Ecuador & Galapagos Islands The Ecuadorian Amazon

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Amazon

OUR GUIDE TO the weather in the The Ecuadorian Amazon

The Ecuadorian Amazon, referred to locally as El Oriente, has a hot humid equatorial climate with average maximum temperatures rarely dropping below 29°C (and often much hotter!) and humidity levels of 75% and above at any time. As you’d expect for the world’s largest rainforest, there is high rainfall throughout the year, irrespective of whether it is the dry or wet season. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect to see as much sun as you do rain in a typical 3 or 4 night visit. It may rain at any time of the day, and in short or sustained periods, but on the whole rains come in the afternoon in the form on intense tropical downpours which, once they have passed, often give over to clear skies and a beautiful late afternoon light. The flora and fauna in the most bio-diverse region on the planet is of course adapted and dependent on this high rainfall, so you are certain to be blown away by the sheer diversity and abundance of the wildlife, birdlife and plant life whatever time to go. Although there are monthly and seasonal differentials, it’s unwise to place too much weight on them – in fact, there is little consensus amongst the lodges, cruises and Amazon experts as to when the best time to go is, or when exactly the different season are! Broadly speaking, the wettest months are March-June and October-December, when the rivers swell by as much as 10m and flood the lower lying forest floor. This makes navigation by expedition cruise or motorised canoe easier and allows for deeper penetration into the rainforest. At this time much of the wildlife spotting will take place in the (now closer!) canopy or in the sky. During the less wet months of January-February and July-September the waters recede and expose the trails, sandy riverbanks and lake shores, all of which become the focus of the wildlife spotting. With river navigation trickier, even impossible in some parts, a greater proportion of your exploration of the rainforest will be on foot in these months. Rain is still frequent in these months though.

Papagaio

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Bartolome, Galápagos

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Real Latin american experts

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

  • 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!

  • Ben
    Ben Line - Travel Expert

    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

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