Waved Albatross
Punta Suárez, Española
Almost always seen · peak of the courtship season, October to October
See these departuresThe Galápagos Cruise · Best time to visit · October
Galápagos in October: The Peak of the Albatross Courtship
October is the peak of the albatross courtship on Española, with sea lion pups on the beaches and dry, mild days. What October is best for:
Waved albatrossCourtship peakPunta Suárez, EspañolaSea lion pupsStill on the beachesGardner Bay, EspañolaPenguinsStill activeTagus Cove, IsabelaDry weather3 mm of rainMild days, 73°F
fromUS$1,990
Per person, October 2026
72°F
Water, colder in the west
73°F
Air by day
3 mm
Rain in the month
October at a glance
October is dry and mild, with cool water and lively seas. It is the last month in which humpback whales are seen on the crossings, and the cold current still keeps the penguins active in the west.
On Española the waved albatross reach the peak of their courtship, with pairs fencing their bills at Punta Suárez. Sea lion pups are still on the beaches at Gardner Bay, and ocean sunfish visit the cleaning station at Punta Vicente Roca.
June to November
The cool season
Cooler air, misty highlands, choppier and richer seas. October is late in it: dry, mild and the albatross at their peak.
Notable wildlife
- Albatross courtship on Española
- Penguins and sea lion pups
- Blue-footed booby courtship
Best for
Wildlife first, longer hikes, photography in soft light
Wildlife in October
73 species are recorded in October at the places our cruises visit. The six most likely first.
Galápagos Penguin
Tagus Cove, Isabela
Almost always seen · more active than usual, June to November
See these departuresGalápagos Giant Tortoise
Santa Cruz Highlands, Santa Cruz
Almost always seen · wild in the highlands, June to December
See these departuresEspañola Mockingbird
Punta Suárez, Española
Almost always seen · present and unusually tame
See these departures6 of 73 species with photos shownShow all 73
Departures in October
All departures with space. Sold-out dates are not listed.
09/10/2026US$8,300
Treasure · Treasure: Route AB
8 nights · back 17/10/2026 · 2 spots
Ask about this date09/10/2026US$14,095
Treasure · Treasure: Route ABC
14 nights · back 23/10/2026 · 2 spots
Ask about this date09/10/2026US$5,845
Infinity · 5-Day Southern Islands: Santa Cruz's Wild Tortoises
4 nights · back 13/10/2026 · 2 spots
Ask about this dateShow more departures12 of 77 shown
Questions about October
Is October a good time to visit the Galápagos?+
Yes, especially for birds. October is the peak of the albatross courtship on Española, with sea lion pups and active penguins as well. The weather is dry and mild, the seas still choppy.
When is the albatross courtship at its peak?+
In October, at Punta Suárez on Española. The albatross are there from April to December.
Is October the last month for whales?+
Yes. Humpback whales are seen on the crossings from June to October, and only occasionally.
Other months
All twelve months: The best time to visit the Galápagos
María Fernanda Ortiz
We reply within one business day
Prefer to talk? + 1 786 509 6338
We answer first thing on the next working day
María Fernanda Ortiz
We answer personally, and we answer ourselves. A Galápagos trip is once in a lifetime, and you want the right advice before you book.
+ 1 786 509 6338We answer first thing on the next working day
Ask about departures in October
Tell us who is travelling and what you want to see. We come back to you within one working day.
from US$1,990
09/10/2026