When to go · Ecuador
Ecuador in August
Good month. Driest Andes; windy on the páramo; Galápagos seas at their roughest.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Good
- Crowds
- High
- Ecuador
- Prices
- High
- Ecuador
Verdict
Driest Andes; windy on the páramo; Galápagos seas at their roughest.
Is another month better than August?
No other month rates higher than August for Ecuador in this guide.
Weather in August
- Andes (Sierra) · Quito, Otavalo, Cotopaxi, Baños, Cuencabest weather
Spring-like all year (Quito 10–22 °C (50–72 °F)); June–September is driest and clearest for volcano views; afternoons bring rain in the wet months.Spring-like all year (Quito 50–72 °F (10–22 °C)); June–September is driest and clearest for volcano views; afternoons bring rain in the wet months.
- Galápagos · Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabelacool
Warm season (Dec–May): calm seas, short showers, clear water. Garúa season (Jun–Nov): cool mist, rougher seas, colder water and more marine life.
- Amazon (Oriente) · Coca, Tena, Cuyabeno, Yasunífine
Rain in every month; wettest March–July. Cuyabeno lagoons can run low in December–February.
- Coast (Costa) · Guayaquil, Montañita, Puerto Lópezcool
Hot and wet January–April; grey and cooler June–November, when humpback whales pass Puerto López (June–September). Check security advice first.
- Amazon, Ecuador: Lowland Amazon (Tena, Coca, Cuyabeno, Yasuní) · 400 m and belowfine
Hot and humid year-round; rain on most days. The parent country page lists Aug–Feb as the Amazon window, which matches the drier months here.
- Andean Highlands: Northern Andes (Quito, Otavalo, Ibarra) · 2,500–3,000 mbest weather
Cool and often cloudy; rain most afternoons. June–September is the driest window.
- Andean Highlands: Central volcanoes (Cotopaxi, Baños) · 1,800–3,000 mbest weather
Baños is mild all year; the Cotopaxi high slopes are cold and windy.
- Andean Highlands: Southern Andes (Cuenca, Loja) · 2,500–2,900 mbest weather
Cuenca is spring-like; Cajas can be foggy and wet any month.
- Coastal Lowlands: North coast (Esmeraldas, Canoa, Bahía) · Esmeraldas and Manabí provincesfine
Wettest Jan–Apr; greener and hotter than the south.
- Coastal Lowlands: Central and south coast (Manta, Puerto López, Montañita, Salinas) · Manabí, Santa Elena and Guayas coastdry
Dry, cooler and overcast Jun–Nov (the garúa season); warm and wet Dec–May.
- Galapagos Islands: Galápagos · all islandsfine
Hot/rainy December–June, 26–30 °C (79–86 °F), calmest seas; cooler June–November, 20–24 °C (68–75 °F), with garúa mist. September–November is low season for cruise availability — many boats go to dry dock — not the best overall time to visit.Hot/rainy December–June, 79–86 °F (26–30 °C), calmest seas; cooler June–November, 68–75 °F (20–24 °C), with garúa mist. September–November is low season for cruise availability — many boats go to dry dock — not the best overall time to visit.
- Quito21 °C (70 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 6 rain days
- Agua Blanca28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
- Alausi19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 6 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 6 rain days
- Ambato19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 8 rain days
- Atacames33 °C (91 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F), 3 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 81 °F (27 °C), 3 rain days
- Babahoyo31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 3 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 3 rain days
- Baeza20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 10 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 10 rain days
- Bahía de Caráquez32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 12 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 12 rain days
- Baños21 °C (70 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 20 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 20 rain days
- Canoa31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 9 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 9 rain days
- Chugchilán15 °C (59 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 8 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 8 rain days
- Cuenca21 °C (70 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 7 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 7 rain days
- Esmeraldas28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 8 rain days
- Guamote19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 2 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 2 rain days
- Guano18 °C (64 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 8 rain days
- Guaranda20 °C (68 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 9 rain days
- Guayaquil30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 1 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 1 rain days
- Huaquillas31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 8 rain days
- Ibarra27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 11 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 11 rain days
- Isabela25 °C (77 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 2 rain days
- Isinliví15 °C (59 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 10 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 10 rain days
- Lago Agrio29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 15 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 15 rain days
- Latacunga19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 7 rain days
- Loja25 °C (77 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 6 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 6 rain days
- Machala32 °C (90 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 4 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 4 rain days
- Manta27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 1 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 1 rain days
- Mindo25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 12 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 12 rain days
- Mompiche29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 4 rain days
- Montañita24 °C (75 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 2 rain days
- Montecristi31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 2 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 2 rain days
- Muisne29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 5 rain days
- Nuevo Rocafuerte33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 18 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 18 rain days
- Otavalo21 °C (70 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 7 rain days
- Papallacta22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 7 rain days
- Portoviejo33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 3 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 3 rain days
- Puerto Cayo30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 3 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 3 rain days
- Puerto El Morro28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 1 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 1 rain days
- Puerto López26 °C (79 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 2 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 2 rain days
- Puyo26 °C (79 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 16 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 16 rain days
- Quevedo33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 7 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 7 rain days
- Riobamba21 °C (70 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 9 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 9 rain days
- Salinas de Guaranda23 °C (73 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 11 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 11 rain days
- Salinas33 °C (91 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 4 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 4 rain days
- San Cristóbal25 °C (77 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 3 rain days
- San Luis de Pambil26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 6 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 6 rain days
- San Miguel33 °C (91 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F), 9 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 81 °F (27 °C), 9 rain days
- Santa Cruz, Galápagos26 °C (79 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 3 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 3 rain days
- Santiago de Bolivar19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 5 rain days
- Santo Domingo de los Colorados29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 6 rain days
- Tababela18 °C (64 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 5 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 5 rain days
- Tena29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 14 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 14 rain days
- Tulcán17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 10 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 10 rain days
- Vilcabamba27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 6 rain days
- Zamora26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 13 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 13 rain days
- Zaruma31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 0 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 0 rain days
- Zumbahua17 °C (63 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 8 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 8 rain days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
First Cry of Independence
10 Aug
Public holiday.
Dry season high
June to September · Quito
Clear skies, volcano views and higher prices; book Cotopaxi, Galápagos and Mindo ahead.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Ecuador
- High
- Prices · Ecuador
- High
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Ecuador, side by side.
Verdict
Aug: Good
Jan: Good
Crowds
Aug: High
Jan: Medium
Prices
Aug: High
Jan: Medium
Festivals listed
Aug: 2
Jan: 2
August: Driest Andes; windy on the páramo; Galápagos seas at their roughest.
January: Galápagos warm season starts; Andes mixed; coast hot and wet.
Ecuador: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket
Where to go in August
Rated best or good this month
Andes (Sierra)
Best weather of the year (Quito, Otavalo, Cotopaxi, Baños, Cuenca)
Dry and sunny; keep sun cream on.
Best months: Jun–Sep (dry)
Best months: Jun–Sep
Best months: Jun–Sep
Best months: Jun–Sep (dry season, lower humidity)
Best months: Jun–Sep (dry season)
Best months: Nov–Mar (kayaking high season), Jun–Sep (dry, cooler)
Best months: Jan–Apr (peak surf) and Jun–Oct (dry season)
Best months: Jun–Sep (dry, clear skies)
Best months: Jun–Sep (drier, clearer); also Dec–Jan for the Pase del Niño parade
Best months: Jan–Feb (sunniest, hottest); Jun–Sep for whale watching from Súa