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When to go · Ecuador

Ecuador in March

Good month. Wettest Andes month; Galápagos water warmest; Easter week (check) fills buses.

Key facts

Verdict
Good
Crowds
Low
Ecuador
Prices
Medium
Ecuador

Verdict

GoodVoykit month rating for Ecuador

Wettest Andes month; Galápagos water warmest; Easter week (check) fills buses.

Is another month better than March?

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

Weather in March

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

    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.

  • Galápagos · Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabelahot

    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, Yasunírainy

    Rain in every month; wettest March–July. Cuyabeno lagoons can run low in December–February.

  • Coast (Costa) · Guayaquil, Montañita, Puerto Lópezrainy

    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 mrainy

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

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

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

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

    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 coastrainy

    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.

  • Quito20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 18 rain days
  • Agua Blanca31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days
  • Alausi22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days
  • Ambato23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days
  • Atacames29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 9 rain days
  • Babahoyo31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days
  • Baeza23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days
  • Bahía de Caráquez30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days
  • Baños22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 18 rain days
  • Canoa29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days
  • Chugchilán16 °C (61 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 16 rain days
  • Cuenca21 °C (70 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 17 rain days
  • Esmeraldas30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 14 rain days
  • Guamote18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Guano18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 18 rain days
  • Guaranda20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 17 rain days
  • Guayaquil32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 15 rain days
  • Huaquillas32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days
  • Ibarra24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days
  • Isabela30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 9 rain days
  • Isinliví16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 19 rain days
  • Lago Agrio30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 18 rain days
  • Latacunga21 °C (70 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days
  • Loja24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days
  • Machala29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days
  • Manta30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days
  • Mindo24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 21 rain days
  • Mompiche30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 15 rain days
  • Montañita30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 11 rain days
  • Montecristi29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 4 rain days
  • Muisne31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 14 rain days
  • Nuevo Rocafuerte31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 16 rain days
  • Otavalo20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 16 rain days
  • Papallacta18 °C (64 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days
  • Portoviejo30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Puerto Cayo29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days
  • Puerto El Morro31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 15 rain days
  • Puerto López30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 13 rain days
  • Puyo27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 13 rain days
  • Quevedo29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days
  • Riobamba21 °C (70 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 16 rain days
  • Salinas de Guaranda23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days
  • Salinas30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 2 rain days
  • San Cristóbal31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days
  • San Luis de Pambil25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 10 rain days
  • San Miguel31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 16 rain days
  • Santa Cruz, Galápagos30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 9 rain days
  • Santiago de Bolivar23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days
  • Santo Domingo de los Colorados31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 20 rain days
  • Tababela22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days
  • Tena28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 19 rain days
  • Tulcán18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 16 rain days
  • Vilcabamba24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days
  • Zamora28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 10 rain days
  • Zaruma29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 8 rain days
  • Zumbahua17 °C (63 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 17 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.

  • Carnival big impact

    Feb or Mar (Mon–Tue before Lent — check)

    Water, foam and paint fights; buses and beach towns packed; Ambato's flower festival.

  • Holy Week and Good Friday

    Mar or Apr (check)

    Quito's purple-robed procession; fanesca soup everywhere.

  • Semana Santa (Holy Week) check

    Week before Easter · Quito

    Palm Sunday blessing, fanesca soup on Good Friday, and the Jesús del Gran Poder procession.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Ecuador
Low
Prices · Ecuador
Medium

Compare two months

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

  • Verdict

    Mar: Good

    Jan: Good

  • Crowds

    Mar: Low

    Jan: Medium

  • Prices

    Mar: Medium

    Jan: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Mar: 3

    Jan: 2

March: Wettest Andes month; Galápagos water warmest; Easter week (check) fills buses.

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

  • Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
  • A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in March

Rated best or good this month

  • Baeza

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

  • Canoa

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

  • Guaranda

    Best months: Jun–Sep (drier, check); Carnaval falls in Feb or early Mar

  • Isabela

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

  • 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)

  • Salinas

    Best months: Dec–May (peak tourist season, busy weekends)

  • San Cristóbal

    Best months: Dec–May (warm, calm water) or Jun–Nov (cooler, more wildlife)

  • Santa Cruz, Galápagos

    Best months: Dec–May (warm, calm water) or Jun–Nov (cooler, choppier, more wildlife)