Ecuador Weather Forecast

Ecuador straddles the equator but its weather is far more complex than its name suggests. The country packs four distinct climate zones into an area smaller than many US states: the hot, humid Pacific coast; the cool Andean highlands; the warm, wet Amazon basin; and the unique oceanic climate of the Galápagos Islands. This extraordinary diversity makes Ecuador one of the most climatically varied countries relative to its size.

The coastal lowlands experience a hot, rainy season from January through May and a cooler, drier season influenced by the cold Humboldt Current from June through November. The Andean highlands have relatively consistent temperatures year-round due to equatorial latitude, but daily temperature swings can be dramatic — sunny mornings giving way to cold, cloudy afternoons with rain or hail at elevations above 3,000 meters.

Quito at 2,850 meters elevation has a mild, spring-like climate year-round with daytime temperatures around 20°C, making it one of the most pleasant capital cities in the world. Guayaquil on the coast is hot and humid, while the Amazon region around Puyo and Tena receives heavy rainfall exceeding 4,000mm annually. The Galápagos Islands have a unique climate influenced by ocean currents, with a warm, wet season and a cool, dry garúa season.