Ecuador: When to Go

Generally speaking, Ecuador has two seasons, wet and dry, but local weather patterns vary greatly depending on geography.

In the highlands, the dry season is between June and September and around Christmas, but even the wet season isn't particularly rainy. The central valley is spring-like all year, with temperatures no higher than 24°C (66°F). The Oriente experiences rain year-round; July and August are the wettest months, September through December the driest. Canoe travel is best in the wet season, when streams are high, while trekking is best done in the dry.

On the coast, the wet season (roughly January to May) sees sunny days with daily afternoon downpours, but it's the best beach weather. June through August sees gringo vacationers descend.

The mainland coastal areas and the Galápagos Islands are sweltering and wet between January and April. Despite the rain, this season has the most sun and is when Ecuadorians flock to the beach.

In the Galápagos, the wildlife frolics year-round but you'll find January to April the best time for snorkeling. If you're prone to seasickness, avoid the rough-sea months between July and October.

The high seasons are mid-December to January and June to August - accommodation rates are highest during these months, and reservations are advised.

El Niño hits hard about one winter every decade, playing havoc with road and rail connections.

Every city, town and village in Ecuador has local festivals, which are celebrated with a generous dose of fireworks, alcohol, music and dancing. Some of the biggest include the Good Friday processions in Quito, Corpus Christi in Pujilí or Salasaca, and Fiesta del Yamor in Otavalo.

Weather

There are only two real seasons in Ecuador - the rainy season and the dry season - but there are significant variations among the geographical regions, and temperature is often a factor of altitude. Even during the rainy season, most days are sunny until the afternoon.

Coastal Ecuador is cloudy most of the time but enjoys daily highs averaging around 30°C (86°F) year-round, and a short but quite damp wet season between January and April. The highland dry season is between June and the end of September. In the Oriente, it rains most months - August and December to March are usually the driest. The Galápagos Islands are unusually dry for their equatorial position. The official dry season, between June and December, is also cool and often misty.