Climate
Since Ecuador lies on the equator, the climate varies with altitude rather than latitude. There are two seasons, wet and dry. The dry season in the highlands lasts from June to September, and on the coast from May to December. The coast is especially hot, wet and humid from January to April. It can rain at any time in the jungle but April through to June are the wettest months. Temperatures in the upland areas are spring-like and nights can be cold. In the lowlands, temperatures of 30oC are not uncommon.
Below are two graphs showing average 24-hour temperature and rainfall for Quito, Guayaquil, Riobamba and London for comparison.
Average 24-hour Temperature (in oC)
Average Rainfall (in mm)
Festivals & Holidays
Many of the country’s festivals are associated with the Roman Catholic calendar, such as Holy Week. They are celebrated with processions and pageantry, often including pre-Christian elements. Most villages have saint’s day festivals with music, dance, bullfights, markets and drinking. The most important festival is carnival, leading up to Ash Wednesday, and is characterised with indiscriminate and energetic water fights.
Currency
The local currency is the US dollar. Current exchange rates are available via Google currency conversion or the OANDA currency converter. It’s not advisable to try to acquire Latin American currency before travelling, if a currency is available in high street banks or exchange outlets the exchange rate is usually very poor. You can change US dollar cash or travellers checks locally and obtain cash advances via ATMs in most towns and cities. We’d advise that you tell your bank you intend to use your card abroad before you set off.
Visas
British citizens can find up-to-date information on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website. Citizens of other countries should consult their embassy before travel.
Vaccinations
We recommend that you always check with your own travel clinic or health professional before you travel, for advice specific to your requirements. The NHS Fit For Travel website contains for up-to-date health advice and lists the common vaccinations for travellers to Ecuador.