The Galapagos in August | Best time to Visit the Galapagos

Galapagos in August

The garua season peaks in August, as waters rich in nutrients from the Humboldt Current entice schools of small fish, attracting dolphins, rays and pregnant whale sharks like a magnet. From above, sea birds get a share of the action, gobbling up the abundant food. Penguins thrive this season in the cooler waters, though they have to keep their wits about them as hammerhead sharks and orcas patrol the coastline. Again, waters can be choppy, so a land-based Galapagos travel itinerary and an experience like that offered by Galapagos Safari Camp is suitable for the queasy or nervous

August in the Galapagos sees the dry, or garúa, season in full swing. The nutrient-rich waters of the Humboldt Current are a feeding ground for schools of small fish, which in turn bring dolphins, sharks, rays, and whale sharks from near and far.

Above the sea, migrating and native sea birds thrive, diving from the sky into shallow waters for fish. Sea lions, marine iguanas, and turtles also make an appearance, thriving with the abundance of food.

Keep reading for some of the marine creatures you can see when snorkeling and diving during your Galapagos safari holiday at the camp.

Whale Sharks

From May through October, the plankton-rich waters of the islands make the archipelago a yearly stop for pregnant whale sharks. The fish is the biggest of its kind, growing to sizes that rival the whales of the Galapagos. Filtering thousands of gallons of water through its jaws, whale sharks can eat 26 pounds of plankton in one day.

Dolphins

Dolphins in the Galapagos travel in pods and feed off of the schools of fish that appear in the shallow waters around the islands. The pods work together to drive fish to the surface, where they are easily hunted by dolphins and birds alike.

The waters off the western shores of Isabela are a popular feeding ground for dolphins, whales, and penguins; alive with seasonal eco-systems that sustain the creatures that build them.

Penguins

Penguins in the Galapagos flock to cooler waters year round, and thrive when the colder Humboldt Current arrives for the garúa season. They feed in shallow waters, often joining sea lions, dolphins, and hammerhead sharks under the sea in search of fish.

The endemic species only dives to shallow depths, and spends short periods of time in the sea each day. While the penguin’s numbers are low due to El Niño years, the population spreads around the islands while the food supply is abundant.

Hammerhead Sharks

Often seen off the shores of Seymour Island and in the waters surrounding Kicker Rock near San Cristobal, Hammerhead sharks are often spotted in groups during a dive safari holiday from the camp. Black-tipped sharks, white-tipped reef sharks, and Galapagos sharks also live in the waters, feeding on small fish during the dry season.

Orcas

Killer whales are sometimes spotted while crossing the expanses of open sea between islands. They are hunters, and follow dolphin pods in search of food. In the Galapagos, they have been seen hunting sea lions, penguins, turtles, dolphins, and other whales.

Humpback Whales

Humpback whales migrate to the Galapagos during the dry season to mate and feed, traveling from Antarctica and making residence in the plankton and krill rich waters around the islands.

Humpback whales are seen at feeding grounds off of Isabela and in the open waters of the sea, breaching the sea in spectacular displays of aerobatics.

For more information about our classic, dive, and family safari holidays and where they can take you during the dry season, contact a member of our team through this site or our toll-free number.