Ecuador's weather patterns vary greatly between different geographical regions. Instead of the four seasons, there are wet and dry seasons.

Ocean currents influence the Galapagos and coastal areas. The warm equatorial current from the central Pacific causes a hot and rainy season from January through April. It doesn't rain all the time, but you can expect heavy downpours that can disrupt communications. Daytime temperatures average about 30°C (86°F), this time of year is generally an unpleasant time to be traveling in the coastal regions. From May to December the temperatures is a few degrees lower and it rarely rains, though it is often gray, damp and overcast, especially in July and August.

In the highlands the dry season is from June through September and a short dry season also occurs during December. It doesn't rain daily in the wet season. In April, the wettest month, it rains every other day.

Temperatures during the day average a high of 20°C - 22°C (68OF - 72°F) and a low of 7°C - 8°C (45°F - 48°F) year round. You should remember the Ecuadorian adage that they can experience all four seasons in one day. The weather in Ecuador is unpredictable.