The best times to visit Otavalo for ideal weather are

April 23rd to September 9th

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

 

 


Other Otavalo Travel Info

Weather in Otavalo

Temperature

Average temperatures in Otavalo vary very little. Considering humidity, temperatures feel very enjoyable all year with a fair chance of precipitation about half of the year. The area is more temperate than most — in the 76th 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 Otavalo, the hottest months are September, July, and then August. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early to mid June where highs are regularly around 76.2°F (24.6°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 50°F (10°C) at night.

Otavalo Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Otavalo 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.

Otavalo Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Otavalo Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Otavalo 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 72.7 60.2 48.1
Feb 71.5 59.6 48.9
Mar 72.7 60.5 49.5
Apr 72.8 61.1 49.6
May 71.7 60 49.7
Jun 72.7 62.1 49.4
Jul 72.3 62.2 50.2
Aug 73.4 62.1 49.1
Sep 74.5 62.8 49
Oct 74.2 61.2 48.8
Nov 74.4 61 48.5
Dec 73.7 60.8 48.9

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 22.6 15.7 8.9
Feb 21.9 15.3 9.4
Mar 22.6 15.8 9.7
Apr 22.7 16.2 9.8
May 22.1 15.6 9.8
Jun 22.6 16.7 9.7
Jul 22.4 16.8 10.1
Aug 23 16.7 9.5
Sep 23.6 17.1 9.4
Oct 23.4 16.2 9.3
Nov 23.6 16.1 9.2
Dec 23.2 16 9.4

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Otavalo are August, September, and then July. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around late January and early February. For example, on the week of January 29th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early January with an average of 4 days of significant precipitation the week of January 1st.

When can you find snow in Otavalo? 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 Otavalo.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Otavalo (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 27% 0 3.7
Feb 29% 0 2.1
Mar 28% 0 3.1
Apr 23% 0 2.9
May 21% 0 2.6
Jun 8% 0 1.3
Jul 6% 0 0.5
Aug 4% 0 0.6
Sep 5% 0 0.5
Oct 25% 0 3
Nov 21% 0 2.9
Dec 18% 0 1.9

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 27 0 9.4
Feb 29 0 5.3
Mar 28 0 7.9
Apr 23 0 7.4
May 21 0 6.6
Jun 8 0 3.3
Jul 6 0 1.3
Aug 4 0 1.5
Sep 5 0 1.3
Oct 25 0 7.6
Nov 21 0 7.4
Dec 18 0 4.8

 

Humidity and Wind

Otavalo has some humid months, and slightly dry months in the opposite season. The least humid month is September (39.6% relative humidity), and the most humid month is May (63.1%).

Wind in Otavalo is usually calm. The windiest month is July, followed by August and September. July’s average wind speed of around 12.1 knots (13.9 MPH or 22.4 KPH) is considered “a moderate breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in late August to early September where average top sustained speeds reach 22.7 knots, which is considered a strong breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

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

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 5.2 Light breeze 9.4 Gentle breeze
Feb 4.5 Light breeze 7.8 Gentle breeze
Mar 4.7 Light breeze 8.3 Gentle breeze
Apr 4.8 Light breeze 8.3 Gentle breeze
May 4.5 Light breeze 7.6 Gentle breeze
Jun 9.8 Gentle breeze 15.2 Significant breeze
Jul 12.1 Significant breeze 18.1 Gentle breeze
Aug 11.1 Significant breeze 17.6 Strong breeze
Sep 10.7 Gentle breeze 15.8 Gentle breeze
Oct 5.7 Light breeze 9.5 Gentle breeze
Nov 4.3 Light breeze 8.2 Gentle breeze
Dec 5.5 Light breeze 9.7 Gentle breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 60.5%
Feb 60%
Mar 57.7%
Apr 58.6%
May 63.1%
Jun 50.9%
Jul 44.3%
Aug 41.5%
Sep 39.6%
Oct 53.9%
Nov 59.2%
Dec 56.4%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Otavalo?

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 Otavalo, 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 Otavalo 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 Otavalo Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 73.8°F (23.2°C) and 71.2°F (21.8°C) with similar temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 6 to 9 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (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 Otavalo, so lodging and other accommodations may cost less than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 76.2°F (24.6°C) and 73.2°F (22.9°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 1 to 8 days per month. Tourism is fairly slow during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be lower priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is somewhat cool this time of year in Otavalo to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 75.9°F (24.4°C) and 70.2°F (21.2°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 6 to 9 times per month. These times of year are the second busiest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Ecuador › Otavalo, Ecuador