Guayaquil Weather in January

January's sticky, wet days

January feels hot and damp in Guayaquil, with highs around 34°C and lows near 23°C. Rain falls on many days, and thick cloud means you won't get much sunshine. Showers can interrupt walks along the Malecón 2000 or visits to Parque Seminario, so keep indoor stops like the Museo Antropológico y de Arte Contemporáneo in mind.

The rain eases compared with February, but January is much wetter than December. Skip long, exposed outings when showers set in; the paths on Cerro Santa Ana can get slippery. If you hate crowds, explore the waterfront on a weekday rather than during the New Year holiday.

New Year and quieter weeks

January 1 is a public holiday, and many families spend time together after New Year's Eve. Guayaquil's famous años viejos effigies are burned on December 31, so you may see the cleanup rather than the celebrations in January. There isn't a major city festival that fills the rest of the month.

The holiday period can bring more local visitors, while the weeks after New Year are often calmer than December. Hotel rates may ease after the holiday, though prices vary. Travelling with kids? School holidays can mean more families around the Malecón and nearby coastal resorts, even when the city feels quieter.

Make the weather work for you

Plan flexible days: visit the covered stalls at Mercado del Río between showers, then take a short walk by the Guayas River when the rain lifts. For a classic local lunch, try encebollado, a tuna and onion soup, at a busy market stall.

January's warmth and frequent rain make it a poor month for a long, sunny beach day. If you're heading to Las Peñas, take the steps up Cerro Santa Ana only when the ground is dry. The view over the river is worth the climb, but wet steps make it less pleasant.