Ecuador & Galapagos Islands Pacific coast

  • Isla de la Plata
  • Pacific Coast
0 1

The northern Pacific lowlands of Ecuador have a gentle landscape of tropical agriculture, forest and warm-water bays.

Overview

The northern Pacific lowlands of Ecuador have a gentle landscape of tropical agriculture, forest and warm-water bays. The developing tourist infrastructure is yielding a wide range of things to do, from whale watching to exploring pre-Columbian ruins, and diving and snorkelling at the coral reef around Isla de la Plata where the bird and animal life ― which includes colonies of waved albatrosses, frigate birds, boobies and sea-lions ― is not afraid of human proximity. Los Frailes beach is one of the loveliest on the coast.

Nearby is Machalilla National Park, which embraces and protects the tropical dry forest.

Read More

THE UK’S NO. 1 SPECIALIST IN TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA

What our clients say Contact Us

Things to do

We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.

Where to go when - our guide to Pacific coast

Pacific Coast

The weather in Pacific coast is wide and varied

Whilst Ecuador’s Pacific coast is hot all year round, with little significant change in temperature, there are nevertheless two distinct seasons, the wet and the dry season. The central and southern coastal strip is the most visited and appealing stretch, boasting some lovely palm-fringed beaches and friendly fishing villages. It’s an arid region with rains usually only falling in the January-April wet season but, even then, mostly only as short sharp downpours. Paradoxically, whether learning to surf or simply wanting to sunbathe and relax on the beautiful beaches, these months are the best time to visit. You can expect warm waters, clear skies, average highs of around 30°C and almost permanent sunshine. The arrival of the cold ocean currents in May sees the transition to the ‘cooler’ dry season, which lasts until December. During these months average temperatures are still a high 28°C but the days are often hazy and overcast and the sea notably colder. However, this is the ideal time for nature lovers as humpback whales arrive to breed in June and can be seen just off the coast through to October. The seasonal differentials are less notable in the little visited far north, which has a hotter and distinctly equatorial tropical climate with rain to be expected every month.

View our Pacific coast weather guide

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

  • Alex
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

0 1 2 3 4 5