The sea temperature at Galápagos (Gardner Bay) today is 28 °C (82 °F) – water as warm as a bath. The usual October average is 21.9 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has warmed from 26.5 °C to 28 °C. Swimmable all year – the sea averages 21 °C or more in every month. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.3°C / 73.9°F | 24.4°C / 76.0°F | 25.7°C / 78.3°F |
| February | 25.1°C / 77.2°F | 26.3°C / 79.4°F | 27.4°C / 81.4°F |
| March | 27.0°C / 80.6°F | 27.5°C / 81.4°F | 28.1°C / 82.6°F |
| April | 24.6°C / 76.3°F | 26.1°C / 79.0°F | 27.7°C / 81.9°F |
| May | 23.0°C / 73.4°F | 24.7°C / 76.4°F | 26.7°C / 80.0°F |
| June | 22.4°C / 72.3°F | 23.9°C / 75.0°F | 26.2°C / 79.1°F |
| July | 21.8°C / 71.3°F | 23.2°C / 73.8°F | 25.4°C / 77.8°F |
| August | 20.6°C / 69.0°F | 22.1°C / 71.8°F | 24.4°C / 76.0°F |
| September | 19.5°C / 67.1°F | 21.4°C / 70.4°F | 23.9°C / 75.1°F |
| October | 20.2°C / 68.3°F | 21.9°C / 71.4°F | 24.1°C / 75.4°F |
| November | 21.0°C / 69.9°F | 22.5°C / 72.5°F | 25.0°C / 77.0°F |
| December | 21.3°C / 70.3°F | 22.7°C / 72.9°F | 24.7°C / 76.4°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.9°C / 75.0°F | 24.2°C / 75.6°F | 24.5°C / 76.1°F |
| February | 25.4°C / 77.6°F | 25.8°C / 78.4°F | 26.1°C / 79.0°F |
| March | 26.0°C / 78.7°F | 26.4°C / 79.6°F | 26.8°C / 80.2°F |
| April | 25.2°C / 77.4°F | 25.5°C / 78.0°F | 25.8°C / 78.5°F |
| May | 24.1°C / 75.5°F | 24.4°C / 76.0°F | 24.7°C / 76.4°F |
| June | 23.3°C / 73.9°F | 23.5°C / 74.3°F | 23.7°C / 74.6°F |
| July | 22.5°C / 72.4°F | 22.7°C / 72.9°F | 22.9°C / 73.2°F |
| August | 21.3°C / 70.4°F | 21.6°C / 70.8°F | 21.8°C / 71.2°F |
| September | 20.7°C / 69.2°F | 21.0°C / 69.7°F | 21.2°C / 70.1°F |
| October | 21.0°C / 69.8°F | 21.3°C / 70.3°F | 21.4°C / 70.6°F |
| November | 21.5°C / 70.6°F | 21.7°C / 71.1°F | 21.9°C / 71.5°F |
| December | 22.2°C / 71.9°F | 22.5°C / 72.4°F | 22.7°C / 72.8°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Gardner Bay holidays
Galápagos sea lions rest in the sand between visitors at Gardner Bay, a long white beach on the north-east coast of Española, an island in the south-east of the Galápagos formed roughly three to four million years ago. The Galápagos Islands, about 1,000 km off the coast of Ecuador, were among the first places listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978, and almost the whole archipelago is a national park with a marine reserve around it.
Beaches
Visitors land at Gardner Bay by dinghy and can walk the sand and swim from the beach, keeping at least 2 m from the sea lions, which often come to play in the shallows. Snorkelling trips go to the rocks of Gardner Islet and Tortuga Rock just offshore, where reef fish, rays and sometimes white-tipped reef sharks are seen. San Cristóbal, the gateway island, has beaches within walking distance of its main town, such as Playa Mann and La Lobería.
Things to do
Punta Suárez, the other visitor site on Española, is a rocky trail where waved albatrosses nest from about April to December, alongside blue-footed and Nazca boobies, colourful marine iguanas and a blowhole that sprays seawater high into the air. Española mockingbirds, endemic to Española and nearby Gardner Islet, often walk up to visitors. On San Cristóbal, boats circle Kicker Rock (León Dormido), a split rock popular for snorkelling. Visits to Gardner Bay and Punta Suárez require an authorised naturalist guide, and landing times and rules are set by the Galápagos National Park.
Weather and best time to visit
At Gardner Bay the sea stays above 21 °C / 70 °F all year, even in the coolest month.
The Galápagos have two seasons. From about January to May the air and water are warmer, the sea is usually calmer and short rain showers alternate with sunshine. From about June to December the cool Humboldt Current brings cooler water, rougher seas and the misty drizzle known as garúa, but also plenty of marine life. Book ahead for Christmas, New Year and the northern summer holidays.
Hotels and where to stay
There is no accommodation on Española, which is visited on day trips from San Cristóbal, a few hours away by boat, or on multi-day cruises. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the main town of San Cristóbal, has hotels and guesthouses near the waterfront, and Santa Cruz island has a wider choice.
Signature hotels: Hotel Indigo - Galapagos by IHG (Puerto Baquerizo Moreno)
Airport and getting there
Flights from mainland Ecuador land at San Cristóbal Airport (SCY), close to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and at Seymour Airport on Baltra (GPS), which serves Santa Cruz; check current flights, including whether your itinerary connects through Guayaquil. Visitors pay a Galápagos National Park entrance fee and need a transit control card bought before departure; check current fees and rules before travelling.