Galapagos in June

June is a fantastic month to visit the Galapagos Islands if you’re an avid birdwatcher, as this is the month when the birds of Galapagos are most active. It’s a great time to see red-footed boobies and Nazca boobies breeding and nesting across many islands in the archipelago. These comical-looking seabirds breed all year round, however, June appears to be the month when they are most active.

© Simon Pierce

Flightless cormorants can be seen nesting on Fernandina during the month of June, where they are found mainly along the east coast. Found only on Isabela and Fernandina islands, flightless cormorants are incredibly vulnerable with less than 1,000 individuals left in the world. These unusual birds have such a limited range, so to see them nesting is a fantastic opportunity, especially for any photography enthusiasts.

© Gordon Chambers

The Galapagos penguin is usually found to be nesting between May and January. The population underwent an alarming decline of over 70% in the 1980s due to the El Niño event, but is slowly recovering. June is a great time to see the breeding pairs. The Galapagos penguin produces one or two eggs, and nests in caves and crevices, protected from direct sunlight.

The population of the greater flamingo endemic to Galapagos is estimated at between 400-500 birds. They breed in small colonies from June to March, building mud nests in salt-water lagoons. Visitors will be able to watch the flamingos in the process of building nests, and feeding on krill, molluscs and tiny crabs in the shallow, brackish water.

© Bill Hale

Weather

June is the beginning of the cooler season known as ‘Garua season’ the cooler months in terms of both the air and water. June is also the time of the dry season, where the highlands of the major islands are kept lush and green but the beaches and flat lands receive very little rain. Expect blue skies and mid-day showers in the highlands. The average temperature in June is 24°C, and the water temperature is approximately 23°C.