Written by Marcelo Guerrero Oquendo, Co-Owner of Galapagos Insiders since 2015. Last updated June 2026.
March is the only month where you can book at shoulder-season prices in the first half and still catch the start of waved albatross courtship at the end of the month — if you time it right.
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We find that visitors to the Galapagos Islands want to choose the best month for their trip. The reality is that Galapagos Islands cruises and Galapagos land based trips are usually good at any time of the year. Wildlife is present all year-round though the lifecycles of the different bird and animal species vary between months of the year. The month that is best for a Galapagos visit will differ from person to person and will depend on factors like weather conditions or warmth of the water as well as tourism demand and pricing. There may be a bit of rain in March, but on the plus side, temperatures are warm in and out of the water. Demand tends to be relatively low unless Easter falls early. Here is the low down on March in the Galapagos Islands.
March travelers tend to fall into three groups in our booking data: families on spring-break windows, couples chasing one last warm-water snorkel month before the cool/dry season cools the water, and wildlife travelers who've read enough to know that late March is when the Española albatross colony begins to assemble. The first two groups are best served by early-to-mid March. The third group should book the last week of March, ideally with a route that includes Punta Suárez.
Many visitors choose to explore the archipelago in March is aboard the distinctive Galapagos Horizon trimaran, a vessel that stands out for its stable three-hull design and thoughtful layout. With a small group of fellow travelers, this trimaran provides easy access to both classic and more remote visitor sites, allowing for a mix of snorkeling, hikes, and wildlife watching that fits well with March’s generally calm conditions. Its combination of intimate spaces and expert naturalist guidance can make it a comfortable and engaging way to experience the islands without feeling rushed.
Wildlife in the Galapagos Islands is plentiful in March, just as it is in every other month of the year. The birds and animals you will get to see will differ from other months, but there are some distinct March highlights.
In terms of animals, land iguanas do tend to display a rather aggressive attitude during March. Land iguanas are into their nesting season in March and ensuring that others do not encroach onto their territory is important for them. Marine iguanas also nest in March. Green sea turtles can also be a March highlight as they are well into their nesting season and very lucky visitors might see females leaving the sea. Giant tortoises are also fairly active in this season and some babies may be hatching.
A lovely March highlight for some visitors is that the waved albatross starts returning to Espanola Island during March. However, to be certain of seeing a waved albatross it is better to wait until later months. Visitors in early March are unlikely to see any waved albatross.
Other birdlife is plentiful. Nesting birds at this time of the year include greater flamingos, great frigate birds, penguins and flightless cormorants. For great frigate bird nesting, a visit to Genovesa Island can be a definite highlight. Visitors to the Galapagos Islands in March also stand a decent chance of seeing the blue footed booby, Galapagos dove, Galapagos finch and Galapagos mockingbird.
March's wildlife signature is the return of the waved albatross to Española at month's end — but the rest of the month carries strong warm-season residuals. Here's how it breaks down on the ground.
Source: Galapagos National Park seasonal-arrivals data; Charles Darwin Foundation species pages; Galapagos Insiders trip-report data 2024–2026.
Temperatures in the Galapagos Islands in March are distinctly tropical. The highest temperature is usually around 88°F (31°C) with the lowest temperatures around 75°F (24°C). On average, you can expect temperatures of around 82°F (28°C) and it will feel pretty warm. Essential packing items for this climate include a powerful sunscreen, a sun hat and sun glasses. The Galapagos Islands are very close to the Equator so sunburn can happen very quickly for the ill-prepared. On the bright side, visitors to the Galapagos Islands in March see 7.2 sunshine hours per day on average in March.
March is most definitely the rainy season in the Galapagos Islands. However, most people who visit do not find that the rain detracts from their experience. Monthly rainfall averages at around 66mm and the rain is infrequent rather than persistent. With a light raincoat to fend off the showers, you will still be able to enjoy your trip, and you’ll likely find the rains very refreshing. Later on in March, the rains start to ease off as the wet season starts to draw to an end. A benefit of the rain is lush, green landscapes.
Humidity is high in March. This is not surprising given that it is the warm, rainy season. Humidity is likely to sit at around 80% on average during the month of March. This will make it feel quite sticky at times.
Sea temperatures in March are comfortably warm for most people. The average sea temperatures are 77°F (25°C) during March. Most people will find that being in the water is very pleasant without a wetsuit.
Galapagos activities vary little month to month and visits to the islands do not vary much in this respect. Walking on Galapagos trails to view the wildlife is an activity that is possible every month of the year. For those hoping to soak up the sun’s warm rays and enjoy some beach time, the weather tends to improve for beach days during the month.
An important factor for some is that the weather in March, particularly the rain, can lead to sea surges. This can lead to trickier landings on some of the islands in this month. North Seymour and at Gardner Bay are spots where landings may be a bit harder due to the sea surges.
For snorkelers and divers, the water is lovely and clear and the warmer water temperatures can make these activities very pleasant in this month. Even the western-most islands where water temperatures are otherwise typically cooler enjoy relatively warm waters in March. There is a good variety of sea life present during March to delight both snorkelers and diverse alike. A really great highlight is the opportunity to view the Galapagos penguins in the sea during this month.
The sea surges may present a challenge to some divers where currents can sometimes be strong. Divers that are not confident with stronger currents (especially experienced on the northern shores) might want to choose another month.
"March is the month our travelers most often get wrong by a single week. They book the first week to save money, and then they read about the albatross afterward and ask if they can move the dates — by which point the late-March cabins are gone. Or they book the last week for the albatross and don't realize that the same itinerary in early April is also a strong choice with a fuller colony. We tell every March traveler the same thing on the first call: decide whether you're optimizing for shoulder pricing or for the start of albatross courtship before you look at vessels. The two halves of March answer different questions."
— Marcelo Guerrero, Co-Owner
Two practical implications for your March booking. First, if budget is the constraint, book March 1–14 on any Eastern, Western, or Northern itinerary — you'll get warm water, strong visibility, full warm-season wildlife (tortoise hatchlings, sea-turtle nesting, frigatebird courtship), and the year's lowest mid-range pricing tier. Second, if the waved albatross is on your shortlist, book March 22–31 on an Eastern itinerary that includes Punta Suárez — and accept that the colony will be partial, not full. If you want the full courtship colony, the right month is April or May, not March, and we'll say so on the call.
When Easter is not early, booking a Galapagos Islands cruise or Galapagos land based option can be a bit cheaper than in other months. This is because outside of Easter, March is not an especially popular month to visit the Galapagos Islands. The reason is that the rainy season is in full swing in March. You may very well be able to pick up a good deal and good value trips may be available. If Easter does fall in March and that is the time you choose to visit, it will be more expensive. Both the accommodation and the flights will be higher priced.
Generally speaking, in March the Galapagos has a lower level of demand. The higher level of rain is off-putting to some. When Easter falls early, towards the end of March, the latter half of March does get much busier in the Galapagos Islands. For that period, you generally need to book earlier, as both accommodation and flights can get very booked up. Outside of Easter, March tends to be a fair bit quieter, and demand on both Galapagos Islands cruises and land-based Galapagos trips tends to be significantly lower. If crowd avoidance is your preference, perhaps avoid Easter!
Yes, with one caveat: pick your week. Early March is the last week of clean shoulder-season pricing before April demand kicks in, with warm water (24–25°C), strong snorkel visibility, and full warm-season wildlife (tortoise hatchlings, sea-turtle nesting, frigatebird courtship). Late March adds the first waved albatross arrivals at Punta Suárez on Española. The two halves of March serve different priorities — early March for cost, late March for the start of albatross courtship.
Waved albatross arrivals at Punta Suárez on Española from week four onward (the colony assembles through early April), Galapagos giant tortoise hatchlings in the Santa Cruz highlands, Pacific green sea turtle nesting at Bachas Beach and Tortuga Bay, marine iguanas in breeding coloration on Española, Floreana, and Fernandina, frigatebird males with red inflated gular pouches on North Seymour, sea-lion pups from the December–January cohort, land iguanas on South Plaza and Santa Fe, Galapagos hawks courting on Española and Santa Fe, American flamingos in lagoons on Floreana, Rabida, and Isabela, red-footed boobies year-round on Genovesa, Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants along Isabela and Fernandina. Whale sharks (Darwin/Wolf, dive-only) are NOT in season — June through November is the dive window.
Sea state is moderate. The southeast trade winds that drive August–October swell haven't kicked in, so the Bolívar Channel between Isabela and Fernandina is workable for most motion-sensitive travelers — though it's not yet at the May minimum. Travelers prone to motion sickness can usually book a single-hull yacht in March; in August we'd push the same traveler toward a catamaran. For more, see our Galapagos cruise seasickness guide.
A March 2027 8-day cruise runs from $4,527 on mid-range catamarans and from $6,359 on luxury yachts. Shorter 5-day and 6-day departures start from $2,273 (5-day mid-range) and from $3,018 (6-day first-class). Early-March departures price near the year's shoulder-season low; last-week-of-March departures price closer to April demand. Add $250–600 for domestic flights from Quito or Guayaquil, $200 Galapagos National Park entry fee, $20 INGALA Transit Control Card, and $200–400 in tips. Full breakdown: Galapagos cruise cost 2027.
Our answer. February is warmer (and slightly cheaper on some vessels), but no albatross — the colony is still away. March is the last shoulder-pricing month before April demand kicks in, with the first albatross arrivals in the final week. April has the first reliable albatross courtship colony from day one, full warm-season wildlife, and pricing 8–12% higher than early March on mid-range vessels. If your priority is shoulder pricing and warm-season wildlife: pick early-to-mid March or February. If your priority is the albatross colony: pick April. If you want both halves of the trade — and accept that the albatross colony will be partial, not full — pick the last week of March.
March is a great month for a visit to the Galapagos Islands, especially if you do not mind a bit of rain and some humidity. For sun seekers in particular, March can be a really good choice with plenty of sunshine interspersed between the showers. Easter aside, demand tends to be lower and some cheaper trips may be available either for Galapagos Islands cruises or land-based trips to the Galapagos Islands. In the sea, snorkeling and diving are good due to the splendidly clear waters, though divers should be aware of the sea surges. In the end, choosing a trip to the Galapagos Islands in March very much depends on personal preferences but most visitors will enjoy a March trip as much as a trip at any other time.
"We had an absolutely incredible experience working with Galapagos Insiders to plan our family trip to the Galápagos and Quito. Traveling with two teenagers can sometimes be a challenge, but every detail was handled so thoughtfully that the entire journey felt smooth from start to finish. Our six-day stay aboard the Galapagos Sea Star yacht was truly the highlight of the trip. The crew members were exceptional — warm, attentive, and genuinely passionate about making our experience unforgettable. Our naturalist was extremely knowledgeable. Every excursion felt special, and her enthusiasm made a lasting impression on all of us."Karen C. from New York City (Tripadvisor Review) — Galapagos Sea Star, March 2026
Aggregate rating across our review sources: 4.9 / 5 across 350 verified reviews (2021–2026) — TripAdvisor, Trustpilot, Google Business Profile, WeTravel.
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