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The Galapagos Islands are on the equator. Though the air can feel cool due to the chilly Humboldt current, the sun is capable of inflicting skin damage you may not be aware of until too late. Hats, shirts and a good sunscreen are vital.

The sea and its currents are a prime factor affecting climatic conditions in the islands. Water temperatures show immense variety depending on the time of year and geographic position. The cold Humboldt (Peru) current travels north along the coast of South America and is responsible for the cold water temperatures and the abundance of fish. The El Nino current affects the Galapagos with a flow of warm water southwest from the Panama Basin. This does not happen every year, but it is a regular cause of disruption to the seabirds which depend on the cold waters for fish.

Various forces--the equator, the diversity of currents, the surrounding waters and changes in elevation--all contribute to a variable and sometimes difficult climate. It also makes for a vital element in the complex world of the Galapagos Islands.

There are two distinct seasons in the Galapagos, essentially caused by variations in the water temperature, which are in turn to a large extent the result of the movement of the regular wind systems north and south. The warm season runs from January to May and may be characterized by heavy rain showers during part of this time, the water temperatures being in the mid to upper 70s F (25 C) rising to a high of 85 F (30 C) when the Nino flow is at its height. The cool or garua season starts in late June and runs through December, the chief characteristics of this season being the cooler water, upper 60s and low 70s F (20-23 C), the overcast skies and the drizzle showers caused by a temperature inversion and the light to fresh southerly winds which give rise to a rather short choppy sea. During this season the highlands of the larger islands are often cloud-covered for days or weeks on end. The temperature in the Galapagos varies slightly during the year, the highs generally are in the low 80s with the lows in the 70s. The annual average is around 78 F.

Quito is nestled 9,000 feet up in the Andes just 15 miles south of the equator. Spring-like days and crisp nights are the rule with little variation from month to month. Quito's highs rarely reach 70 F, and lows usually hover in the mid 40s. These average temperatures hold true for most of the country's central highland area.