| Oct | 20–22 | 24 | 26 | 415 | 16.0 | 83% | 20 | 215 | 10 | Quiet | 4 |
| Nov | 20–23 | 24 | 19 | 301 | 15.8 | 77% | 19 | 236 | 11 | Quiet | 4 |
| Dec | 21–24 | 26 | 24 | 385 | 16.0 | 80% | 18 | 253 | 10 | Quiet | 4 |
UV Index in Galápagos Islands by Month
UV index in Galápagos Islands peaks at 12 (extreme) in March, dropping to 9 (very high) in July. January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
Best months in detail
November
4/1020–23°C · 19 rain days (301h) · 236 sun hours · 77% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 11 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
August
4/1020–23°C · 20 rain days (323h) · 229 sun hours · 80% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 10 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
June
4/1022–24°C (feels 26°C) · 24 rain days (373h) · 245 sun hours · 81% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 10 (very high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
3/1023–26°C (feels 28°C) · 23 rain days (381h) · 264 sun hours · 80% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 11 (extreme) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 13 (extreme)
February
3/1024–27°C (feels 31°C) · 21 rain days (316h) · 238 sun hours · 76% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 12 (extreme) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 14 (extreme)
March
3/1024–28°C (feels 32°C) · 18 rain days (239h) · 267 sun hours · 74% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 12 (extreme) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 14 (extreme)
April
3/1024–27°C (feels 31°C) · 22 rain days (289h) · 257 sun hours · 78% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 12 (extreme) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 13 (extreme)
May
3/1023–26°C (feels 28°C) · 24 rain days (363h) · 263 sun hours · 79% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 11 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
July
4/1021–23°C (feels 25°C) · 27 rain days (412h) · 227 sun hours · 83% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 9 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 11 (very high)
September
4/1020–22°C · 22 rain days (378h) · 197 sun hours · 82% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 10 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
October
4/1020–22°C (feels 24°C) · 26 rain days (415h) · 215 sun hours · 83% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 10 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
December
4/1021–24°C (feels 26°C) · 24 rain days (385h) · 253 sun hours · 80% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 10 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
Frequently asked questions about visiting Galápagos Islands
When is the best time to visit Galápagos Islands?
November is the highest-scoring month (4/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 20–23°C (19 rainy days). The top three months by score are November, August, June.
What is the worst time to visit Galápagos Islands?
February is the lowest-scoring month (3/10, capped by extreme heat). Typical conditions: 24–27°C (21 rainy days).
Is Galápagos Islands too hot in summer?
3 months (February, March, April) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in Galápagos Islands?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in February and peaks in January. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
What is the UV index in Galápagos Islands by month?
UV peaks at 12 (extreme) in March and is lowest in July at 9 (very high). Monthly peak values: Jan 11, Feb 12, Mar 12, Apr 12, May 11, Jun 10, Jul 9, Aug 10, Sep 10, Oct 10, Nov 11, Dec 10. January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
What is the UV index in Galápagos Islands in March?
March is the peak UV month in Galápagos Islands, with a daily-peak UV index of 12 (extreme). At this level, sunburn can occur in under 20 minutes on unprotected fair skin. Apply SPF 50+, wear protective clothing and a hat, and avoid direct midday sun (11:00–17:00).
How high can UV get in Galápagos Islands on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. March is the worst case: typical days average UV 12 (extreme), but the top 10% of days reach UV 14 (extreme) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: January, February, March, April, May, July, August, September, October, November, December. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.