What's on in Guayaquil, Ecuador through the year

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Hazard

  Rainy season street flooding

  1 Jan – 30 Apr · usuallyFlood season

  The coastal winter brings heavy downpours that flood low-lying streets, worst when they coincide with high tides on the Estero Salado. Traffic grinds to a halt during storms, and the city signposts dozens of flood-prone spots. Source ↗

Busy — Carnaval, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Carnaval

  16–17 FebCarnivalClosures

  The four-day holiday empties the city towards the Ruta del Spondylus beaches and the sierra, and the road out is solid on the Friday. What stays open downtown is thin, and water gets thrown regardless. Source ↗

Still on: Rainy season street flooding (1 Jan – 30 Apr (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Festival

  Procesión del Cristo del Consuelo

  3 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedClosures

  On Good Friday hundreds of thousands walk from the Cristo del Consuelo parish in the south of the city, many barefoot and in purple. It is the largest single gathering in Guayaquil's year and the south is closed to traffic. Source ↗

Still on: Rainy season street flooding (1 Jan – 30 Apr (usually)), Carnaval (16–17 Feb)

Busy — Procesión del Cristo del Consuelo

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Rainy season street flooding (1 Jan – 30 Apr (usually)), Procesión del Cristo del Consuelo (3 Apr)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Garúa season

  1 Jun – 30 Nov · usuallyFog season

  The dry season locals call summer is actually the cooler, greyer half of the year, when the Humboldt current brings overcast skies and fine drizzle. Pleasant for walking the Malecón, less so for the beach. Source ↗

Busy — Fiestas Julianas, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Fiestas Julianas

  22–28 JulNational holidayCrowded

  The city's patronal days around 25 July bring parades through several districts and art shows up in Las Peñas on Santa Ana hill. It runs into a long weekend, so half the coast is on the move as well. Source ↗

Still on: Garúa season (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Garúa season (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Garúa season (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Busy — Fiestas Octubrinas

• Holiday

  Fiestas Octubrinas

  1–12 OctNational holidayCrowdedBook early

  The biggest block in the city's calendar: independence day on 9 October with military and civic parades, a solemn session at the town hall, and a bridge holiday that runs into 12 October. Source ↗

Still on: Garúa season (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Busy — Day of the Dead long weekend

• Holiday

  Day of the Dead long weekend

  1–4 Nov · usuallyNational holidayCrowdedClosures

  2 November, Day of the Dead, and 3 November, Cuenca's independence day, make a national long weekend. Families visit cemeteries, bakeries sell colada morada and bread dolls called guaguas de pan, and buses and holiday towns fill. Source ↗

Still on: Garúa season (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Busy — Año Viejo effigies, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Año Viejo effigies

  1–31 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowded

  Through December artisans line calle 6 de Marzo with papier-mâché effigies of politicians, footballers and cartoon characters, and families cruise past to look. On New Year's Eve they are burned in the streets at midnight. Source ↗