MonicaKD

We're leaving for Ecuador next Friday, Sept. 2nd for two weeks. The long term forecast shows rain everywhere we plan to visit: Otavalo, Mindo, Quito, Banos and Quilotoa Loop area and now I'm wondering if we should revise our plans. A few years ago before we went to Thailand, the forecast showed rain the whole time, yet it didn't rain at all while we were there, so I'm hoping that may be the case here. Has anyone had a similar experience or have any feedback about the Ecuador weather in general in September?

yestravel

We were in Ecuador in February and had the same forecasts before we left. While there for a month the only rain we had was a couple days in Vilcabamba. Have a great trip!

RAC

This is good to know--we're there next week and were a little alarmed.

crellston

"Is it accurate?" - probably not! We have been in South America for a few months and are in Cusco at the moment. I checked the forecasts just before arriving and they indicated heavy rain - absolute rubbish! Clear blue skies and baking hot in the day.

Do bear in mind that whilst it is likely to be sunny and quite hot during the day, temperatures plummet at night due to the altitude. Otavalo and especially the quilatoa loop can get sub zero temperatures. We were glad of our merino thermals and fleece in Quilatoa especially. Take waterproof jackets too. Quilatoa can get VERY windy.

mlgb

Well it has been raining in North Peru for the past few days but mornings are pretty good. Hope yours is not worse.

EcuadortoArgentina

It is cloudy but no rain. I am in Quito

RAC

Just got back. Days in Quito area were all the same--begin bright and sunny, then around 12:00 pm or so it started to get grayer and colder and wetter.

Mindo area--generally started nice with gray/clouds moving in later in the day (hard to say with precision because we usually did day trips--Bellavista, Milpe area, Silanche).

Had rain twice--once at night in Mindo and thunderstorms in the Quito area in the afternoon--which was then followed by an earthquake.

Hang20

We were in Ecuador in July. the weather forecast per weather.com was gloomy and cold. Like 50's during the day and 30's at night (F). We had envisioned Banos as a warm adventure town in the rain forest. What we found throughout the country was the weather was not as wet as weather.com said it was(even current weather.) It was chilly, especially in the Andes at night and nights when it was raining. Quito was in the 60's and 70's sunny in the mornings but cloudy in the afternoon. We had warm beautiful nights. Chilly when we went up Teleferico (50F). Banos was okay during day, light jacket, misty rains on and off one day and misty rains in morning followed by warm sun in the afternoon--certainly not the weather predicted or being reported as current weather by weather.com. Ingapirica was very cold, misty rain. Otavalo was hot and dry. Galapagos and Cuenca were as predicted by weather apps. It was wetter and colder (and more beautiful!) than I expected in the highlands and we were there in the "dry" time.

I would strongly recommend a rain jacket and a variety of layers. Hard trip to pack for clothes-wise. My "quick dry" things did not dry, nor did my shoes. However the alpaca scarf and poncho I bought and had to wash in the tub after wine got spilled on them dried overnight in our shower. Great investment! When in Rome....

mlgb

Late post but maybe some will benefit...Bringing an extra pair of shoes is a good idea, if doingt much hiking..Or even galoshes/wellies, some places may be able to loanthose out, if so thick socksand insoles make them more comfortable. I lost a sole off of my hiking shoes walking over a stream bed, I guess the water dissolved whatever glue was used.

Nice photos RAC just checked your flickr account. Love the sapphirewing..