Short answer: July is in the cool season: days around 25.4°C, nights around 20.7°C, sea 22.3°C and choppy seas. It is busy with Ecuadorian holidaymakers (the domestic peak in July and August). Wildlife highlights: whale sharks at darwin island, hammerhead sharks most abundant in the cool season, humpback and blue whales in the marine reserve.
Weather in July
- 25.4°Caverage high, Puerto Ayora
- 20.7°Caverage low
- 22.3°Csea temperature (#8 of 12)
- 13 mmtypical rain over 4.3 rainy days (middling)
The cool season runs roughly June to November. July is drier at the coast, often grey and misty in the highlands, with southeasterly winds that make the sea choppier. The upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water is what makes the marine life so active.
Compared with June (23.5°C sea) and August (21.5°C), July is cooling down.
What the animals are doing in July
- Whale sharks at Darwin Island (adult, mostly pregnant females)Darwin Island (liveaboard dive/snorkel only)
Peer-reviewed six-year study: presence tracked sea surface temperature inversely, concentrated July-December (about 207 sightings Jul-Dec vs 4 Jan-Jun, from a blog summary of the paper). - Hammerhead sharks most abundant in the cool seasonDarwin and Wolf (liveaboard only); Kicker Rock sometimes (secondary)
CDF-led study compared March (warm) with August (cold): hammerhead biomass about 5 t/ha in the warm season vs 21 t/ha in the cold season. - Humpback and blue whales in the Marine ReserveOpen water; Santa Fé sighting 2005
Springer chapter (Denkinger and colleagues) reports presence June-November. - Flightless cormorant breeding seasonFernandina, northern and western Isabela
Wikipedia summary: April to October. - Cool-season upwelling: marine life most active, best snorkellingWestern and central islands
GCT: June is start of cooler air and water; July cold nutrient-rich water makes marine life more active; October nutrients inshore make snorkelling great.
Where to find each animal and how likely you are to see it: wildlife bingo card.
Boats and seasickness in July
Sea conditions are usually choppy. Plan the long crossings (Santa Cruz to Isabela, Bartolomé, Española) for the morning boats, take a seasickness tablet before boarding and sit at the back. The seasickness meter rates every month and boat.
How busy is July?
July is busy with Ecuadorian holidaymakers (the domestic peak in July and August). 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 July
- A 3 mm wetsuit or rash guard for snorkelling (most tour boats lend wetsuits; ask).
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses: the sun is strong on the equator in every month.
- A windproof layer for boat rides and the misty highlands.
- Seasickness tablets, especially this month.
Good tours for July
Kicker Rock & Beach Full-Day Tour
North Seymour: Day Tour with Wildlife Walk & Snorkeling
Tintoreras Islet: Penguins & Blue-Footed Boobies
Los Túneles: Snorkel with Sharks, Seahorses & Sea Turtles
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 July
Is July a good time to visit the Galápagos?
Yes. It is the cool season: the sea is around 22.3°C, days reach about 25.4°C, and the nutrient-rich water brings the most active marine life. July is busy with Ecuadorian holidaymakers (the domestic peak in July and August).
How warm is the sea in July?
About 22.3°C at Puerto Ayora (30-year average), the 8th warmest month of the year. Most people want a 3 mm wetsuit for long snorkels.
Does it rain in July?
Very little: a typical July brings about 13 mm over 4.3 rainy days, though the highlands are often misty.
Is the sea rough in July?
Sea conditions are usually choppy. The two-hour inter-island ferries can be bumpy; take a tablet and sit at the back.
Other months
All twelve months side by side · What a trip costs · Plan your days
Sources: Charles Darwin Foundation, NOAA, Galápagos Conservation Trust, Galápagos National Park and Governing Council, peer-reviewed research. 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.