The best times to visit Cotopaxi for ideal weather are

December 17th to May 27th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Cotopaxi Travel Info

Weather in Cotopaxi

Temperature

Average temperatures in Cotopaxi vary barely at all. Considering humidity, temperatures feel nice most of the year, excluding some cold weeks in the winter, with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 57th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Cotopaxi, the hottest months are November, December, and then March. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late November to early December where highs are regularly around 71.7°F (22.1°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 47.3°F (8.5°C) at night.

Cotopaxi Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Cotopaxi Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Cotopaxi Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Cotopaxi Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Cotopaxi Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 68.9 57.3 48.7
Feb 69.5 57.2 48.3
Mar 69 57.3 48.7
Apr 67.4 57 48.8
May 67 57 48.8
Jun 65.5 55.7 47.8
Jul 65.6 55.1 46.2
Aug 66.3 55.2 45.2
Sep 67.6 55.5 44.2
Oct 70.5 57.2 47
Nov 71.2 57.6 46.9
Dec 70.3 57.5 47.7

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 20.5 14.1 9.3
Feb 20.8 14 9.1
Mar 20.6 14.1 9.3
Apr 19.7 13.9 9.3
May 19.4 13.9 9.3
Jun 18.6 13.2 8.8
Jul 18.7 12.8 7.9
Aug 19.1 12.9 7.3
Sep 19.8 13.1 6.8
Oct 21.4 14 8.3
Nov 21.8 14.2 8.3
Dec 21.3 14.2 8.7

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Cotopaxi are August, July, and then September. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid August. For example, on the week of August 13th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early April with an average of 3 days of significant precipitation the week of April 2nd.

When can you find snow in Cotopaxi? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Cotopaxi.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Cotopaxi (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 16% 0 2.4
Feb 19% 0 2.6
Mar 14% 0 1.9
Apr 24% 0 2.3
May 9% 0 0.9
Jun 5% 0 0.5
Jul 4% 0 0.3
Aug 3% 0 0.3
Sep 5% 0 0.6
Oct 17% 0 1.7
Nov 17% 0 1.6
Dec 13% 0 1.7

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 16 0 6.1
Feb 19 0 6.6
Mar 14 0 4.8
Apr 24 0 5.8
May 9 0 2.3
Jun 5 0 1.3
Jul 4 0 0.8
Aug 3 0 0.8
Sep 5 0 1.5
Oct 17 0 4.3
Nov 17 0 4.1
Dec 13 0 4.3

 

Humidity and Wind

Cotopaxi has some very humid months, and above average humidity throughout the year. The least humid month is September (62.8% relative humidity), and the most humid month is April (71.2%).

Wind in Cotopaxi is usually moderate. The windiest month is July, followed by August and September. July’s average wind speed of around 9.8 knots (11.2 MPH or 18.1 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in late September where average top sustained speeds reach 18.9 knots, which is considered a fresh breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Cotopaxi.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 7.7 Gentle breeze 15.9 Significant breeze
Feb 6.8 Light breeze 14.7 Significant breeze
Mar 6.7 Light breeze 14.7 Significant breeze
Apr 6 Light breeze 13.6 Significant breeze
May 7.1 Gentle breeze 14.9 Significant breeze
Jun 9.1 Gentle breeze 17 Strong breeze
Jul 9.8 Gentle breeze 17.8 Significant breeze
Aug 9.4 Gentle breeze 17.8 Strong breeze
Sep 9.2 Gentle breeze 18 Significant breeze
Oct 6.8 Light breeze 15.2 Significant breeze
Nov 5.9 Light breeze 14.1 Significant breeze
Dec 7.5 Gentle breeze 15.8 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 69.9%
Feb 69.2%
Mar 69.4%
Apr 71.2%
May 70.4%
Jun 70.2%
Jul 67.4%
Aug 63.1%
Sep 62.8%
Oct 65.4%
Nov 66.5%
Dec 67.4%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Cotopaxi?

Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe, but with extra warnings in a few regions. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are travel warnings and regional advisories for Ecuador; exercise a high degree of caution and avoid some areas. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Nov 20, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Cotopaxi, Ecuador is January, followed by March and May. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Cotopaxi in June. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is somewhat extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 53.8 in June means 53.8% of the tourists vs. January.

 

 

Overall Cotopaxi Travel Experience by Season

Fall (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 69.6°F (20.9°C) and 65.2°F (18.4°C) with similar temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 3 to 7 days of significant precipitation per month. Fall is the busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Winter (June through August)

The middle-year months have comfortably cool weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the least precipitation with 1 to 2 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the slowest season for tourism in Cotopaxi, so lodging and other accommodations may cost less than usual.

Spring (September through November)

Spring daily highs range from 71.7°F (22.1°C) and 66.1°F (18.9°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 2 to 5 days per month. Tourism is fairly slow during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be lower priced.

Summer (December through February)

Weather is somewhat cool this time of year in Cotopaxi to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 71.3°F (21.8°C) and 68.4°F (20.2°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 4 to 5 times per month. These times of year are the second busiest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Ecuador › Cotopaxi, Ecuador