October

October in the Galapagos Islands

In October, the temperature of the air and water in Galapagos varies depending on the strength of the trade winds. Towards the end of October we start to see the end of the Garua season as the trade winds slowly begin to drop and the cooling currents begin to ease off. Most days will still have a misty start before the sun burns through and occasional drizzle.

For the terrestrial life as this now marks the last phase of the cool dry season, this is a tough time for survival. Food is now very scare for land-based birds and reptiles, which means finches and mockingbirds are very active looking for food, and the lack of vegetation in some places makes land iguanas now very easy to spot.

Giant Tortoises can be spotted also starting to gather in large numbers in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Sunrises in the western parts of Galapagos are particularly beautiful this month.

Weather

  • Air temperature daily high: 25 °C (77°F)
  • Air temperature daily low: 20 °C (68°F)
  • Average Rainfall: 5.1 mm (0.20 inches) (mainly in the highlands)
  • Average Water Temperature: 22 °C (71.6°F)
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Wildlife

  • Finches and mockingbirds very active looking for food
  • As vegetation now is scare in most islands Land Iguanas very easy to spot
  • Giant Tortoises seen in large numbers in highlands of Santa Cruz especially around fresh water ponds.
  • Waved Albatross chicks lose their down feathers as become adolescents, meanwhile the adult birds still continue their courtship dance each time they meet by the chick to keep their bond as a couple which they keep up throughout the nesting months.
  • Blue-footed Boobie chicks
  • Galapagos Fur Seal begins mating period.
  • Red-footed Boobies and Masked Boobies breeding and nesting year-round
  • Magnificent Frigatebirds (year-round on North Seymour Island)
  • Flightless Cormorants, Greater Flamingos and Galapagos Penguins year-round, depending on food supply you will see breeding and nesting
  • Migrant shore birds present in the islands