New year in the Galápagos brings sunshine as well as rain, and although you'll only find a slight daily drizzle it's pretty much a permanent fixture from January through to May. The start of the year is when green turtles lay their eggs and considered one of the best times to visit the Galápagos Islands.

Warmer weather signals l'amour and many of the land birds, sea lions, turtles and tortoises that you'll find on the Galápagos use February, March and April as their breeding or nesting season amongst a blanket of blossoming spring flowers. By May, blue-footed boobies are doing their courtship dance in North Seymour. This is also a great time of year for beach lovers as, although there's every chance of a daily shower, sea and land temperatures are at a high.

The colder climes of June through to November send an abundance of plankton and nutrients to the rougher seas off the coast of the Galápagos which provides sea birds, such as albatross and penguins, with food as well as an underwater treat for divers braving the cooler temperatures.

Although sunshine is not exactly at a premium during July this is the mating season for blue-footed boobies (particularly on Isla Española) and short-eared owls, with Genovesa Island providing the perfect place to observe rituals from a respectful distance.

August and September are still dry but relatively cool and it's not until October that temperatures start to rise with December kicking off the start of hatching season for giant tortoises.