Ecuador in January

Galápagos warm season starts; Andes mixed; coast hot and wet.

No other month rates higher than January for Ecuador in this guide.

• Andes (Sierra) · Quito, Otavalo, Cotopaxi, Baños, Cuencafine

  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, Isabelabest weather

  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 Lópezhot

  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 belowrainy

  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 mfine

  Cool and often cloudy; rain most afternoons. June–September is the driest window.

• Andean Highlands: Central volcanoes (Cotopaxi, Baños) · 1,800–3,000 mfine

  Baños is mild all year; the Cotopaxi high slopes are cold and windy.

• Andean Highlands: Southern Andes (Cuenca, Loja) · 2,500–2,900 mfine

  Cuenca is spring-like; Cajas can be foggy and wet any month.

• Coastal Lowlands: North coast (Esmeraldas, Canoa, Bahía) · Esmeraldas and Manabí provincesrainy

  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 coastfine

  Dry, cooler and overcast Jun–Nov (the garúa season); warm and wet Dec–May.

• Galapagos Islands: Galápagos · all islandsbest weather

  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.

• Quito20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 13 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 13 rain days
• Agua Blanca30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 10 rain days
• Alausi19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 8 rain days
• Ambato22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 8 rain days
• Atacames28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• Babahoyo31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 14 rain days
• Baeza22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 8 rain days
• Bahía de Caráquez30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 2 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 2 rain days
• Baños22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 16 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 16 rain days
• Canoa28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Chugchilán16 °C (61 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 14 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 14 rain days
• Cuenca21 °C (70 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 14 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 14 rain days
• Esmeraldas30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 10 rain days
• Guamote15 °C (59 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 12 rain days
• Guano18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 12 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 12 rain days
• Guaranda20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 14 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 14 rain days
• Guayaquil31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 14 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 14 rain days
• Huaquillas30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 8 rain days
• Ibarra22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 6 rain days
• Isabela29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 8 rain days
• Isinliví16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 15 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 15 rain days
• Lago Agrio30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• Latacunga19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 10 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 10 rain days
• Loja20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 10 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 10 rain days
• Machala28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• Manta29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 8 rain days
• Mindo24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 18 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 18 rain days
• Mompiche30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 12 rain days
• Montañita29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 8 rain days
• Montecristi28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Muisne30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 12 rain days
• Nuevo Rocafuerte30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• Otavalo20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 12 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 12 rain days
• Papallacta15 °C (59 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 12 rain days
• Portoviejo27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 12 rain days
• Puerto Cayo28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• Puerto El Morro31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 15 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 15 rain days
• Puerto López29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 8 rain days
• Puyo26 °C (79 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 12 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 12 rain days
• Quevedo28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• Riobamba21 °C (70 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 12 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 12 rain days
• Salinas de Guaranda22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 12 rain days
• Salinas28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 3 rain days
• San Cristóbal29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 8 rain days
• San Luis de Pambil22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 12 rain days
• San Miguel30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 20 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 20 rain days
• Santa Cruz, Galápagos29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 8 rain days
• Santiago de Bolivar22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 12 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 12 rain days
• Santo Domingo de los Colorados30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 18 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 18 rain days
• Tababela20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 8 rain days
• Tena28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 22 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 22 rain days
• Tulcán18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 15 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 15 rain days
• Vilcabamba22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 6 rain days
• Zamora27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 12 rain days
• Zaruma28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 12 rain days
• Zumbahua17 °C (63 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 14 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 14 rain days

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.

• New Year

  1 Jan

  Effigies (años viejos) burned at midnight.

• New Year's Day and Año Viejo check

  31 December (burning of effigies) and 1 January · Quito

  Families burn effigies of the old year at midnight; shops close on 1 January.

Crowds · Ecuador

Medium

Prices · Ecuador

Medium

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Ecuador, side by side.

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen

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Rated best or good this month

• Galápagos

  Best weather of the year (Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela)

• Baeza

  Best months: Nov–Mar (kayaking high season), Jun–Sep (dry, cooler)

• Baños

  Best months: Oct–Feb (drier); the town runs year-round

• Canoa

  Best months: Jan–Apr (peak surf) and Jun–Oct (dry season)

• Cuenca

  Best months: Jun–Sep (drier, clearer); also Dec–Jan for the Pase del Niño parade

• Esmeraldas

  Best months: Jan–Feb (sunniest, hottest); Jun–Sep for whale watching from Súa

• Isabela

  Best months: Dec–May (warm, calm seas); Jun–Nov for wildlife and cooler water

• Isinliví

  Best months: Jun–Sep (dry), Dec–Feb (milder rain)

• Lago Agrio

  Best months: Aug–Feb (drier in the Amazon)

• Mindo

  Best months: Jun–Sep and Dec–Jan (drier); birding is good all year

• Montañita

  Best months: Dec–May (warm, dry); Jun–Nov is cooler and greyer

• Puerto López

  Best months: Jun–Sep (whales, dry), Dec–Apr (warm water, some rain)