Ecuador is an incredible country to visit and which month you choose will mostly depend on when you are free to travel.
Ecuador is found in the world’s tropics and the country’s name itself is Spanish for ‘equator’. This means there is a pleasant temperature throughout the year and the most significant temperature difference is between day and night instead of between months.
There are many fantastic tourist attractions and popular regions to visit in Ecuador, including the famed Galapagos Islands, the Cloud Forest, the Andes, fascinating cities, beautiful beaches, and the incredible Amazon River & Rainforest.
Although a fantastic place to visit at all times of year, there are a few differences for the different regions.
In this article, we will give an introduction to Ecuador and the different regions and attractions then mention the best time to visit each of these fantastic destinations. After this, we will provide our recommended tours to experience this incredible country.
For many visitors to Ecuador, natural attractions are the main draw, such as the wildlife and scenery. However, the country’s history and culture is also part of the appeal.
The Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are Ecuador’s best known natural attraction.
Found 550 miles (900 km) from Ecuador’s coast, the Galapagos were once known as the Enchanted Isles.
Brought to fame by Charles Darwin and our understanding of evolution, the Galapagos Islands are a haven for wildlife. Enjoy giant tortoises that wander up and down the volcanoes, marine iguanas basking on the rocks, blue-footed boobies making their nests and much more.
The marine environment then offers a diversity of colorful fish and sightings of hammerheads and manta rays.
The stunning scenery and natural features are worth the visit on their own. You will be treated to beautiful beaches of white coral, green crystals and black volcanic sands.
The Best Time To Visit The Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are known to experience two distinct times of year. Between December and June, you can expect a temperature between 80ºF (27ºC) and 90ºF (32ºC). This warm temperature is accompanied by a little more rain. June to November is then drier and offers a slightly cooler temperature of between 70ºF (21ºC) to 80ºF (27ºC).
Most of the wildlife stays around the islands and doesn’t migrate. However, a few animals, such as manta rays, hammerheads and some birds leave and return to the islands depending on time of year.
The warmer and wetter part of the year (between December and June) is due to the El Nino Current. This also brings nutrient-rich water and food, which attracts visiting manta rays, hammerheads and other wildlife.
For the best seasons to see the Galapagos marine icons:
- Manta Ray Season: December – May
- Whale Shark Season: June – November
- Hammerheads: December – May
There are 21 islands in total and many can be visited on guided tours. Each of the islands offers something new to discover, including different animals and plants, hidden beaches, fascinating history and beautiful views.
The Darwin & Orellana Discovery Tour
To combine a fantastic experience on the Galapagos with Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest, you can look at the Darwin & Orellana Discovery Tour. You will stay at two of the premium accommodation options on the Galapagos Islands: Scalesia Lodge on Isabela and Finch Bay on Santa Cruz.
From these lodges, head out with naturalist guides to explore the islands and wildlife. You will also enjoy a day island-hopping aboard the comfortable yacht from Santa Cruz. And after your time on the Galapagos Islands, you will travel to Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest. Head out on guided walking and canoe tours for fantastic sightings of rainforest animals from the comfortable Sacha Lodge.
Your tour includes:
- 3-nights at Scalesia Lodge - Isabela Island
- 3-nights at Finch Bay Hotel - Santa Cruz Island
- 1-night at Quito Airport Hotel - Quito
- 3-nights at Sacha Lodge - Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest
The Darwin & Orellana Discovery
Quito, EcuadorEnjoy a seamless journey to combine two of Ecuador’s most iconic and wildlife-rich regions. And over 11 days, you will explore Ecuador’s incredibl...
- Amazon Rainforest & Galapagos Islands
From $ 6,915
/ personEcuador’s Amazon Rainforest
Ecuador is a fantastic place to experience the Amazon Rainforest. Enjoy recommended lodges and river cruises to explore Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park and surrounding rainforest.
Ecuador’s section of rainforest is consistently found to be the most wildlife-rich area of Amazonia. You can see incredible wildlife on guided tours. See colorful toucans and parrots, several different monkeys, pink river dolphins, caiman crocodilians, and beautiful butterflies.
To visit Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest, you will fly to El Coca, which is your rainforest gateway. From here, you will travel down the Napo River deep into Amazonia before arrival at your rainforest lodge. And our recommended experience is the Sacha Lodge. You can click the short video below to learn more.
El Coca, Ecuador
A rarity for the northern Amazon, you will visit a parrot claylick to see hundreds of colorful parrots gathered at the clay. You will visit the Yasuni Claylick by boat to watch the colorful birds. The birds feed on the clay, which helps detoxify fruits and seeds they have eaten in the forest.
The Best Time To Visit Ecuador’s Rainforest
The best time to visit Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest is again determined by when you are available to travel. There are two main seasons, which are the wet and dry season. However, even over the wet season the rain often falls towards late afternoon and evening then clears by the following morning. The wettest months are often April and May.
As this is a rainforest, the rain can still fall over the dry season. The main difference is the intensity and frequency of rain. But note that the difference is relatively subtle.
It should also be noted that the wet season is also a great time for wildlife, as the forest fruits and flowers over the wetter months. This means you can see several monkeys and different birds feeding from abundant forest fruits.
The dry season from July to November is also a great time to travel with abundant wildlife enjoying drier weather. As there is less rain, wildlife is thought to concentrate around fewer bodies of groundwater. You can also spot animals harder to find over wetter months, such has caiman and different birds.
The temperature in Ecuador’s Amazon stays around 82°F (28°C) as a daily average. However, note that temperature of a night is cooler. Nightly temperature often drops to around 73°F (23°C).
To enjoy Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest, you can choose from excellent Amazon tours in Ecuador or Ecuador Amazon cruises.
We will mention some recommendations below.
The Sacha Lodge
The Sacha Lodge offers a comfortable lodge to experience Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest.
Nestled within a private reserve, the wildlife has grown accustomed to the lodge and visitors. It’s not unusual to see tamarins playing on the boardwalks, monkeys crossing through the trees above your accommodation, or see wildlife underneath the walkway.
The lodge sits at the edge of a rainforest lake, which you will explore in canoe to find lake-living wildlife.
The Sacha Lodge also offers a giant canopy walkway. This is a great place for birdwatching and observing the rainforest canopy. The walkway extends 940 feet (275 meters) through the rainforest and is 94 feet (30 meters) above the forest floor. Your guide will bring a bird-spotting-scope to use this superb vantage point for wildlife watching.
There have been 587 bird species recorded around Sacha Lodge, which is 37% of all the birds in Ecuador and makes the lodge a favorite option for birdwatchers. You can also ask for specific birdwatching guides and birding itineraries.
The Sacha Lodge itself provides two dining areas. One of these is positioned in the main lodge area and the other offers views of the beautiful Pilchicocha Lake. Your meals are served buffet style. And on one of your evenings, you will also enjoy a BBQ by the lake.
The Sacha Lodge
El Coca, EcuadorLocated in a 5000 acre private ecological reserve, Sacha Lodge provides a safe and comfortable base for you and your family to enjoy the Ecuadorian Am...
- Luxury Lodge, Canopy Walkway
From $ 1,690
/ personAmazon River Cruises in Ecuador
You can also explore Ecuador’s Amazon aboard a comfortable cruise. Enjoy a cruise down the Napo River and into the incredible Yasuni National Park.
The recommended options are:
-
The Anakonda Amazon Cruise
Providing a luxury cruise into Ecuador’s incredible Yasuni National Park, the Anakonda Cruise offers very comfortable accommodation, floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the vessel, delicious cuisine, and expertly guided wildlife tours from the main vessel.
Explore the Amazon’s Napo River to find several different monkeys, pink river dolphins, caiman crocodilians, and a diversity of colorful birds.
The Anakonda vessel offers 18 suites in total, including 4 Deluxe Suites with a private balcony. Enjoy comfortable, spacious accommodation, air-conditioning and modern en-suite bathrooms with hot water. In addition to accommodation, the Anakonda also provides a bar-salon, solarium, al fresco lounge, spa room and jacuzzi. The dining room is wrapped with windows offering fantastic views as you enjoy delicious cuisine.
Aboard the Anakonda Cruise, choose from 4, 5, and 7 night cruise itineraries.
4, 5, 8 daysThe Anakonda Amazon Cruise
El Coca, EcuadorThe Anakonda Amazon Cruise provides an immersive and unique experience of the Amazon Rainforest. Enjoy large and comfortable beds, a spa room, outdoo...
- Deluxe Amazon Cruise
From $ 2,845
/ person -
The Manatee Amazon Cruise
Providing a comfortable cruise of Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest, the Manatee Amazon Cruise offers a comfortable suite and expertly guided rainforest excursions.
As you travel deep into Amazonia, you will leave the main vessel aboard motorized skiffs with a rainforest guide to find many different animals and plants.
You will likely encounter macaw parrots and toucans flying over the trees, pink river dolphins in the waterways, and several different monkeys moving through the rainforest. In addition to different animals, you will pass tall emergent trees with delicate orchids and bromeliads perched on branches. In addition to excellent rainforest tours through the rainforest, you will also visit the Yasuni Claylick. This is a great place to see many colorful parrots visiting and feeding from medicinal clay.
From the Manatee vessel, enjoy skiff expeditions, canoe tours, night expeditions, forest walks, and a tall canopy tower.
The Manatee vessel itself offers 14 comfortable cabins with double-twin and single-twin rooms. Each accommodation option offers air-conditioning and ensuite bathrooms with massage showers.
4, 5, 8 daysThe Manatee Amazon Cruise
El Coca, EcuadorThe Manatee Amazon River Cruise is a fantastic cruise for adventures into the wonderful Yasuni National Park, one of the world’s richest areas for ani...
- Deluxe Amazon Cruise
From $ 2,865
/ person
Ecuador’s Cloud Forest
For a different experience of tropical forest, you can enjoy Ecuador’s incredible cloud forest. The cloud forest is one of the world’s most species-rich areas. The cloud forest contains the world’s highest diversity of hummingbirds and orchids. You can also find toucans, monkeys, many other colorful birds and fascinating plants, and even spectacled bears.
The cloud forest offers a consistent daily temperature from 71 to 75°F (20 to 24°C). Rain can also be expected at all times of year from light drizzle to heavy downpours that can last for hours.
Ecuador’s Cities & Coast
From May to November, the coast is often overcast and cool. If you’re after a beach vacation, this is the best time of year to avoid on the mainland. However, between December to May is when the warm and sunny weather also brings with it the rainy season.
It may seem strange to visitors from temperate countries that the best time of year for many places in the tropics can be the rainy season, but it’s the heat that drives the rain. Note that the rain often only falls towards late afternoon and evening then clears by the following morning.
At higher altitude, the weather and temperature changes following a similar pattern to the cloud forest mentioned above.
The city of Quito experiences relatively stable weather from month to month. However, as with other areas in the tropics, note that temperature at night can get quite cool and drops to around 50°F (10°C). June to September are then the driest months to visit Quito.
The Ecuador Diverse Tour
For an in-depth experience of Ecuador, you can choose the Ecuador Diverse Tour. This combines the Galapagos Islands, Amazon Rainforest and the Andes.
You will explore these remarkable regions. And over 13 fantastic days, you will enjoy the snow-capped volcanoes of the Andes, guided exploration of the wildlife-rich Amazon Rainforest, and the iconic Galapagos Islands.
Get up close to giant tortoises and see the iconic marine iguanas on the Galapagos. Explore the rainforest with your guide pointing out the curious squirrel monkeys and large howler monkeys, famous for the loudest calls in the jungle. And then relax in the Andes at the traditional Hacienda Piman with tours to see the condors and chance viewing of spectacled bears.
You will stay at some of the premium accommodation in the different areas, head out on a day-trip to explore a nearby island aboard a comfortable yacht, and enjoy guided tours to explore the scenery and wildlife.
Your tour includes:
- 3-nights at Scalesia Lodge - Isabela Island
- 3-nights at Finch Bay Hotel - Santa Cruz Island
- 1-night at Quito Airport Hotel - Quito
- 3-nights at Sacha Lodge - Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest
- 2-nights at Hacienda Piman - Ecuador's Andes
Ecuador Diverse
Quito, EcuadorOn the Ecuador Diverse Tour, explore all three of Ecuador’s most remarkable regions. Over 13 fantastic days, you will enjoy the snow-capped volcan...
- Ecuador's Amazon, Andes & Galapagos Islands
From $ 8,035
/ person
Ash
Tour Advisor at TourTheTropics.comAsh Card is a frequent visitor to the Tropics and has a passion for helping visitors get the best experiences from tropical locations. Ash is a contributor and tour advisor at TourTheTropics.com. Feel free to contact Ash for tour help in the tropics. When not helping tourists with tours and info, Ash can be found traveling, on wildlife tours or salsa dancing. Ash has completed a BSc in Biology, a Master’s degree in Zoology, and has undertaken a research scholarship at a world-class university on animal behavior. He has published scientific research in the Australian Journal of Zoology and the Journal of Behavioral Ecology. His goal is to help a global society live in balance with the natural world.