Dec → Feb
24 to 28°
nights 21 to 23°
- 24 rainy days · 106 mm
- 10.8 h of sun
- sea 26°
When is the best time to visit Ecuador?
- Jan26°not recommended
- Feb28°not recommended
- Mar29°not recommended
- Apr28°not recommended
- May26°fair
- Jun25°recommended
- Jul24°recommended
- Aug23°recommended
- Sep23°recommended
- Oct23°fair
- Nov23°not recommended
- Dec24°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Ecuador, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 22° | 11.1 h | 99 mm | 24 d | 26° | |
| February | 28° | 23° | 11.1 h | 115 mm | 24 d | 27° | |
| March | 29° | 23° | 11.4 h | 143 mm | 21 d | 27° | |
| April | 28° | 23° | 11.4 h | 115 mm | 21 d | 28° | |
| May | 26° | 22° | 11.2 h | 114 mm | 25 d | 27° | |
| June | 25° | 21° | 10.5 h | 136 mm | 25 d | 25° | ✓ |
| July | 24° | 20° | 9.6 h | 127 mm | 27 d | 24° | ✓ |
| August | 23° | 20° | 9.2 h | 85 mm | 21 d | 23° | ✓ |
| September | 23° | 19° | 8.8 h | 107 mm | 24 d | 23° | ✓ |
| October | 23° | 20° | 9.2 h | 126 mm | 26 d | 24° | |
| November | 23° | 20° | 10 h | 92 mm | 20 d | 24° | |
| December | 24° | 21° | 10.2 h | 103 mm | 24 d | 25° |
The four seasons in Ecuador, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Galápagos Islands) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Mar → May
26 to 29°
nights 22 to 23°
- 22 rainy days · 124 mm
- 11.3 h of sun
- sea 27°
Jun → Aug
23 to 25°
nights 20 to 21°
- 24 rainy days · 116 mm
- 9.8 h of sun
- sea 24°
Sep → Nov
23°
nights 19 to 20°
- 23 rainy days · 108 mm
- 9.3 h of sun
- sea 24°
Book early for June to September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Ecuador, month by month
EventsDiablada de PíllaroJanuaryGuaranda CarnivalFebruary to MarchInti RaymiJuneMama Negra in LatacungaSeptember, NovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
- Diving & snorkelling: January, February, March, April, May, June, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Ecuador, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- JanuaryDiablada de Píllaro
In the first days of January, masked dancers dressed as devils take over the streets of Píllaro, south of Quito, for six days.
- February to MarchGuaranda Carnival big crowds
Guaranda douses its parades with water, foam and flour during Shrovetide, to the sound of coplas sung from balcony to balcony.
- JuneInti Raymi
Around the solstice, Otavalo and Cotacachi string together circle dances, ritual baths and the symbolic taking of the village square.
- September, NovemberMama Negra in Latacunga
Latacunga brings out its procession, led by a rider in make-up, twice a year: first in September, then in early November.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Ecuador, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇨 The Galápagos Islands | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | ~ |
| 🇪🇨 Quito | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended26°22° at night
- 99 mm · 24 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 26°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended28°23° at night
- 115 mm · 24 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 27°
Busy, without the crush
March
Not recommended29°23° at night
- 143 mm · 21 d
- 11.4 h
- sea 27°
Busy, without the crush
April
Not recommended28°23° at night
- 115 mm · 21 d
- 11.4 h
- sea 28°
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair26°22° at night
- 114 mm · 25 d
- 11.2 h
- sea 27°
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended25°21° at night
- 136 mm · 25 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended24°20° at night
- 127 mm · 27 d
- 9.6 h
- sea 24°
High season, book early
August
Recommended23°20° at night
- 85 mm · 21 d
- 9.2 h
- sea 23°
High season, book early
September
Recommended23°19° at night
- 107 mm · 24 d
- 8.8 h
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair23°20° at night
- 126 mm · 26 d
- 9.2 h
- sea 24°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended23°20° at night
- 92 mm · 20 d
- 10 h
- sea 24°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended24°21° at night
- 103 mm · 24 d
- 10.2 h
- sea 25°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 26 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. A very wet month, 99 mm of rain over 24 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. 28 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. A very wet month, 115 mm of rain over 24 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
March. 29 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. A very wet month, 143 mm of rain over 21 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. 28 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. A very wet month, 115 mm of rain over 21 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. 26 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 114 mm over 25 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 25 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Frequent rain: 136 mm over 25 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C early in the morning. Frequent but light showers: 127 mm over 27 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
August. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C early in the morning. Frequent but light showers: 85 mm over 21 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C early in the morning. Frequent but light showers: 107 mm over 24 days. Expect 8.8 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C early in the morning. Frequent but light showers: 126 mm over 26 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C early in the morning. A very wet month, 92 mm of rain over 20 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C early in the morning. A very wet month, 103 mm of rain over 24 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Ecuador?
June to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 23 to 25 °C, with 24 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Galápagos Islands).
Which month should you avoid in Ecuador?
March: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 143 mm over 21 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Galápagos Islands).
What is the hottest month in Ecuador?
March, with 29 °C on average in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Galápagos Islands).
What is the coldest month in Ecuador?
August, with 23 °C at best during the day and 20 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Galápagos Islands).
What is the driest month in Ecuador?
August: 85 mm over 21 days of rain, against 143 mm in March, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Ecuador?
March, with 11.4 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Ecuador?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 23 to 28 °C depending on the month (warmest in April), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Galápagos Islands).
When to go diving or snorkelling in Ecuador?
January, February, March, April, May, June, December: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Galápagos Islands).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Ecuador guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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Photos: Lloyd Douglas / Pexels · Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Travis Kerkvliet / Pexels · Marije Kouyzer / Pexels · Diego F. Parra / Pexels · Daniel Rojas Luzquiños / Pexels