Ecuador und the Galapagos Islands - Weather and Climate

What should I pack? How is the weather and climate in Ecuador? 

The Best Time to Travel to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands and Ecuador are year-round destinations. Any time is the best time to travel to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. In the tropical region, temperatures rarely drop below 15°C during the night. Even in the highlands, it is rarely colder than 10°C. This is why Ecuadorians do not have central heating in their homes.

Nevertheless, visitors travelling to the Andes highlands are recommended to bring a warm sweater and rain jacket. One can say that the four seasons are experienced within a day in the highlands. Cooler mornings are reminiscent of spring and give way to warmer afternoons with summer-like temperatures. The afternoons often bring rain and the evenings are cool.

At the coasts and beaches in the Amazon lowlands and the Galapagos Islands, a windbreaker will come in handy as it gets rather windy at times. On the other hand, be prepared for a year-round warm tropical climate in the rainforest and mountains.

However, in the Galapagos Islands, there is a difference between the warmer and the cooler seasons. The lower temperatures are due to the cool Humboldt current and the southern trade winds. Nevertheless, temperatures do not fluctuate too much between the different seasons.

Weather and Climate During the Cool and Warm season

In the Galapagos Islands, the warmer months are from December to May. During the warm season, heavy rain is to be expected at coastal regions and beaches. It has a tropical climate with an average of 29°C and water temperature of around 25.5°C on average.

The warmer months are followed by coolers months from June to November. The cool air and low temperatures from Antarctica reach the Galapagos Islands during this period. The highest temperature drops to an average of 25.7°C and water temperature is around 22.8°C. Despite the changing seasons, in general, the differences are not as stark. With low levels of precipitation, the cooler months are also known as the dry season in the Galapagos Islands.

Travelling on a Cruise

While going on a cruise, it is essential to take into account water conditions during the period of your travels. If you or your travelling companions are prone to seasickness, choosing the right ship will be a deciding factor for your comfort throughout the trip. From December to May, waves and water conditions are expected to be calm. We still highly recommend smaller ships and yachts to our travellers for a much more personalised experience.