Short answer: March is in the warm season: days around 31°C, nights around 23°C, sea 25.7°C and calm seas. It is one of the two busiest months (the foreign-visitor peak in March and April). Wildlife highlights: waved albatross return to española, green sea turtle nesting season, marine iguana breeding season.
Weather in March
- 31°Caverage high, Puerto Ayora
- 23°Caverage low
- 25.7°Csea temperature (warmest month)
- 40 mmtypical rain over 5.2 rainy days (one of the wettest months)
The warm season runs roughly December to May. March brings hot sunny spells broken by short tropical showers, lush green highlands and the calmest, clearest water of the year.
Compared with February (25.4°C sea) and April (25.5°C), March is the warmest of the three.
What the animals are doing in March
- Waved albatross return to EspañolaPunta Suárez, Española
Adults return from sea: GCT says late March (partners reunite), masses by April; Galapagos Conservancy says the whole adult population is back in April. - Green sea turtle nesting seasonQuinta Playa (Isabela, main site); Las Bachas (Santa Cruz); small beach at Bartolomé
Sources disagree on the window. - Marine iguana breeding season; males colour upCoasts of all main islands; Española males most colourful
Wikipedia: breeding Dec-Mar, nesting Jan-Apr. - Giant tortoise seasonal markersSanta Cruz highlands; breeding centres
GCT: breeding visible in March; hatching season ends in April and starts again in December; migration from the highlands begins in June.
Where to find each animal and how likely you are to see it: wildlife bingo card.
Boats and seasickness in March
Sea conditions are usually calm. This is the comfortable time for the inter-island ferries and the long day trips to Bartolomé and Española. The seasickness meter rates every month and boat.
How busy is March?
March is one of the two busiest months (the foreign-visitor peak in March and April). The park counted 290,404 visitors in 2025, with demand peaks in March–April and July–August and the low point in September. Book boat day trips and the popular hotels well ahead.
What to pack for March
- A rash guard is enough for most snorkels; the water is warm.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses: the sun is strong on the equator in every month.
- A light rain jacket for the afternoon showers.
- Seasickness tablets.
Good tours for March
Santa Fe Island Snorkeling Day Tour
Bartolome Day Tour for Penguin Snorkeling
Los Túneles: Snorkel with Sharks, Seahorses & Sea Turtles
Giant Tortoises, Lava Tunnels & Craters Tour
Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure
Questions people ask about March
Is March a good time to visit the Galápagos?
Yes. It is the warm season: the sea is around 25.7°C, days reach about 31°C and the water is at its clearest and calmest. March is one of the two busiest months (the foreign-visitor peak in March and April).
How warm is the sea in March?
About 25.7°C at Puerto Ayora (30-year average), the warmest month of the year. A shorty wetsuit is enough for most people.
Does it rain in March?
Expect short, heavy showers: a typical March brings about 40 mm on 5.2 rainy days, mostly in the afternoon.
Is the sea rough in March?
Sea conditions are usually calm. Ferries and day boats are at their most comfortable.
Other months
All twelve months side by side · What a trip costs · Plan your days
Sources: Charles Darwin Foundation, NOAA, Galápagos National Park and Governing Council, peer-reviewed research, Galápagos Conservation Trust, Galápagos Conservancy. Every figure with its document: facts and figures.
Updated 2026-11-06. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.