Climate Ecuador
Ecuador, with its countless geographical contrasts, offers an inventory of all the world's climates. For example, given the differences in altitude, it has been observed that between two points 10 to 12 km apart, the difference in rainfall can be of the order of 1,000 mm. It should be noted that, like the rest of the planet, Ecuador is suffering the consequences of climate disruption, and the different seasons are less and less marked. However, there are two main seasons. Summer runs from June to November, with dry weather and often cool temperatures, and winter from December to May, with hot, rainy weather. Apart from the general case, there are four main climatic regions to consider: the Andes, the Pacific coast, Amazonia and the Galapagos. As for Quito, it often experiences all 4 seasons on the same day.
The Andes
The climate of the Andean highlands is temperate and relatively dry: the driest season is between June and September, while the rainy season is between January and May, with average annual rainfall of between 500 and 1,500 mm.
Average annual temperatures range from 13°C to 16°C, but the difference between day and night temperatures is considerable, and rainfall varies greatly according to altitude. From 400 to 1,800 meters above sea level, average temperatures range from 20°C to 25°C, with heavy and abundant rainfall. Between 1,800 and 2,000 meters above sea level, average temperatures range from 15°C to 20°C, with moderate rainfall. From 2,000 to 3,200 meters above sea level, average temperatures range from 10°C to 15°C, with moderate rainfall of around 1,000 mm per year. Finally, above 3,200 metres, average temperatures can reach negative values. When travelling Andean roads, always expect to be enveloped in thick fog, especially on the slopes to the lee of volcanoes, as on the road from Riobamba to Cuenca, which is systematically foggy from 3pm onwards. Plan your itinerary accordingly!
The Amazon
The Amazon basin enjoys a hot, humid climate typical of the equatorial rainforests, with rainfall all year round. The months between September and December are the driest, while July and August are the rainiest. In some regions, rainfall exceeds 5,000 mm per year. Average temperatures are between 25°C and 28°C throughout the year. In any case, in the Amazon, you should never go out without a waterproof poncho and suitable shoes or boots.
La Costa
The coast of Ecuador along the Pacific Ocean enjoys a hot, humid tropical climate, with a very intense rainy season between December and May. Average temperatures are around 23°C / 26°C all year round. The further south you go, the more arid the climate, while towards the north, around 2,500 / 3,000 mm of rain falls per year. Beaches in the south, such as the superb Ballenita beach, are surrounded by cacti and succulents, while further north you'll sometimes have to reckon with thick fog on the seaside road between Puerto Lopez and Manta. The city of Guayaquil, like the rest of Guayas province, enjoys a tropical, humid climate. As on most of the coast, it's hot all year round, around 30°C during the day.
The Galapagos
The Galapagos Islands have a mild but dry climate, due to the influence of the cold Peruvian current that circulates around the islands, moderating temperatures and making the islands' climate pleasant all year round. The climate on the larger islands varies with altitude. Temperatures gradually decrease with altitude, while rainfall increases with altitude due to the formation of moisture in clouds on mountain slopes. The amount of rainfall varies considerably from place to place on the islands. Rainfall is rare, particularly on the coastal plains, where it averages 350 mm to 400 mm a year, and more frequent in the mountains, where in some areas it can reach and exceed 2,000 mm a year. Along the coast of the Galapagos Islands, the short rainy season extends from January to April, while in the other months of the year, rainfall is infrequent. Average maximum temperatures range from 30.1°C in March to 24.6°C in September, while average minimum temperatures vary from 18.7°C in September to 22.6°C in February.
The climate of Quito
The city of Quito is located in the Andean highlands of northern Ecuador, at an altitude of over 2,800 meters, and it's not uncommon to wake up to mountain sunshine against a backdrop of cool air, have breakfast under an umbrella, take a nap in the shade of a large tree and then have to put on a sweater at the end of the day. Due to its position on the equator and its altitude, Quito has a high-altitude subtropical climate characterized by two seasons, one wet and the other dry. The average annual temperature in Quito is 13.7°C. Average maximum temperatures range from 20.3°C in August and September to 19.1°C in January, February and March. Average minimum temperatures range from 9.9°C in April and December to 8.6°C in July. Quito's climate varies mainly according to rainfall: the dry season lasts four months from June to September, and the rainy season lasts eight months. Average annual rainfall is around 1,100 mm. July and August are the driest months, with less than 30 mm of rain each, while April, with almost 150 mm, is the wettest month. During the rainy season, there is an even wetter period from February to May, and a relatively dry period between November and January.
The best months to visit Quito are those of the dry season, from June to September. However, the other months of the year - particularly November to February - are often quite pleasant, so you can discover the capital in any season.
Tropical rainforests
Tropical rainforests, known here as bosque humedo, have a very special climate. It rains every day, but it's also very hot and humid. These forests are generally located at low altitude and are havens of biodiversity, as tropical plants and animals thrive in these conditions. Fog is very dense and often a daily occurrence, especially at dawn, offering sumptuous scenery when positioned just above it, as is the case on some privileged mornings. If you choose to spend a few days in Mindo or at the Quinta de Goulaine, for example, where there's a superb butterfly farm, you'll discover a climate of this type. Don't forget your boots!
