Galapagos Penguins are the only penguins that do not have a certain defined breeding season, They generally breed 2 or 3 times a year..Galapagos penguins stay with one partner for life. Galapagos penguin breeding depends on the Cromwell Current, so they can breed any month of the year depending on the conditions of the seasonal climate. If the Cromwell Current fails to rise and bring cold rich and nutrient water to the surface, the penguins will postpone breeding for lack of available food.The sea -surface temperature must be 24C or below; appears that February- March months are the lowest for breeding frequency , and December being the higher in breeding frequency . El Nino influences the climate and it is unpredictable, so the climate is highly variable. “Galápagos penguins breed south of the Equator on Bartolomé, Fernandina, and Floreana islands, but their breeding grounds straddle the Equator on Isabela Island.”

When the penguins decide to mate, a chain of courting behaviors tag along, they bond in order to endure the following months as parents; the penguins will make joint noises extremely loud, and will clean each other (preening and grooming)  in order to get rid of parasites that could hurt the chicks in the future. Male penguins do not have penis. Male and female penguins have Cloaca. Flipper-patting is done by the male who quickly pats the female; eventually he will lean on the female "forcing her to lie prone on the ground". then the male will climb on the back of the female as he continue flipper-patting. In order of copulation occurs the female needs to lift the tale up, so the male dips his cloaca onto the female cloaca and transfer the sperm. this is followed by the male slip of the back of the female, then both penguins shake their tails or "make swallowing motions." 

The nests are made from sticks, feathers, bone and leaves inside natural cavities in lava deposits near the shore, or they can be excavated as well. The nest needs to be cushioned when the base is rough, so guano is ideal to smooth the nest's base. The location of the nest is important because the nest needs shade to protect the eggs and the chicks from the sun. Galapagos Penguins, return to the previous site where the nest was located for breeding or even when no breading is taking place, especially the females,

LAYING & INCUBATION

Before the egg laying the Galapagos Penguins spend a large amount of time on land, near the nest site. It will be the male penguin that will occupy the nest first before the egg laying making loud noises from dusk until down. When the first egg is approaching the male and female penguin stay by the nest, but it is the female that stays on the nest during the whole egg-laying period, and will perform one trip outside the nest before the second egg arrives 3-4 days after the first,this is called asynchronous hatching. First eggs are longer; however, second eggs are wider. Incubation starts immediately after the laying of the first egg; unfortunately, desertion of eggs is elevated 12-20 days into incubation process, but it can also occur any time.

Incubation Duties 

Both male and female penguins incubate the eggs, male incubation periods are 1.9 days and females' incubation time is 2.0 days. In optimal breeding conditions, a daily alternation can happen. Incubation periods of the eggs are about 38 days. The first egg will hatch 2-3 days before the second, the second egg may not hatch because of lack of fertilization, or poor egg composition.

Both parents take turns to feed the chicks, and go out for hunting food for a few days; moreover, both parents alternate feeding and guardian duties every day until the chick is 30 days old. The chick will remain in the nest from 30 to 60 days of age with the help of both parents. Galapagos penguin chicks do not join groups, The fledging period lasts until the chicks are 60–65 days old, the chicks will be independent completely at the age of 3 to 6 months. 1-3 chicks per nest can reach fledging age in a good breading season; however in bad seasons, a total failure of nests can occur. By the time they developed their feathers "fledged" , their body weight is around the same as the adult female penguins, so their body parts approach adult size after 30-40 days, which is the reason why their body looks disproportionately large size compared with their feet and flippers. Young Galapagos Penguins can be recognized by their grey, feathers instead of black feathers in their backs. Young penguins lack the body banding of adults, they have white colored patches in their grayish face. The young penguins will molt for the first time at 6 months old at the time the adult plumage is obtained, and the only way to differentiate them from the adults is based on eye coloration, feet and beak."The fledging period continues until the chicks are 60–65 days old, and they become completely independent at age 3–6 months."