Ecuador Vacation Travel Guide

Seasons in Ecuador have nothing to do with temperature – instead there is a dry season and a wet season. In Ecuador, the winter season is hot and wet, and the summer is dry and cold. Ecuador’s dry, summer season falls between May and December. January to April is Ecuador’s wet wintertime. There is not much of a transition between the seasons.Most of Ecuador has mild temperatures year-round. In the highlands of the Andes, the temperatures are usually cooler. The average temperature in Quito is in the mid-60s Fahrenheit (17 – 18 degrees Celsius).

Coastal cities, like Guayaquil, have a warmer, tropical climate, and the temperature varies from the low 70s to high 80s (20 – 30 degrees Celsius).

The Oriente jungle is wet throughout the year, and experiences sudden, intense rainfall even during its dry season. It is also warm throughout the year.

The Galápagos Islands are warmer in the dry, sunny season, although the water around the island chain gets cooler during this period. If you plan on snorkeling, bring a wet suit.

Ecuador has an area of 109,483 square miles (283,561 sq km), which makes it slightly smaller than the state of Nevada. Ecuador's border with Peru is 950 miles (1,529 km), and its border with Colombia is 440 miles (708 km). Ecuador is also bordered by the Pacific Ocean, and contains both the Andes Mountains and Amazon Jungle within its boundaries.

Ecuador is located on the equator, and because of this you'll find temperate climates year-round at most of Ecuador's top destinations.Peak tourist season in Ecuador occurs from mid-June to early September, and then again in late December. This has more to do with vacation time in the U.S. than the seasons. You can visit Ecuador during any time of the year, but keep the following information in mind.

It can be confusing deciphering what the "dry" and "wet" seasons mean in Ecuador. December to May is the wet season, but also the best time to visit the coast. Counterintuitively, it’s actually sunnier on the coast during the wet season. During the wet season, rainy evenings follow a sunny morning and afternoon. From April to November, the dry season brings overcast skies but little rain.

If you’re thinking of visiting the Ecuadorian Amazon, know that it rains year-round, but much more so during the December-May wet season.

During the wet season, it’s slightly warmer in the highlands, although the temperature doesn’t change much. In Andean cities like Quito and Cuenca, temperatures usually range from the low 50s to the low 60s Fahrenheit (10 to 20 degrees Celsius).

Seasons in the Galápagos are give-and-take. During the wet season, the air and water get warm, but it rains frequently. In the dry season, you’ll find colder temperatures and rougher waters, but less rain.

During Carnaval, Easter, and Ecuadorian Independence Day (May 22nd) many Ecuadorians travel, and hotel prices increase. That being said, all of these holidays involve raucous, colorful street festivals, events you may not want to miss.

Ecuador is in the Ecuador Time Zone (ECT) and is five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-5). The Galápagos Islands, however, are on a different time zone then the rest of Ecuador. The islands are six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-6), and are thus an hour behind the rest of Ecuador.There is no daylight savings in Ecuador, so the time difference with U.S. destinations changes by an hour during daylight savings time.

Ecuadorian landscape falls into three catagories: the coastal lowlands, the mountainous Sierra, and the Oriente jungle.Western Ecuador borders the Pacific Ocean. Tropical climate and sandy beaches characterize much of the coast. Mangrove forests cluster around the southern beaches, including near Guayaquil.

In the central Sierra you’ll find the Andes, a mountain range that sits on the notorious Ring of Fire. Between the mountains, in basins throughout the mountain range, you’ll find many of Ecuador’s major cities, including Quito.

The Oriente jungle takes up most of western Ecuador. This is a dense forest, steamy and full of rare plants and animals.

Ecuador’s natural beauty and colonial cities have something to offer visitors of all ages. You can find an ideal destination for every member of your family. Visitors will also find Ecuadorian culture very family-centric, and most places you visit will be accommodating and friendly to traveling families.Visiting children will have access to fun activities like zip-lining through the tropical forest. Educational opportunities abound. Take the whole family to a local festival to impart some cultural awareness. Incredible Inca ruins and exotic plants and animals will make Ecuador unforgettable, even to young children.

Yes, there is a departure tax. The cost is $30-$40 and depends on if you fly out of Guayaquil or Quito. This tax, however, is usually included in the price of a flight.

All travelers need a passport that's valid for at least six months from the date of entry. You're also required to provide evidence of onward travel and prove that you have enough money to pay for your trip. These last two requirements are rarely checked, but you should have proof anyway just in case you're stopped.Most travelers can stay in Ecuador for 90 days without a visa. If you want to stay for longer than 90 days, you need to get a visa before your trip. You can do so at an Ecuadorian consulate.

While you're in Ecuador, you're technically required to carry your passport at all times. However, having a photocopy of your passport will usually suffice and is much safer than carrying your real passport around with you all day. If possible, store your real passport in a safety deposit box at your hotel.

Ecuador sits on the Ring of Fire, a stretch of shifting tectonic plates in South America. These shifting tectonic plates cause volcanic eruptions as well as earthquakes.More so than hurricanes, an intense weather pattern called El Niño wreaks havoc on Ecuador. El Niño warms the water of the Pacific, and brings heavy rainfall and floods to Ecuador. This weather pattern disrupts the economy, especially in coastal cities.

Ecuador is located within the northwestern reaches of South America. Colombia is north of Ecuador and Peru is to the south and east. The Pacific Ocean forms the westernmost boundary, and the equator (for which the country is named) runs through Ecuador just north of Quito.

You can stay in Ecuador for 90 days. If you want to stay within the country for longer, you must request a visa from an Ecuadorian consulate in your home country. Most visas will allow you to stay in the country for 180 days in a calendar year.