When to Visit - Ecuador Weather
When
is the best time to visit Ecuador? This
tropical
area on the western foothills of the Andes is usally warm all year
round and
you can enjoy an eco-tourism adventure at any time
of year, but the weather can affect some activities such as
rafting or trekking.
The
dry season here in the costa is roughly June to December and the rainy
season from
January to late May, so don't let the Ecuador climate take you by
surprise. Each month offers its own challenges and
opportunities for adventure activities, so use this Ecuador
weather calendar to plan
your holiday visit:
January
is
usually the start of the rainy season in the 'costa' region of Ecuador,
so the land is starting to look fresh
and green again, especially where the intense green shoots of the rice
come through. Maize, a staple crop here, is growing too.
Mango fans will enjoy luscious ripe mangoes straight from the
tree and papayas are ripening. By late January, the rivers
might
be high enough for
a traditional raft trip.
February
brings more rain, which means fast-flowing rivers and rapid raft
journeys covering longer distances. It also brings lots of
fresh,
green vegetation and colourful flowers and insects. The
higher
mountain trails might be inaccessible, so February is a good time to
watch
for hummingbirds and toucans further down the valley, or visit local
markets and community projects.
March
is
one of the best months to see butterflies and other insects.
The
heavy March rains make transport difficult on unpaved roads and
trekking muddy or impossible. This is a month
for river rafting, for swimming in waterfalls and pools and for being
flexible with your travel plans - some days you might just have to
chill out and watch the rain.
Corncobs are in season and delicious when fresh.
Hummingbirds dodge the rain to feed from tropical
flowers.
April
rains are
torrential, so river rafting is fast and exciting, but access to the
higher forest is usually blocked. Transport arrangements
cannot be guaranteed, so make sure your itinerary is flexible enough to
accommodate the Ecuador weather conditions.
The warm, wet April climate is good for flowers,
butterflies, trees, and tourists wanting to swim in waterfalls.
The
banana and plantain harvests continue as they do all year round and the
weekly markets are full of exotic tropical fruit.
May
is ideal for a rafting holiday as the rainy season gradually comes to
an end, leaving the rivers full and running fast. Treks to
the
higher rainforest may be possible by the end of May - still muddy, but
with plenty of flowers, birds and insects to see. The rice
harvest gets underway in late May in the lower areas. The
ripe
mandarins are ready for picking and mandarin juice is a delicious
treat.
June
brings the coffee harvest and the chance to pick oranges
straight from
the tree. The rivers are still high enough for traditional
raft
trips, but the paths are usually starting to dry out enough for
comfortable
trekking and
walking in the forest, though there may still be rain showers at times.
The lush June vegetation supports lots
of
colourful insects and contented cattle.
July's
dry, warm weather is perfect for trekking, climbing or horseriding
holidays in Ecuador and there is still enough water
in the rivers for a
gentle raft journey on an indigenous-style raft. The tropical
vegetation is still lush and green. Lizards soak
up
the sun while hummingbirds swoop through the flowers searching for
nectar.
August in this part of Ecuador offers
dry paths for easy trekking, the vegetation has started to dry
out too and there
are
fewer insects about. It's a good month for walking
in
the forest, trekking or climbing in the mountains or
taking a horseback trip to nearby villages.
August
raft trips meet a few rapids in the shallower parts of the river, but
are otherwise at a relaxed pace.
September's
dry days are great for climbing and trekking vacations. You
might
attempt the the long hike down from Salinas to San Luís de
Pambíl or just
wander through the primary forest on a guided walk watching out for
birds and animals. September farm tours
are available and
you can pick bananas straight from the plant at any time of year.
All the usual range of visits to community projects are
available.
October's
warm, dry weather has killed off most of the mosquitoes and makes
trekking access to the higher forest easy. October is a good
time
to climb up to the white rock in Piedra Blanca, or perhaps just lounge
in a hammock enjoying the view. Towards the end of October,
chains of little yellow orchids burst into flower in the orange trees.
Even without rain, the
sugarcane
keeps growing and you can visit the farms to see (and taste)
how it is
processed
into alcohol.
November
is usually the driest time of year in this part of Ecuador.
Warm
November evenings are great
for
barbeques or a night walk in the forest or just around the
village. The vegetation has died
back and
there are few insects. The dry footpaths offer easy access to
trek in the higher parts of the virgin forest and the guayacan trees
are covered in bright yellow flowers. As always,
there
are farm tours, stone inscriptions and pre-Inca burial sites to visit
and local markets to browse for bargains.
December
is mango time and the trees are weighed down with juicy, ripe mangoes
just waiting for you to pick them. It's a great month for
walking, farm tours, climbing or hiring a horse to explore the local
area. December is mostly warm and dry but the rains can start
towards the end of the month ahead of the beginning of the rainy season
in January.
NOTE: In
2007, the rainy season lasted much longer than
usual, into
August
2007. At the time of writing, late November 2007, the rains
have
already started and access to the higher parts of the forest is not
currently possible. We
don't know if these are climate changes caused by global
warming or just random
events, but we'll keep you posted here of any relevant information we
have.
Whatever
time of year you visit Ecuador, you are assured of a warm welcome.
You
can see the hummingbirds of Ecuador
year-round. Crops such as bananas,
papayas, breadfruit and cacao (chocolate) are picked all year.
Farm
tours
and visits to sustainable development projects in rural communities are
available all year round.
Remember
to bring suitable clothing for the Ecuador climate and be prepared for
the weather conditions with sunblock, hat and insect repellent.
Rubber boots and an umbrella are useful in the rainy season,
plus a waterproof coat or poncho.
When
to Visit Ecuador
An Ecuador Climate Calendar for Budget
Family Adventure Holidays, Rural Eco-Tourism and Farmstay Vacations in
the Costa region of Ecuador
Ecuador weather, crops and adventure activity ideas by month
