Best time to visit Ecuador
The best time to visit Ecuador depends on which area you wish to visit. The country lies on the equator, so in terms of temperature, it is always pleasant to travel there. As the country comprises roughly three different ecosystems, the best time to visit depends on which area you wish to visit.
In brief:
- The best travel time for Ecuador is actually all year round, as there are few seasonal differences;
- Ecuador can be divided into dry and rain periods;
- The Amazon is tropically warm throughout the year;
- You can visit the Galapagos Islands all year round, the best period depends on which animals you absolutely want to see.
Best time to visit by region
In fact, Ecuador is a great place to visit all year round. The country does not have four seasons, but rather a dry and a wet season. Rainfall is somewhat heavier during the wet season. Even so, the sun still shines for a few hours every day. It is more important to consider where you are going.
The highlands and the Andes
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Minimum temperature in °C | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Maximum temperature in °C | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
The Andes stretch across Ecuador from north to south, forming a sort of backbone. On one side you’ll find the coast and on the other the rainforest. In the high mountains of Ecuador, you’ll find the capital, Quito, impressive national parks such as Cotopaxi, and small mountain villages including Otavalo. The following applies to this region:
- The highlands are a great place to visit all year round;
- Temperatures range between 7 and 22 degrees all year round, with mornings generally being sunny and cool and afternoons getting warmer. There may be a shower in the late afternoon and it cools down again in the evening;
- The dry season runs from June to September and the rainy season runs from October to May
Amazon
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Minimum temperature in °C | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| Maximum temperature in °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Number of hours of sunshine per day | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
The Amazon region in Ecuador stretches from the Andes eastwards to the border with Colombia and Peru. The region covers approximately 50 per cent of Ecuador’s total land area. The climate is characterised by a hot and humid season, with a clear distinction between the dry and wet seasons.
- The Amazon is tropically warm throughout the year;
- You can visit the Amazon all year round; some months simply have more rain than others;
- From September to December, there is hardly any rain;
- Most of the rain falls in June, July and August;
- Tropical showers are generally short and occur mainly in the afternoon.
The best time to visit Ecuador when travelling with children
You can travel to Ecuador all year round. This means that all school holidays are an excellent time to travel to Ecuador with children. Did you know that there is even a special family cruise in the Galápagos Islands for families travelling with children? The Amazon rainforest and the mainland are also wonderful regions to include in your family holiday. You can introduce your children to the indigenous people deep in the Amazon or to beautiful colonial towns, where you can stay in authentic haciendas, amongst other things.
Time difference between Ecuador and the Netherlands/Belgium
During Dutch winter time, it is 6 hours earlier in Ecuador than in the Netherlands and Belgium.
During Dutch summer time, it is 7 hours earlier in Ecuador than in the Netherlands and Belgium.
How long is the flight to Ecuador?
A direct flight from Amsterdam to Quito takes 11 hours and 45 minutes.
The flight time to Guayaquil is 13 hours and 55 minutes, with a stopover in Quito.
Fancy a trip of Ecuador?
Would you like to organise your own trip of Ecuador and are you curious about the options? Then do have a look at the itineraries we’ve put together for inspiration. You can book these tours directly, but we’d also be happy to put together a personalised itinerary based on your wishes and ideas.
Do you have a question? Please feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We’ll be happy to help.