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When to go · Ecuador

Ecuador in September

Good month. Dry and clear in the highlands; some Galápagos boats dock for maintenance.

Key facts

Verdict
Good
Crowds
Medium
Ecuador
Prices
Medium
Ecuador

Verdict

GoodVoykit month rating for Ecuador

Dry and clear in the highlands; some Galápagos boats dock for maintenance.

Is another month better than September?

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

Weather in September

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

  • Quito21 °C (70 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 10 rain days
  • Agua Blanca29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days
  • Alausi20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days
  • Ambato20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days
  • Atacames32 °C (90 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 5 rain days
  • Babahoyo31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 4 rain days
  • Baeza21 °C (70 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 9 rain days
  • Bahía de Caráquez32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 10 rain days
  • Baños22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 18 rain days
  • Canoa30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days
  • Chugchilán16 °C (61 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 11 rain days
  • Cuenca22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days
  • Esmeraldas28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 8 rain days
  • Guamote18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 4 rain days
  • Guano18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 12 rain days
  • Guaranda21 °C (70 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Guayaquil31 °C (88 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 1 rain days
  • Huaquillas31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Ibarra27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 9 rain days
  • Isabela25 °C (77 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days
  • Isinliví16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 13 rain days
  • Lago Agrio30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days
  • Latacunga20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days
  • Loja24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 7 rain days
  • Machala31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 6 rain days
  • Manta27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 1 rain days
  • Mindo25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 13 rain days
  • Mompiche29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Montañita24 °C (75 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 2 rain days
  • Montecristi31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 3 rain days
  • Muisne29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 6 rain days
  • Nuevo Rocafuerte32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 17 rain days
  • Otavalo21 °C (70 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days
  • Papallacta21 °C (70 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days
  • Portoviejo32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 5 rain days
  • Puerto Cayo30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 4 rain days
  • Puerto El Morro28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days
  • Puerto López26 °C (79 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 2 rain days
  • Puyo26 °C (79 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 15 rain days
  • Quevedo32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 9 rain days
  • Riobamba22 °C (72 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days
  • Salinas de Guaranda23 °C (73 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 12 rain days
  • Salinas32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 3 rain days
  • San Cristóbal25 °C (77 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days
  • San Luis de Pambil26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 7 rain days
  • San Miguel33 °C (91 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F), 10 rain days
  • Santa Cruz, Galápagos26 °C (79 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 3 rain days
  • Santiago de Bolivar20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days
  • Santo Domingo de los Colorados30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 8 rain days
  • Tababela19 °C (66 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days
  • Tena29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 16 rain days
  • Tulcán18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 12 rain days
  • Vilcabamba26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days
  • Zamora27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days
  • Zaruma30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 1 rain days
  • Zumbahua18 °C (64 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 10 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.

  • 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
Medium
Prices · Ecuador
Medium

Compare two months

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

  • Verdict

    Sep: Good

    Jan: Good

  • Crowds

    Sep: Medium

    Jan: Medium

  • Prices

    Sep: Medium

    Jan: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Sep: 1

    Jan: 2

September: Dry and clear in the highlands; some Galápagos boats dock for maintenance.

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

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in September

Rated best or good this month

  • Andes (Sierra)

    Best weather of the year (Quito, Otavalo, Cotopaxi, Baños, Cuenca)

  • Quito

    Dry season ends; still good.

  • Agua Blanca

    Best months: Jun–Sep (dry)

  • Alausi

    Best months: Jun–Sep

  • Ambato

    Best months: Jun–Sep

  • Atacames

    Best months: Jun–Sep (dry season, lower humidity)

  • Babahoyo

    Best months: Jun–Sep (dry season)

  • Baeza

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

  • Canoa

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

  • Chugchilán

    Best months: Jun–Sep (dry, clear skies)

  • 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