Ecuador & Galapagos Islands The Ecuadorian 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.