Ecuador travel guide

Best time to visit Ecuador from the UK

Best value: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Jun–Sep for the Andes; Dec–May for the Galápagos (warm seas). Busiest and priciest: Dec–Feb, Jun–Aug.

Each bar is the average temperature in Quito for that month, and its colour shows the season for visitors: best value (good weather, fewer crowds and lower prices), busiest and priciest, or quiet (off-peak, sometimes because the weather is poorer).

• Our pick: May and SeptemberThe warmest of the best-value months (18°C), with fewer crowds than peak season.
• Peak season: Dec–Feb, Jun–AugUsually 17–18°C. The busiest time, so book flights and rooms early and expect higher prices.
• Warmest: May (18°C) · coolest: January (17°C)Temperatures barely change through the year, so the season matters more than the weather.

Festivals and events

• Inti Raymi Jun · Otavalo
• Mama Negra Sep, Nov · Latacunga
• Carnival Feb–Mar · Nationwide

Festival dates move from year to year: check before you book.

Getting there from the UK

Flight time

About 11h 45m

Distance

9,202 km

Main airport

UIO

Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow; journeys with a change take longer.

Add Ecuador to your bucket list Search flights to UIO

Practical info and travel guidance

• FCDO adviceAdvises against all but essential travel to parts of EcuadorCheck which areas before you book.
• VisaNo visa neededUp to 90 days
• HealthcareNo free healthcareYou pay for treatment, so travel insurance with medical cover is essential.
• LGBT+ travellersLegal and broadly accepted
• Women travellersFCDO warns of sexual assault or harassmentTake extra care at night and with drinks.

For British passport holders, summarised from the FCDO's advice for Ecuador, checked October 2026. FCDO page last updated 2 October 2026. Rules change: read the official FCDO travel advice for Ecuador before you book and again before you go.