Things to Do in Ecuador in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Ecuador
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
70°F (21°C)
High Temp
49°F (9°C)
Low Temp
4.0 inches (102 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December is the tail-end of the dry season in the Andes: cobalt skies hang over Quito for sunrise shots of Cotopaxi, and Chimborazo's snow-cap shines under 12-hour days.
- + Coastal Ecuador finally cools enough to stroll Guayaquil's Malecón without your shirt sticking to your back. Evenings settle to a pleasant 75°F (24°C).
- + Galápagos shoulder season: you'll share Bartolomé Island with 40 % fewer visitors than July. Yet waved albatross chicks remain visible on Española until mid-month.
- + Quiteños mark the Fiestas de Quito the first week, chiva party buses, quiteños dancing in Plaza Grande, and street stalls grilling hornado pork until 3 AM.
Considerations
- − Highlands nights bite: once the sun slips behind the volcanoes, temperatures drop to 45°F (7°C) within an hour, forget that down jacket and you'll shiver in your hostel.
- − December 24-31 is domestic high season. Bus tickets from Quito to Baños sell out and hotel rates leap 30 % overnight.
- − Amazon lodges hit peak river levels. Motorized canoes can't reach some trails at Napo Wildlife Center, slicing wildlife sightings by half.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Cotopaxi Volcano day hikes
December's clear mornings give you 8-hour windows on Cotopaxi's 4,800 m (15,748 ft) refuge trail. The volcanic ash path stays dry and the glacier edge glows turquoise under high UV. Afternoon clouds roll in after 1 PM, start hiking by 7 AM to beat them.
Booking Tip: Book 5-7 days ahead. Look for operators with park permits and 4×4 transport to 4,500 m (14,764 ft) parking. See current tour options in the booking widget below.
Otavalo Saturday Market textile tours
December mornings in Otavalo are crisp, good for roaming the Plaza de Ponchos without the usual drizzle. Villagers from Peguche and Tigua arrive before 6 AM with hand-woven alpaca scarves dyed using cochineal. The indigo-shaded stalls carry a faint scent of wood-smoke and mint tea.
Booking Tip: Market peaks 7 AM-2 PM; arrive Friday night to watch set-up. Licensed guides gather at the north arch, negotiate a half-day textile focus. Check the booking section for local craft tours.
Quito Old Town walking circuits
70°F (21°C) afternoons mean you can handle the 200 m (656 ft) climb to El Panecillo without melting. December light slices sideways across San Francisco's baroque façade, setting the gold leaf ablaze at 3 PM sharp, bring sunglasses for the UV bounce off white volcanic stone.
Booking Tip: Free walking tours start 10 AM from the Teatro Sucre, tip about what you'd pay for a mid-range lunch. For night circuits (colonial lanterns, hot canelazo), see evening tour options in the widget.
Galápagos live-aboard diving
December water temperatures hover at 72-75°F (22-24°C), so you'll need a 5 mm wetsuit at Darwin and Wolf but skip the hood. Whale sharks are still passing through. Dive guides report sightings on 60 % of December trips.
Booking Tip: Book 3-4 months out, live-aboards limit 16 passengers and December cabins fill fast. Use operators offering nitrox and park-fee inclusion. Current boat schedules are in the booking widget below.
Cuenca riverside bike rides
December's dry Tomebamba River keeps the cycle path dust-free; morning light ricochets off the blue domes of the New Cathedral while bread from Mercado 10 de Agosto smells of anise. The 12 km (7.5 mi) loop to Turi mirador climbs 300 m (984 ft), arm warmers for the descent.
Booking Tip: Rent town bikes at Calle Larga hostels, check brakes before heading downhill. Guided half-day rides include the mirador and a Panama-hat workshop. See bike tour listings below.
Where to Stay in Ecuador in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early December
Fiestas de Quito
First week of December: Quiteños throw city-wide street parties marking the 1534 founding. Expect brass bands circling Plaza Grande, chiva buses blasting reggaeton, and hornado pork sandwiches dripping chimichurri on every corner until sunrise.
December 24
Pase del Niño Viajero
Cuenca's Christmas pageant on December 24: thousands parade a child-sized Jesus statue through flower-strewn streets, accompanied by brass bands and women in embroidered skirts. Arrive by 9 AM to claim a spot on Calle Simón Bolívar.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Ecuador Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Book domestic flights on TAME or LATAM by October, December seats to Galápagos sell out and standby lists stretch for days.
Street-vendors sell choclo (giant Andean corn) and queso in paper cones for bus snacks, ask for 'con sal' unless you like it bland.
Pack coca candy, not coca tea, customs confiscates loose-leaf tea bags but allows wrapped candies for altitude in the Andes.
Download the MüsüS bus app for real-time Quito routes. Locals avoid the old trolley system after dark due to pickpockets.
Avoid These Mistakes
Skipping sunscreen on cloudy Cotopaxi days, UV penetrates thin high-altitude clouds and burns in under 20 minutes.
Expecting hot showers everywhere, mountain hostels often use electric showerheads that sputter between scalding and lukewarm.
Ignoring chiva party bus etiquette: locals buy the driver a beer at the first stop, refusing looks rude and gets you left at the curb.
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