Country guide
Ecuador
The Galapagos' fearless wildlife, Quito's colonial centre and Andean markets, with Amazon lodges a short flight away.
Currency
USD
Language
Spanish
English
Limited
Payment
Cash preferred
Power
Type A / B
120 V, 60 Hz
Dialing
+593
Destinations
Cuenca
The best-preserved colonial city in Ecuador, on a river terrace in the Andes, where the panama hat is actually made.
✓ best May-FebGalapagos (Puerto Ayora)
The one place on earth where the wildlife ignores you: an equatorial volcanic archipelago that handed Darwin the theory of evolution.
✓ best all yearGuayaquil
Ecuador's hot, hungry port city and the main gateway to the Galapagos.
✓ best May-Aug, Oct-NovQuito
A colonial old town of gold-lined churches, two miles up in the Andes, with the equator a short drive away.
✓ best Jun-Sep, Dec-JanThe sweet-spot windows
Good weather, thinner crowds, better prices: the windows worth aiming for.
| Where | When | Why it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andes | Jun-Sep | Dry season in the highlands: clear volcano views, good hiking | Feb-Apr wettest |
| Galapagos | Feb-Apr or Jun-Sep | Warm/calm seas (Feb-Apr) or cool/dry wildlife season (Jun-Sep) | Both good; pick by activity |
Climate zones, month by month
Ecuador has 4 distinct climate zones. The right month depends on where in the country you're going.
Cuenca Southern Andes →
✓ Best May-Feb
Watch for all year altitude risk
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Galapagos (Puerto Ayora) →
✓ Best all year
Conditions Jan Warm, wet · Feb Warm, calm seas · Mar Warmest · Apr Warm · May Cooling · Jun Cool & dry · Jul Cool, wildlife · Aug Coolest · Sep Cool & dry · Oct Cool · Nov Warming · Dec Warm, wet starts
Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Guayaquil →
✓ Best May-Aug, Oct-Nov · ✗ Avoid Feb-Apr
Watch for Feb-Apr monsoon flooding risk · Jun-Dec extreme heat risk
Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
Quito →
✓ Best Jun-Sep, Dec-Jan
Conditions Jan Mild, showers · Feb Mild & wet · Mar Wet · Apr Wettest · May Wet easing · Jun Dry starts · Jul Dry · Aug Driest · Sep Dry · Oct Wetter · Nov Wet · Dec Mild
Watch for all year altitude risk
Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions