Best Time to Visit Guayaquil

January to April: hot, wet and sticky

The rainy season is the hardest stretch. February is the wettest month, with about 200 mm and rain on most days. March is close behind. Humidity sits around 80%, so your shirt never really dries.

Rain here often comes as heavy downpours that flood streets for an hour or two. The Malecón 2000, the riverside promenade, is still pleasant between showers. Museums like the Museo Antropológico y de Arte Contemporáneo (MAAC) make good wet-hour plans. Carnival falls in February or early March and is a big holiday for Ecuadorians, so some people leave the city for the coast. January is the lightest of these months, but it's still rated Poor.

May and June: the sweet spot

This is when the rain eases and the air gets drier. May still has a few showers. June has only about three rainy days and a top temperature of 36°C. It's hot, but it's less sticky than earlier in the year.

These are good months for a city break. You can climb the 444 steps up Cerro Santa Ana in Las Peñas and look over the Guayas River without being soaked. You can also visit the iguanas in Parque Seminario on a dry afternoon. It's also a decent time to use Guayaquil as a base for the Santa Elena coast and beaches like Playas or Montañita.

July to October: dry, hot and grey

Don't expect blue skies just because it's dry. Between July and October, the cool Humboldt Current (an ocean current off the Pacific coast) keeps the sky hazy. The rain is almost nothing. Rainfall is about 3 mm in both August and September. September is the hottest month, at 38°C. That's tough for walking tours at midday.

The dry months suit anyone who wants to avoid rain. Plan to be indoors from noon to mid-afternoon. Head to the Malecón once the sun drops. Guayaquil celebrates its founding on 25 July, and Independence Day on 9 October. Expect parades, events and busy streets around both.

November and December: easing back in

Showers return slowly in December, but it's still a Fair month. Evenings are warm and good for eating outside. Try encebollado, a fish soup that locals eat for breakfast, or a ceviche in the city's markets. Christmas lights go up around the Malecón. Families travel at this time, so book buses to the coast early. Guayaquil has no strict high season for visitors, so prices and crowds mostly follow Ecuadorian holidays rather than the weather.