Ecuador

Ecuador Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Ecuador in January.

Planning a getaway to Ecuador this January and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Ecuador in January

Ecuador offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In January, one might encounter temperatures that range from mild to very warm, and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from mild in Lasso at 15°C (59°F) to very warm in Nueva Loja at 31°C (88°F). At night it cools down to 22°C (72°F) in Nueva Loja and 6°C (43°F) in Lasso.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Ecuador, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno with an average of 32 mm (1.3 in) to heavy rainfall in Huigra with 835 mm (33 in).

Average sunshine

January brings good sunshine to many areas. Quito sees around 197 hours of sunlight, great for visitors looking for bright days.

Explore Ecuador by month

Best Places to Visit in Ecuador in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Ecuador.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Ecuador

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Ecuador?

Temperature range in Ecuador (January)

Precipitation variation in Ecuador (January)

Quito

In January Quito generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
10°C (50°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
216 hours
197 hours
144 hours
Monthly rainfall
319 mm (13 in)
302 mm (12 in)
317 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
12 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Guayaquil

In January Guayaquil generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
140 hours
107 hours
112 hours
Monthly rainfall
147 mm (5.8 in)
288 mm (11 in)
444 mm (17 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
17 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Cuenca

In January Cuenca generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
16°C (61°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
156 hours
155 hours
113 hours
Monthly rainfall
186 mm (7.3 in)
160 mm (6.3 in)
204 mm (8 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
13 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Puerto Ayora

In January Puerto Ayora generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
27°C (81°F)
29°C (84°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
22°C (72°F)
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly rainfall
34 mm (1.3 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
132 mm (5.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
15 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Baños

In January Baños generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly sun hours
90 hours
74 hours
75 hours
Monthly rainfall
257 mm (10 in)
241 mm (9.5 in)
272 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
13 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Ecuador.

In our records: Ecuador January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Ecuador in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • From our sources, the wettest January day in Ecuador brought 265 mm (10 in) in Tena on January 17, 2015.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Ecuador in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Quito 18°C (64°F) 10°C (50°F) 302 mm (12 in)
Guayaquil 30°C (86°F) 23°C (73°F) 288 mm (11 in)
Cuenca 16°C (61°F) 8°C (46°F) 160 mm (6.3 in)
Puerto Ayora 29°C (84°F) 23°C (73°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Salinas 26°C (79°F) 24°C (75°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Mindo 22°C (72°F) 16°C (61°F) 491 mm (19 in)

Ecuador weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Ecuador in January?

Expect poor weather across Ecuador in January. The popular destination of Quito averages 18°C (64°F) by day and 10°C (50°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in Ecuador in January?

Average temperatures in Ecuador during January range from a nighttime low near 10°C (50°F) to a daytime high around 18°C (64°F) in Quito.

Does Ecuador get a lot of rain in January?

Yes. January brings heavy rainfall to Ecuador, with Quito averaging around 302 mm (12 in). Expect frequent showers and pack accordingly.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Ecuador?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Ecuador due to the typically poor weather in Quito.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in August offering mostly pleasant weather in Quito. The weather in January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Ecuador.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Ecuador? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Ecuador.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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